Worker Bee Weekender

Worker Bee Weekender meets Love London Weekend

Four days in iconic London and Manchester

#workerbeeweekender #lovelondonweekend #MCRxLDN

So, you’re looking to visit Manchester and London over a long weekend, and want to know how to make the most of it? With so much to see, do (and eat!) across both cities, we’ve got you covered with our essential guide to planning a jam-packed visit, helping you to make get the most out of your trip!

Day one: Manchester

Ease into the morning hours with your first day in Manchester, and familiarise yourself with your surroundings by joining one of the city’s Discover Manchester guided walking tours. Available to join every day at 11am outside Central Library, and give you a taste of all things architecture, history and culture, covering spots such as Manchester Town Hall, and The Royal Exchange.

If learning about the modern history of the city through its street art is more your scene, book yourself in for a Northern Quarter tour with Skyliner. The only of their kind in the city, Skyliner takes you through Ancoats and the Northern Quarter, using public artwork as a thread to weave together an all-encompassing story of the area.

No doubt having worked up quite the appetite after a morning of stomping, we’ve three great lunch time picks for you to choose from: opt to dine fine in the stylish yet relaxed surroundings of Wood, run by MasterChef Simon Wood; tickle taste buds with some proper English grub and a trip to one of the city’s trio of Chophouses; or, grab yourself something on-the-go with a visit to Northern Soul for a gourmet grilled cheese!

Amp up your afternoon with some Manchester-shaped learning, and a nod to the Suffragette centenary. Make your way to three of the city’s most famous landmarks, starting with The Pankhurst Centre, birthplace of the Suffragette movement and one-time family home of Emmeline Pankhurst. Afterwards, head over to famous Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell’s House for a tour of this beautifully restored home, before rounding out your afternoon with a trip to the stunning Grade II listed, Edwardian swimming pool, Victoria Baths.

For those with a head for art, the nearby award-winning The Whitworth, an art gallery offering 55,000 exhibition items and nestled into Whitworth Park, is perfectly poised for an afternoon visit. On your wander on back to the city centre, pop into the Manchester Museum to see the world come to life across four floors of exhibitions!

Want, instead, to dedicate some time to your inner footie enthusiast? Then book yourself a stadium tour and hop on a tram to one of Manchester’s famed football clubs. City fans rejoice with a tour of the Etihad, or head United’s way to follow in the footsteps of legends (and don’t forget to take a walk around Salford Quays while you’re at it!).

Come evening time, get your appetites at the ready, and celebrate the ‘Glamour of Manchester’ with a trip to The Refuge. Elegant, with a globally-influenced, small plate menu, sip on something delicious in the comfort of some of the city’s most sumptuous surroundings. Should you be looking for something different, Hawksmoor, on Deansgate, offers diners the very best at its award-winning steakhouse, while Fazenda’s unique Brazilian rodizio serves up an experience like no other in the city.

As the evening draws to a close, look to the city’s ever-varied nightlife to serenade you to slumber! Curiosity seeker? Manchester’s centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film, HOME, is ready to welcome you! If gigs are your thing, try famed Albert Hall, or Band on the Wall, on for size. Or, for something unexpected, give the outrageous, R-rated Bongo’s Bingo a go!

Day two: Manchester

Next day, after a hearty breakfast (we recommend a full English from Koffee Pot!), gear yourself up for the best in culture the city has to showcase. Start yourself at the Museum of Science and Industry, based on the site of the world’s older passenger railway station, before being inspired by ideas worth fighting for at People’s History Museum. Get yourself photo-taking-ready for your next stop, and head to Hogwarts look-alike The John Ryland’s Library, before finishing up at Manchester Art Gallery (top tip: don’t forget to grab yourself a pic of the beautiful Neo-Gothic Town Hall on the way, if you haven’t already done so).

The Northern Quarter has plenty of delicious options from which to take your pick come lunchtime, with eclectic offerings from neighbourhood dining at Evelyn’s, traditional-with-a-twist pub grub in The Bay Horse Tavern, or pastries-aplenty from one of the many fantastic coffee spots should you want something on the fly.

No need to trundle far come the afternoon hours - while them away in your Northern Quarter surroundings! Head to the famous Afflecks for a wander across three floors of unique wares, walk along Oldham Street and peruse its vintage goodies, and finish things up in the Victorian settings of the Craft & Design Centre, home to artists’ studios, with contemporary jewellery, ceramics and art for sale.

If you’re feeling peckish at this point, never fear - Mackie Mayor is here! Set inside a 19th century converted market hall, choose from one of a handful of vendors and tuck in while sat at one of the site’s many communal tables. For something a little more private, head to the Medieval Quarter’s Corn Exchange with its variety of restaurants to cover all manner of tastes!

If you’re not ready to call it a night, Bavarian bier palace Albert’s Schloss caters to all your tipple-and-a-knees-up needs. If something more hands-on sounds appealing, Chivas Regal’s whisky school, Blend, and Three Rivers Gin School offers connoisseurs the opportunity to master your blending skills to create takeaway signature whisky or gin. Or, should you be looking to put your feet up, King Street Townhouse offers private screenings with popcorn and a glass of fizz, perfect for when you want to treat yourself to a sit-back-and-relax treat!

Nightcap? The Daisy’s neon-lit surroundings are made for nestling into with a cocktail or two, and just around the corner, party-bar Crazy Pedro’s has pizza slices aplenty should you feel a pang of late-night hunger!