| Rightly famous for its fantastic sport, music and | | | | late, great Haçienda - unmissable for all the |
| nightclubbing, it's a vibrant, historic yet | | | | 24-hour party people. |
| forward-thinking city - but for many of us, the | | | | After all that culture, you'll then be ready to |
| image conjured up when we think of Manchester | | | | unwind and thankfully there's brilliant nightlife |
| is still one of soot-covered cotton mills, viewed | | | | wherever you turn. There's the stylish, |
| through sheets of rain. | | | | extravagant Gay Village around Canal Street; |
| However, in a recent BBC survey, 48% of | | | | Manchester has been called the Gay Capital of the |
| respondents chose Manchester as the UK's | | | | UK and there's plenty here to back up that claim - |
| Second City (ahead of Birmingham, Glasgow, | | | | bars, restaurants, shops, clubs and naturally, the |
| Edinburgh and Liverpool, the European Capital of | | | | gay football team. Alternatively head over to |
| Culture) and it's an ideal destination for an | | | | Deansgate for comedy, upmarket drinking and |
| energetic, unique weekend or short break on the | | | | haute cuisine or down Oxford Road into the |
| cutting edge of culture and cool. | | | | happening student quarter with its countless pubs |
| One of the first things to strike you on arrival in | | | | and clubs. There really is every conceivable venue |
| Manchester is the amazing mix of stately, | | | | for that cosy pint here, including the Temple of |
| Victorian red-brick and breathtakingly futuristic | | | | Convenience, a tiny, underground bar housed in a |
| modern architecture. The award-winning Imperial | | | | decommissioned public toilet! |
| War Museum North, designed by Deconstructivist | | | | With the city located right in the middle of the |
| superstar Daniel Libeskind, is a great place to start | | | | country, there's just no excuse to miss out on |
| - and from the observation platform atop the Air | | | | Manchester. There's a huge international airport, |
| Shard tower you can view the canal, Salford | | | | while its also easily accessible by train or road if |
| Quays and The Lowry gallery, theatre and opera | | | | you'd rather cut down on the carbon emissions. |
| house complex. | | | | Several fine bars, restaurants and hotels are |
| Take in the historical sights of the Victorian Gothic | | | | situated around Piccadilly station in the centre of |
| Town Hall and neo-Classical, circular Central Library | | | | town. Try the Malmaison Manchester, a gorgeous |
| at Albert Square. From there, the sheer, sparkling | | | | building which was once a cotton warehouse, then |
| Beetham Tower is immediately attention-grabbing | | | | a dolls' hospital, but is now a sumptuously slinky, |
| as it's the UK's tallest building outside London. Also | | | | stylish place to chill out in the funky red bar, be |
| don't miss nearby Exchange Square with its giant | | | | pampered in the basement spa and finally crash |
| ferris wheel and the stunning, triangular glass | | | | out in one of the indulgent rooms or dramatic |
| exhibition centre Urbis, which is home to | | | | suites. |
| fascinating art and cultural exhibitions throughout | | | | There's so much to do and see that it'd be mad |
| the year. Among others, there's currently a free | | | | not to stay a night or two in the city that coined |
| show on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the | | | | the term 'Madchester', after all. |