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Home to two Premier League football teams (soccer, to our North American readers), three top shopping malls and over two thousand years of history, Manchester is a must on any visit to England.
Manchester rose to prominence as the heartland of the Industrial Revolution; over the last few decades, it has shaken off its gritty past. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that it has been reborn a youthful melting pot of culture; England’s second largest city is the perfect combination of old and new.
One of the best places to visit in North West England, Manchester is one of the few cities which can claim to be all things to all people. The site of pilgrimage to football fans, the boutique capital for fashion trendsetters, a paradise for foodies, an open book for history lovers and a hip, trendy night out for partygoers, an undisputed LGBT capital; Manchester has it all.
With so many accolades, you might think you need days to see all it has to offer. Whilst you could spend days in “the capital of the North” without getting bored, you can pack plenty in to one day in Manchester.
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- Getting to Manchester
- How to spend one day in Manchester
- Fancy staying the night?
Getting to Manchester
By air
Manchester Airport is the gateway to Northern England. It sees daily flights from destinations across Europe as well as the United States, Canada, Asia and the Middle East. There are also several daily flights from London Heathrow. The best way to find flights to suit your times and budget is to compare options.
By train
Manchester is well connected with the rest of the United Kingdom by rail. Trains run every 20 minutes from London Euston, with a journey time of just over two hours. Direct services are also available from Liverpool, York, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Local tip: Once you’re in Manchester, the Metrolink tram system provides connections across the city center and the suburbs.
It’s easy to use and will take you to, or very close to, all the places we cover in our one day in Manchester itinerary.
By bus
National Express, Megabus and Flixbus all provide regular services to Manchester. They serve towns and cities across the UK, with frequent departures from London, Birmingham and Liverpool.
How to spend one day in Manchester
9 am: Breakfast Viennese Style
You might think that we English start every day with a Full English Breakfast. It is true that we do love a greasy fry up, but thankfully, there are other options. Manchester is a hotspot for trendy restaurants and coffee shops and there’s no better place to start your day than The Vienna Coffee House.
Describing itself as “an ode to classic European brasseries”, this cozy, stylish coffee shop really does make you feel like you’re on the continent. The coffee is divine – if there were ever a place to stick with a simple Americano, this is it.
When it comes to breakfast options, you’re spoiled for choice. Their French Toast is the star of the show, with a myriad of sweet and savoury toppings to choose from. They also do amazing freshly-made waffles and pancakes, and, if you really want to stick to the classic Full English, that’s on the menu too.
10 am: Football Mania
If you’re a football fan, Manchester is likely on your bucket list. Arch rivals Manchester United and Manchester City call the city home, and the chances are, you’ve already picked your side and know whether you’re heading to Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium.
If not, but you still want to visit a football ground during your time here, Old Trafford (Manchester United’s ground) is the most famous of the two, and the easiest to get to with one day in Manchester.
Old Trafford
The UK’s second largest football stadium (behind only Wembley in London)c Old Trafford has been the home of Manchester United for over 100 years. The stadium is open for tours daily (except on match days) and has a great club shop, which is the ideal place to pick up souvenirs and gifts to take home. Tours sell out quickly, so make sure you book yours in advance.
Etihad Stadium
A far more recent addition to the city, the Etihad Stadium was built for the Commonwealth Games which Manchester hosted in 2002. Home to Manchester City since 2003, since moving to the stadium, the club has gone from strength to strength.
Like Old Trafford, it’s advisable to book your tour well in advance. They run daily, with limited availability on matchdays.
12 pm: Shopping and Lunch at the Trafford Centre
Ideal if you’ve just visited Old Trafford, the Trafford Centre is Manchester’s largest shopping mall. With over 200 stores, there’s everything from top label fashion brands to high-end department stores.
What really sets the Trafford Centre apart, though, is its food court. The Orient, the main food hall, has 35 restaurants and 1,600 seats, making it the largest food court anywhere in Europe. Designed to look like an ocean liner, The Orient is the ultimate lunch spot with more choice than you could imagine.
2 pm: Salford Quays
An iconic waterfront destination, Salford Quays occupies the site of the former Manchester Docks, sitting on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. The docks, opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria, were once the third busiest in the country.
