MANCHESTER
Although now best known for its football teams,
Manchester was once one of England's greatest Victorian
cities and was the birthplace of both rail travel and
Rolls Royce. It is situated on the east bank of the
Irwell River, in the north east of the country, and is
the centre of a huge metropolitan area, which now
encompasses the surrounding towns of Bury, Bolton, Wigan,
Rochdale, Salford, Stockport and Oldham. Liverpool is
just 30 miles (48km) down river. The area has long had a
reputation as a drab, industrialised sprawl, but
Manchester has succeeded in reinventing itself, becoming
a vibrant metropolis with nightlife second only to
London. The city boasts more than 50 free museums and
galleries, a world-class sports centre that recently
hosted the Commonwealth Games, and plenty of parks,
gardens and other attractions.
The city's architecture is largely a reminder of its
central role in the cotton trade and many of the
original warehouses can still be seen, although modern-day
Manchester is now very different from its heyday as an
industrial hub. When the city centre was badly damaged
in an IRA bombing in 1996, much of the central area was
beautifully renovated. Now renamed the Millennium
Quarter, it is a marvellous contrast of splendid
Victorian architecture and towering glass edifices,
including the eye-catching Urbis exhibition centre.
Manchester City and Manchester United are two of the
biggest football clubs in England and Old Trafford (home
to Manchester United) has become a huge tourist
destination. For those more interested in arts and
culture than football, the new Lowry complex in Salford
Quays boasts a fantastic selection of art galleries and
theatres. The city also plays host to countless events,
concerts, festivals and parades, is home to world-class
bars and restaurants, and has plenty of shops and
markets. Manchester is also home to the United Kingdom's
largest Chinatown, and a vibrant and friendly Gay
Village, concentrated around Canal and Chorlton Streets. |