Previously an industrial city, there are still old cotton mills around the city centre; these have now mostly been transformed into contemporary apartments and office blocks. The city is also famous for its canals which are now experiencing a rejuvenation as a method of travelling around the city and discover the water-side restaurants.



During the past ten years Manchester city centre has experienced a revival as money from various sources, including funds provided for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, flooded into the city to update and modernize it, nowadays the city centre is unrecognizable and a fashionable and trendy place to visit.

If you are hoping to do some shopping then don't miss out on the largest shopping centre in the UK. The Arndale Centre has been the last part of the city centre to receive a facelift and offers thousands of shops under one roof.

Manchester now is a chic and trendy destination with designs featuring glass and steel to the traditional Victorian structures and contemporary architecture. The Town Hall is a Victorian impressive building located in the picturesque St. Peter's Square and, although no competitor to London, Manchester has its share of skyscrapers. The CIS Tower is the tallest building in the city and the new Beetham Tower holds within it a Hilton hotel, a restaurant, and apartments.

To get to Manchester the international airport is just a short distance from the city centre and easily reached by a direct train link. The city has two train stations; Piccadilly is the main station and provides links to all the major routes around the UK. The Metrolink is a tram system that runs around the city and further out to certain districts.

Manchester is brimming with culture and there are lots of musicians and bands that originate from here. Some of these include, Take That, Simply Red, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, The Buzzcocks, The Fall, New Order, Oasis and The Doves. The Manchester Evening News Arena is the largest of its kind in Europe and regularly has popular musicians and pop artists performing. Live music and concerts are held at venues all over the city, the most well known are Manchester Apollo and the Academy, and the more personal and smaller clubs of Roadhouse and Night and Day Caf?.

If you fancy going to see a West End show, then The Manchester Opera House holds regular events and the Palace Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, and the Lowry Centre all have cultural and popular shows. The Bridgewater Hall holds classical music concerts and more intimate evenings and is host to Manchester's two orchestras, The Hall? Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Manchester has two universities, The University of Manchester and UMIST, and during term time the city is buzzing. With more than 500 licensed premises in the city centre they are well provided for. Clubbers, partygoers and sightseers swarm into the city every weekend and head to The Lochs, Picadilly, Deansgate or Canal Street.

Tell anyone in the world you live in Manchester and they will know of the football teams, Manchester City and Manchester United both have their training grounds in the city centre. The City of Manchester Stadium that was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games is now the home of Manchester City, whilst Manchester United's grounds are situated at the legendary Trafford Park.

There were many sporting facilities built for the Commonwealth Games, the largest being Manchester Aquatics Centre and The Manchester Velodrome.

If you are considering visiting a city in the UK, Manchester is one not to be missed. This captivating destination has something to offer all types of people and you will find yourself returning again and again to discover more of it.

Check out Manchester and London and Edinburgh hotels online and take time visiting the city centres? of the UK. Wherever you want to travel within the UK, you should with little effort be able to find cheap and good hotels in Edinburgh, Manchester, London and other UK cities.