As Manchester evolved from a booming industrial city to the cultural hub it is today, the docks closed and were left more or less abandoned. By 1990, the City Council had invested millions in repurposing the land, creating a swanky new development known as Salford Quays.
Today, the Quays are home to MediaCityUK, the Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry shopping mall.
Imperial War Museum (IWM) North
The northern outpost of the iconic Imperial War Museum, IWM North is a free museum with plenty to see. There’s no need to book in advance, making it ideal for a rainy day. It’s home to over 2,000 artefacts and has a great café and gift shop.
The Lowry
Named after Mancunian artist L.S. Lowry, famous for his paintings of industrial Manchester, The Lowry hosts an art gallery, movie theatre and shopping mall.
The Lowry Outlet is a great place to pick up some home and fashion bargains, and has plenty of waterside dining venues.
4 pm: Chetham’s Library
It would be impossible to write about Manchester without mentioning the oldest public library not only in the United Kingdom, but in the English-speaking world. Opened in 1653, though the building dates back to 1421, a visit to Chetham’s Library is a must for one day in Manchester.
The best way to visit the library is as part of a walking tour. In this tour, your guide will share some tales of the building’s long and fascinating history – including Karl Marx’s desk!
5 pm: Albert Square
Keeping the history theme alive, head for Albert Square. Dominated by the gothic City Hall, Albert Square is Manchester’s equivalent of Trafalgar Square and Times Square (albeit without the neon lights!).
At the center of the square, the Albert Memorial pays tribute to the square’s namesake, Prince Albert. The square hosts markets and events throughout the year and, if you’re visiting in winter, it’s home to Manchester’s famous Christmas Market.
6 pm: Dinner
Given Manchester’s status as a culinary capital, with cuisines from all across the world, it would be impossible to suggest just one place for dinner. Instead, we’ve included a few of our favorites, and the hard decision of which one to pick is down to you!
Alberts Schloss
Alpine-inspired Alberts Schloss is a quirky and unique spot which serves up hearty European fare. From Weiner Schnitzel to fondue, whatever you choose will transport you to the slopes of The Alps.
Allotment
Manchester’s top Vegan restaurant, Allotment focuses on serving fresh, locally sourced produce. Their menu is entirely plant-based and features everything from noodles to burgers, with the celeriac steak being a favorite.
Asha’s
Just like the Full English Breakfast, you’d be forgiven for thinking Fish & Chips or Roast Beef are the UK’s most popular dish. They’re not. In fact, that title goes to Chicken Tikka Masala, a British take on Indian curry invented in Glasgow.
The North is where you’ll find the best Indian restaurants in England, and Manchester is no exception. Asha’s is a modern, quirky Bollywood-inspired spot with a relaxed vibe and some truly delicious food. Highlights include delicious curries, sharing platters and classic Indian street food.
7:30 pm: Catch a show
Whilst London’s West End may be England’s theatre capital, Manchester has it’s own fantastic venues which have always got some great performances on. For Summer 2024, the Royal Exchange is hosting The Importance of Being Ernest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Palace has Hairspray, 101 Dalmatians and The Book of Mormon.
10 pm: A Nightcap (or party the night away…)
With three universities and over 120,000 students, Manchester is the North’s party capital. Manchester’s eclectic nightlife scene really does have something for everyone. Whether you fancy a quiet pint in a traditional English pub, or want to hit the dance floor until sunrise, Manchester has it all.
The Old Wellington is the place to go if you’re after a classic pub, or if you’d rather a classy cocktail in elegant surroundings, head to Cloud 23 which offers panoramic views of the city. Alcatraz, a prison-themed cocktail bar, and indoor crazy golf bar, Junkyard Golf Club, are the places to go for a unique night out.
For the full Manchester experience, head to Gay Village, centred around Canal Street, where the party never seems to end.
Fancy staying the night?
If one day in Manchester isn’t enough and you can’t tear yourself away in time for the last train, the good news is, there’s more hotels than you can shake a stick at, with something for every budget.
Manchester’s best-loved hotel, The Midland, is the best spot for a luxury stay. If quirky boutique is more your style, Hotel Gotham and The Abel Heywood will be right up your street.
If you do decide to extend your stay in Manchester, check out our guide to the best day trips you can take to explore some of the North West’s most beautiful spots.
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