8 min readDay 1
Morning
Start your day in Castlefield. Explore the roman fort of Mamucium, the original heart of the city, where you can see the fort ruins and a recreation of what the fort would have looked like when the Romans first settled here.
Make your way to The Science and Industry Museum, just on the other side of Liverpool Road. Discover amazing objects and revolutionary ideas that helped to change the world forever. Explore Manchester’s rich legacy of innovations and discoveries in the Revolution Manchester Gallery, find out how the city's heritage is interwoven with the cotton industry in the Textiles Gallery and see science brought to live in Experiment, our family friendly interactive gallery.
If social history intrigues you more, head to the People’s History Museum. The national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. The museum provides opportunities for all people to learn about, be inspired by and get involved in ideas worth fighting for; ideas such as equality, social justice, co-operation, and a fair world for all.
Alternatively, spend some time exploring Castlefield Gallery. Established by artists in 1984, Castlefield Gallery is Manchester’s first public contemporary visual art gallery dedicated to the advancement of contemporary visual art and artists.
Lunch
Head to Spinningfields for a bite to eat, Manchester's number one destination for shoppers, foodies and party-goers, unwinding in some of the city's best restaurants and bars, including The Ivy and Dishoom.
Alternatively head to one of the city’s Chop Houses - Albert Square or Thomas’s - where they serve traditional pub grub, including their famous 10-day-in-the-making corned beef hash.
Afternoon
Set some time aside to discover Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery. Be awed by the magnificent Wolfson Reading Room on the first floor of Central Library, opened in 1934 the Grade || listed building has been brought into the 21st century by combining historic features with cutting-edge design. Be inspired by the outstanding pre-Raphaelite collection at Manchester Art Gallery, housed in spectacular Victorian and contemporary surroundings, sharing the space with unique craft & design displays and early 20th century British art.
Alternatively head to the Northern Quarter – full of street art, great coffee, restaurants and bars, boutiques, record stores and specialist shops. Make sure you save some time to hit the well-known ‘emporium of eclecticism’, Afflecks and the Manchester Craft and Design Centre before they close. Why not book yourself onto a Skyliner walking tour to discover the unseen parts of the city, from the history of Street Art to a walking essay following nature in spaces of urban decay.
Evening
You’ll find Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter, the perfect place to while away an evening, or find a quick meal before sitting down for a film. There are a variety of cinemas in the city, from independents such as HOME, playing everything from the latest blockbusters to art-house films, to mainstream cinemas Vue and Odeon, or the luxury offering of Everyman Cinema, where you can relax in style with in-seat food & drink service.
Alternatively, treat yourself to a Michelin star meal at Mana, a creative British restaurant serving seasonal produce in a magnificent way, and balancing art and science in their 10-course menu.
Late Night
Stay in the Northern Quarter to experience the buzzing nightlife, with seating now taking over Stevenson Square, Edge Street and Thomas Street, to allow for table service and easy social distancing. Enjoy a cocktail in Cane & Grain or Cottonopolis, or a speciality beer in 57 Thomas Street Bar.
Or head to Flight Club on King Street, the home of Social Darts and a great place to indulge in a cocktail or two.
Day 2
Morning
Start a day of shopping on Market Street where you’ll find all of your favourite high-street brands and department stores, including; Debenhams, Office, Primark, Uniqlo and M&S. Head inside Manchester Arndale where you’ll find more high-street brands, including Next and Topshop.
Lunch
Head to King Street for lunch where you’ll find El Gato Negro and Tast, two of the city’s best Spanish restaurants serving up unique styles of tapas and Tastets. You’ll also find Kala, serving humble bistro food, and Grand Pacific a colonial style bar serving dishes inspired from around the world.
Afternoon
Spend some time in the luxury department stores Harvey Nichols on New Cathedral Street and Selfridges in Exchange Square, then wander down through to St Ann’s Square and to Barton Arcade or King Street where you’ll find independent businesses and high-end boutiques respectively. Including stores such as; & Other Stories on St Mary’s Gate, Molton Brown on Market Street, Patagonia and The Whisky Shop on Exchange Street.
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Stroll on to Deansgate for more shopping, you’ll find the likes of House of Fraser and Waterstones here. Or why not find the perfect gift in the Jewellery Quarter, home to the boutiques Boodles and Mappin & Webb.
If you’ve shopped till you dropped take a break to rest your feet at Pot Kettle Black, one of the city’s most loved independent Coffee Houses in Barton Arcade, or why not take time out to see if you’re the next Tiger Woods at Treetop Adventure Golf in the Printworks.
Alternatively, take some time to indulge in afternoon tea. The Midland serves up afternoon classics in their Tea Room, similarly the Library Curated by Assouline at the Edwardian Hotel Manchester serves the classic with a twist, or try Cloud 23 at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate for views across the city.
Evening
After a freshen-up at your hotel head to Spinningfields, Manchester's number one destination for shoppers, foodies and party-goers, unwinding in some of the city's best restaurants and bars. Head up to the terrace at 20 Stories for spectacular panoramic views over the city whilst sipping an expertly crafted cocktail.
When you’re ready to eat stay in 20 Stories or discover one of the many high-end restaurants or casual dining eateries. Discover The Ivy, multiple floors of luxe restaurants and bars, each individually and exquisitely designed, serving Modern British dishes alongside sharing plates of Asian-inspired cuisine. If you’re more of a fan of Indian food seek out Dishoom. Serving up classic dishes that pay loving homage to the Irani cafés and food of Bombay.
Alternatively, head to Deansgate where you’ll find a selection of excellent restaurants. For British classics, and their speciality – steak, head to Hawksmoor.
Late Night
Stay in Spinningfields to explore the areas many high-end bars, known for being celebrity haunts.
For a more relaxed atmosphere head to Escape to Freight Island. Hidden in plain sight, the inspiring urban landscape has been rebuilt and rethought around a visionary food market, a unique selection of bars and inventive culture spaces. Reimagined as a cultural space for the future this is a place where you can escape, just when you need it most.
Day 3
Morning
Spend a leisurely morning wandering through one of the city’s parks. To the south of the city, just off Oxford Road, you’ll find Whitworth Park, home to the Whitworth Gallery. Discover work by some of the world’s leading artists in the gallery and throughout the gardens that surround the building.
Close by you’ll find the Manchester Musuem, with 4 floors of displays and exhibitions in 15 galleries, featuring collections from all over the world. From a fossilised Tyrannosaurus Rex named Stan, anthropology collections from South America to the Museum's Manchester gallery; the museum will leave you desperate for more.
Lunch
Head to Princess Street in Chinatown for lunch. You’ll find a plethora of East-Asian restaurants here, alongside Peru Perdu, a colourful and vibrant Peruvian-inspired restaurant offering a memorable culinary experience, serving dishes suitable for everyone.
Alternatively make your way to Piccadilly Gardens where you’ll find the veggie eatery Bundobust, serving delicious Indian street food in a relaxed atmosphere, as well as Shoryu Ramen, bringing authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen to the city.
Afternoon
If you have time before you say goodbye to Manchester discover the National Football Museum. Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or prefer other sports, the museum is full of fascinating social and cultural history for you to delve into, with intriguing objects and changing exhibitions showing how football became the game of our lives. You can also try your hand (or foot) at a penalty shoot-out, along with the museum’s other interactive exhibits.
Evening
Why not explore one of the city’s newest neighbourhoods, Ancoats, if you’re not quite ready to leave yet. You’ll find a wide selection of independent neighbourhood restaurants here, including Canto, Elnecot, and Sugo.
Find out more of what Manchester has to offer and where to stay for a weekend break.
