Gritty, dreamy Manchester is a city built for bucket lists, where you can hit the shelves in the U.K.’s oldest public library (Chetham’s, 1653), check out the music scene that launched bands from New Order to Oasis, crate dive in indie record stores, and then tour the port city where the Industrial Revolution was born and the atom was first split.
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did you know?
Manchester claims itself as home to the first vegetarian restaurant in the U.K., dating back to the 1800s. The foodie scene is still ahead of the curve — don’t miss Curry Mile in South Manchester.
QUICK GUIDE
WHEN TO GO
April – Aug.: This is the (relatively) sunniest Manchester season, with temperatures in the 60s — so tourism is in high season.
Sept. – Nov.: The weather turns cooler, with travel bookings becoming more affordable.
Dec. – March: These months bring the snowy, gray weather that likely spawned Morrissey’s emo catalog.
NEED TO KNOW
Visas: U.S. citizens can travel to Manchester without a visa for stays less than six months, but a passport is required for the duration of your stay in the U.K. Passport must have at least one blank page.
Money: Manchester currency is the British pound. Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are readily available.
Travel Health: Check with the U.K. Department for Transport for the latest health safety information, including travel protocols and requirements like proof of full vaccination, negative COVID-19 tests, quarantines, mask mandates and more in connection with COVID-19. Before traveling, research and prepare for what to do if you get sick while away.
GETTING AROUND
Getting Here: Manchester Airport (MAN) is the central airport and is 10 miles from the city center at Piccadilly Station.
Getting Around: Trains run every 10 minutes from Manchester Airport, and they can get you to Piccadilly Station in about 20 minutes for $6. You’ll also find plenty of access to taxis and rideshares.
LOCAL INTEL
Local Lingo: The Manchester dialect of English is known as the Manc dialect. Something distinctly Manchester-centric is called Mancunian, which sounds glamorously close to Mandalorian. Chuffed means “pleased,” which you’ll hear any time Manchester United wins a soccer game in this soccer-crazy city.
Must-Have Apps: I Love MCR
Insider Tip: The Quays is Manchester’s historic waterfront destination where you can conveniently take in a play at the Lowry, tour Tudor castle Ordsall Hall and watch ferries head across the Mersey to Liverpool.