Free day in Manchester

maxi,

If you're interested in military history, you might have a look at the Imperial War Museum North, which is located on the Salford Quays. The building is a rather striking design by the architect Daniel Libeskind, as I recall. It doesn't look very large from the outside, but it will take several hours to have a good look.

The Lowry Museum is near the Imperial War Museum North out at Salford Quays.

In the city centre, there is the Cathedral, the John Rylands Library, Chetham’s Library, the Science and Industry Museum, the Whitworth Gallery, take a brewery tour or see the Museum of Transport. Take a walk around the Castlefield area and grab a coffee here. Have breakfast at the Pollen Bakery.

It’s a city known for its live music scene and shopping.

The Guardian newspaper articles often find an angle that makes me want to visit; see some sorted by date at https://www.theguardian.com/travel/manchester.

If you want to see how I spent two days in Manchester, here's my trip report (just skip past the Glasgow and Liverpool sections, unless of course you're going to these places as well): https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/uk-trip-report-glasgow-manchester-liverpool-in-september-2016

https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/

The Museum of Science and Industry is gearhead heaven. Manchester was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and some of the hardware ended up here -- from early railroads through to the computer age. Fun collection of aircraft too.

If your politics are at all left of centre or you have an interest in history, I’d suggest the People’s History Museum. I also like the small, but excellent. Manchester Art Gallery.

Dale's suggestion will take you into the heart of labour (and Labour), which seems to have involved a forest of posters and banners. Up the workers!