I'll be in Manchester on business in early November and I want to stay a couple of extra days. My interests are history, good food and beer. Any recommendations along these lines?
Posted by
Wilderness
38 posts
Jim - for history I would recommend Quarry Bank Mill:
The owners of this industrial revolution mill actually had some interest in their employees - school for children (after a few hours of work in the mill of course), row houses each with with a small garden. Quite different from the usual industrial revolution existence.
Posted by
Marion
177 posts
If I were you, I would take the train to York or Maybe Chester. York is about 45-60 minutes per train. I'm not sure about Chester-I've never been there. If you have access to a car there are alot casles etc near by.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Have you found this site? http://www.visitmanchester.com/
Actually if you're staying on for a few days you could easily take the train to any number of places for a couple of days and easily take a train back to catch a flight home.
Pam
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Jim,
As you mentioned history, you might want to have a look at the Imperial War Museum North. As I recall it's on the Salford Quays? The building is quite a striking design, as it's constructed of stainless steel.
With a couple of days, you could always hire a Car and drive over towards York. There's another WW-2 historical site there, Eden Camp (check the website for details).
Of course, York is a fantastic place to visit also. The Railway Museum there (admission is free as I recall) is incredible!
Happy travels!
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
780 posts
I was there in April with my husband, a Manchester native, so I had the luck of a personal tour guide.
The city center is fun, for starters. There are free shuttles all over town that go past it. Or any cabbie would know.
You'll see the Manchester Eye ferris wheel and there is a 16th century tudor style pub still in operation right next to it, down the steps. Arndale shopping centre is fun and huge, nearby. Lots of pubs, etc.
Also near is the Manchester Cathedral. Very nice architechture.
You might want to also visit Orsdall Hall in Salford, Manchester. It is a original historical manor estate owned by the Radcliffe family. They do tours and it is tudor style, so quite old. It is also supposedly haunted!
Posted by
Brighton, Sussex, UK
63 posts
Hi Jim,
regarding beer the best suggestion is to go into a big local bookshop and find the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer Guide. Heres what it looks like:
Turn to the Manchester section and note down a few of the pub names near to you. This guide is for proper beer enthusiasts. The guide does NOT care about:
a) comfy surroundings
b) music
c) food
although if it's in the guide it normally has all three!
Cheers
Steve.
Posted by
Liverpool, UK
30 posts
You could do no wrong by visiting The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester...so much history!
Enjoy your trip.
http://www.mosi.org.uk/visiting-us/what-shouldn't-i-miss
I should add that it is free to enter the museum. If you are driving the car park is approx £5 all day and once inside the museum you pay only for any special exhibitions that are showing.
Gary