Never mind just the north – Manchester is one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative cities, with a restless culture that means it has always punched above it weight when it comes to music, art, food and more. Manchester Airport is your first port of call in this fantastic part of the UK.
Manchester comes alive
A rich blend of history and culture is on show at Manchester’s myriad of museums and libraries. Bibliophiles will love the historic reading rooms and Gothic spiral staircases of John Rylands Library in the centre of town. Manchester Central Library’s impressive circular facade is impossible to miss. Inside, as well as exhibitions and special collections, the grand round reading room is a must-see. Home to dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian mummies and Mesopotamian art, the Manchester Museum has a collection that spans millennia and is a joy to explore.
After the museums close, the vibrant music scene in Manchester comes to life. Bars and clubs down red-brick alleys pulse with live music both local and international. The Manchester Arena attracts famous artists from across the globe.
Just an hour’s drive from Manchester Airport is the city’s arch rival: Liverpool. Since the days of the Beatles, the music scene in this proud city hasn’t subsided. Head to the Cavern Club where the band too their very first steps or stroll down the famous Penny Lane.
Arenas of sport
Home to Manchester United, Old Trafford Stadium in the suburbs of Manchester boasts a museum, cafe, megastore and daily tours. Go behind the scenes and see the stands, dressing rooms and listen to tales of euphoric victories and bitter defeats. Booking in advance online is advised. You can also visit the Etihad Stadium, home of city rivals Manchester City, arguably the more successful team in recent years.
Of course, for the full soccer experience watch either Manchester team or nearby Liverpool play at home on match day. There’s a unique atmosphere to the city on match day, with the chants of fans filling the air.
Peaks and parks
A short drive from Manchester Airport is the UK’s oldest national park, the Peak District. Undulating hills, crags and caverns, historic houses and sleepy villages with quirky traditions make up the vast park area. Visit Chatsworth House near Bakewell for the full English stately home experience, a perfect spot for afternoon tea. Stop in Castleton, a quaint village set in limestone hills where a sleepy river bubbles past cottage gardens.
Luxuriate in a landscape that feels like it’s out of a Brontë novel by driving to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Wild hills swept with heather tower over green valleys. The market town of Settle is the perfect place to start exploring, with pretty tea-rooms and a dramatic railway viaduct leading out into the open countryside.
Whether you’re visiting the big cities or driving off into the wild parks of north-west England, Manchester Airport is the ideal access point to this fascinating part of the country.
