Oh Manchester! What a city!

So little time, so much to see, do, explore (and most important of all, EAT!!).

So much in fact that it can be a bit overwhelming… But fear not, I went and did all the leg work (quite litterally, see below), so you don’t have to!

Ready for the ultimate weekend getaway guide to Manchester?

 

How to get there:

From London, you can jump on a train (departing from Euston station) and you’ll be there in just under 2 hours. Easy-Peasy.

Where to stay:

Location, location, location! I can’t quite stress how truly brilliant it is to only be 5 min away from bed when you’re trying to get home with a belly full of burgers and one too many delicious cocktails. And the same obviously goes for excellent coffee / pastries / brunch the next morning. Because priorities.

We stayed in a great room in the Northern Quarter that we rented through Airbnb. Our hosts were lovely, the price was reasonable and the location was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend you give them a shout if you’re heading to Manchester any time soon and are looking for a place to stay!

 

Transports:

Manchester has a very efficient (and cheap! You can get a weekend tram pass for about £6!) public transport network.

But then again, you can very well walk to all those places (and get one more slice of cake thanks to all the money + calories you’ll be saving! #winwin)

 

What to see + do / A few highlights:

Explore the reds & blues of Manchester: As for many cities, my favourite thing to do is just to wander the tiny streets and try to get a feel of what it would be like to live there. And Manchester is perfect for meandering!

If you’re a bit of an architecture nerd (or as much in love with red bricks as I am), Manchester will steal your heart within seconds!

The whole city is an absolute architectural gem. 

Most major buildings are built in a Gothic style, but there’s also a few interesting contemporary buildings out there…

And then the street art situation isn’t bad either…

Bookworms:

Manchester, home to the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, has many historic libraries and each is more beautiful than the next.

From Chetham’s medieval building, to John Rylands’ Victorian neo-gothic architecture, the Portico Library’s stunning 19th century design and Manchester Central Library’s recent refurbishment, a tour of the Mancunian libraries is a must for book and history aficionado alike!

(very Game of Thrones, don’t you think?)

 

Football fanatics: Football is somewhat of a religion in Manchester and if you’re into it, you’ll be in heaven!

Whether you’re supporting the Red Devils or the Citizens, there’s nothing quite like watching a live game at home. And if there’s no game when you visit, the Museum of Football makes for a great alternative!

 

Where to eat + drink:

For brunch: Evelyn’s

Evelyn’s is a small but perfectly formed café in the heart of Manchester’s hipster-dreamland Northern Quarter.

Utterly flooded with light, it’s an Instagrammer’s paradise!

Oh, and they also happen to serve up a near-perfect brunch… AND they take bookings! #miracleshappen Read more

 

For lunch: Soup Kitchen

Serving up freshly prepared, delicious British café food (think soup, sanwiches, jacket potatoes…), Soup Kitchen is a neighbourhood gem and a Mancurian (and now mine!) favourite come lunchtime! Read more

 

For tea: Proper Tea

Located right opposite the Cathedral, it’s the most adorable little tea house you’ll ever find.

They serve up fantastic tea & fabulous homemade cakes, making them the perfect spot to rest your worn-out feet (and make good use of all those calories you burnt!!) Read more

 

For a special occasion: Hawksmoor

Mancurian outpost of London’s famous Hawksmoor group, there’s no better place to go for top-knotch steak & along with all other fancy dinner sheninigang.

Really good cocktails too. And the most indulgent of side dishes (looking at you, pulled pork mac’!! ?)

 

For burgers: Almost Famous

Possibly the best burgers I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. And god knows I’ve had A LOT!! Read more

 

For drinks: Dusk til Pawn

One of Manchester’s top cocktail bars, Dusk til Pawn’s creative concoctions are the perfect start (or end!) to an epic night out! Read more

 

For a snack: Lunya

Part deli, part tapas restaurant, Lunya is any foodie’s dream.

If you’re particularly fond of Spanish food (I like you), then you’ll love it as much as I did.

Here you can buy anything you’d find in your local spanish tienda…

Perfect for a light snack or buying provisions for a picnic!

Anyhting I’ve missed? I’m already noting down ideas for my next trip to Manchester, so let me know!