Manchester this weekend

[Frimley111R]

Popping up there Fri-Sun with Mrs 111R. Not been before. What do I need to see? I saw the Printworks and Corn Exchange and there's lots of posh restaurants around it seems, some nice bars would be good to. Anything obvious to see?

[djsmith74]

I'm sure others will come along with suggestions, but here are a few to get you going:

- Walk around Northern Quarter and Ancoats - lots of decent independent shops, bars and restaurants to browse around
- Have a walk around Spinningfields, and pop into John Rylands Library to gawp at the architecture
- Walk down Deansgate and across to Castlefield Bowl. Drop down onto the canal and spend a few hours walking around the canals, popping up onto street level where ever takes your fancy.
- If you are a football fan then the Football Museum is worth a trip
- If you are into your beers, then there are literally loads of very decent bars, pubs, taprooms, etc scattered all over the city that you could explore the entire city this way. There are a few beer maps online that you can download and follow
- See what is on at the Lowry, and maybe take a tram over there to watch a show. You can walk across the canal to the War Museum for some history.

Hope this helps.

[dirky dirk]

i can recommend the beer in the marble arch, the foods exellent as well

id combine it with maybe an art gallery or a museum visit and a mooch around

[Googie]

Walk the cobbles?

https://www.coronationstreetexperience.co.uk/

[Wacky Racer]

Chinatown (Eating)

The Museum of Science and Technology on Liverpool Road;
(The worlds first railway station is just behind)

The Etihad stadium in East Manchester, two miles away, home of Manchester's only premiership football team, and four times champions.

The East Lancashire Steam Railway Bury-Heywood-Rawtenstall.

[GreatGranny]

I would add Afflecks Palace

https://afflecks.com/

Used to go as a teenage 45 years ago and hasn't changed much in all that time.
Can't get the bargains you used to be able to but still worth a look around.

Cloud 23 bar for the views

https://www.cloud23bar.com/

Science and History Museum

[JQ]

I would avoid The Printworks unless you're a Fresher. The Comedy Store do gigs out of one of the basement bars, but that's the only reason to go.

Corn Exchange is ok, but very much a middle of the road family orientated chain restaurant venue. A better alternative would be Mackie Mayor in NQ/Ancoats. Downside is you can't book at Mackie Mayor. But Northern Quarter and Ancoats are great places for food and a drink.

This list is a pretty good one in terms of decent food : https://www.timeout.com/manchester/restaurants/the... There are some newer venues, Blacklock, Fenix, Flat Iron, but it's a good starting point.

Sterling is our favourite cocktail bar, you may need to book on a Sat night.

Grand Pacific is good for a drink, housed in the former Reform Club, it's a beautiful building.

As stated above Marble Arch has just been voted 3rd best pub in the UK I think, but it's a bit of a hike from the city centre. Other famous pubs in the centre include Britons Protection and The Pevril of the Peak.

Not sure if you're other half likes cars, but you can go karting under the AO Arena in the city centre. Indoor Skydiving or skiing at the Trafford Centre. Junkyard Golf is good fun, Roxy Ballroom is another option. And check out Twickets for last minute tickets for a show - I'm fairly sure Book of Mormon is currently on at the Palace, which is superb. And if you're that end of town Reform is a nice place for a drink.

[Frimley111R]

Brilliant, thanks guys

[JQ]

Edit to say - it's Refuge, near the Palace Theatre, not Reform.

Also worth mentioning that if you are wanting to eat out, it's definitely worth booking, good places get very busy at the weekend.

Also - Hawksmoor is great if you like steak - they do pre-theatre meal of 2 or 3 courses for £28 / £31 before 6:30pm. Again the restaurant is stunning and the service / quality is great.

[Frimley111R]

Hi All,

Thanks we did:

Northern quarter - this was fine, a bit studenty and lots of walking to find random bars

Marble Arch pub - nice but a bit of a walk (on the edge of Northern Quarter). It was ok but nothing special at all really but good food

Afflecks - a big shop full of micro businesses selling tat. Interesting and ok for students

Corn Exchange - Nice and we ate there

Printworks - right next to Corn exchange, worth a visit but just food/cinema there.

We went to a few random bars and that was about as much as we had time for in a day and a half. Manchester is packed with people, it's like central London.

[gotoPzero]

The marble arch... thats a blast from the past. Used to go in quite a bit, worked literally 2 min walk away. There was a really good curry place just a bit further down too which has long since gone. That whole area has / is changing a lot. I have not been in at least 15 years.