Places to visit on your first trip to Manchester
Manchester is the second-biggest city in the United Kingdom. It possesses a huge number of interesting places to see! Planning your first trip to Manchester but feel uncertain about where to go? Do not worry! Here we have prepared the top places to visit on your first trip to Manchester!
The Trafford Centre
If you are interested in shopping a lot, then make sure to visit the Trafford Centre. It is one of the biggest department stores in Greater Manchester. The building serves as a leisure and shopping facility, and it is located 5 miles away from the centre of the city.
There are two floors in the mall, which contain a huge number of shops and entertainment-oriented places:
- John Lewis – a high-quality department store, oriented on homeware, furniture and fashion;
- Next – multinational retailer of clothing, footwear, and household goods;
- Marks & Spencer – the largest British clothing manufacturer;
- Pizza Hut – a chain of restaurants where you can eat delicious pizza;
- Sea Life – an oceanarium with a variety of marine fauna and play areas.
The fastest way to get there is by automobile – about 15 minutes on the road, and you are there! You can rent a car from any company, like Europcar Manchester Airport, or catch a taxi.
The Whitworth
Interested in exhibitions? Visit The Whitworth gallery, which possesses about 60,000 artworks. Find sculptures, watercolours, textiles and wallpapers inside. In 2015 the building reopened after renovation and expansion of the gallery, so now there are even more interesting things to see!
You can find the institution in Whitworth Park. The entrance is paid, and the gallery works from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before visiting, check the available themed exhibitions to be aware. Pre-booking tickets is unnecessary.
The place is easily accessible via public transport. If you prefer comfortable and fast transfer, a car hire might be a great option. It is also good for family visits.
Smithills Open Farm
A fantastic place to go there with your family. The farm extends for 70 acres of the countryside to the north of Bolton, which is located 11 miles away from Manchester. It is a nice place, where people care about more than 25 types of animals. There you can find:
- Cows
- Pigs
- Llamas
- Owls
- Meerkats
It is not even the full list!
Enjoy exploring the farm and discovering something new about the residents! Smithills Open Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. There are special packages for big groups and Birthdays. If you are lucky, you will be able to try the homemade ice-cream! Remember that dogs are not allowed.
The fastest way to get there is by car – about 30 minutes on the road.
Manchester Town Hall
This place is not only an important historical site, but also a popular architectural attraction in the city. It was completed in 1877 by the architect Alfred Waterhouse. Nowadays, Manchester Town Hall plays a ceremonial role in various events of Manchester City Council. The main building attracts visitors by its neo-Gothic constructions.
Inside the building there are grand rooms and offices. A famous artwork, created by Ford Madox Brown, is located in the Great Hall. It shows the city’s history. The area around Manchester Town Hall is lively. You can find the Manchester Cenotaph right near the building, as well as St. Peter’s Square. There are also a number of restaurants, bars, and hotels around.
You can get there by booking Europcar car hire in Manchester, catching a bus or moving by train.
Etihad Stadium
The home of the legendary Manchester City Football Club, the eighth-largest stadium in the UK. The first foundation stone was laid by Tony Blair in 1999 and the construction was opened in 2002 and renovated in 2015. Etihad Stadium hosted football internationals of England, UEFA Cup Final, rugby matches and even boxing fights. The capacity of the facility reaches 55 097 spectators.
Tourists are welcome to visit the stadium during special themed tours that allow you to discover more about the place. For example, you will be able to walk the players’ tunnel or look at the complex from a bird’s eye view. The other tours allow you to peek at the real-life of the football players and listen to anecdotes and interesting stories. Some official excursions have family offers.
The position of Etihad Stadium allows you to choose various options to get there. You can hire a car or use one of the possible trains. The road from the airport takes 20 minutes by automobile and 1 hour by train. Walking will take 3 hours of your time.
