The city known as the heart of football,, has a population of around 0.5 million and occupies the most populated area after the capital city of England, London, with a total population of 2.5 million. In addition, according to the Global Liveability Survey, Manchester is listed as the favourite city in England to live in. Wow! Interesting, right? After this, you will know why this city cannot be missed as one of your travelling destinations when visiting British soil.
Manchester is located about 320 kilometres north of London and can be reached in four hours by road or just one hour by plane. At the same time, the city centre of Manchester is approximately 15 kilometres from the airport. You only need a train ticket to Manchester Piccadilly for £ 5 (around IDR 95,000) to get there in less than 15 minutes. However, if you want to drive while sightseeing in the city, you can use the bus or taxi with the same destination and prices that are not much different.
1. Manchester city centre is attractive and friendly
What’s interesting to see in Manchester? Of course, apart from the Old Trafford stadium belonging to the Manchester United football club or the Etihad Stadium, the headquarters of the Manchester City football club, you can enjoy the beauty of the city’s architecture, history, and culture, museums, libraries, as well as educational and technological advances in this city. In downtown Manchester, you can admire the magnificent Manchester Town Hall building, built in 1868 using the Victorian Gothic architectural style. Interestingly, before the building currently used by the local government was made, no less than 120 architects competed to design the Manchester Town Hall, which Alfred Waterhouse won.
The pulse of life in Manchester can be felt from the busy Mancunians (as the natives of Manchester) walk by.
Understandably, the city centre has many office buildings, libraries, shopping centres, restaurants, and parks. As long as it’s not raining, enjoying the atmosphere of the city centre and shopping on foot is very pleasant in a city where the temperature doesn’t exceed 20’C—tired of walking? Don’t worry! The local government in the town of Manchester has provided free buses to get around the downtown area to their heart’s content.
To save time and effort, determine the location that you will visit in the direction of the bus route. A map of tourist destinations can be obtained in specific areas to help you when travelling. Tourist destinations that you must visit include the John Rylands Library, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester Central Library, National Football Museum, and many more.
If you want an unforgettable experience while visiting the city of Manchester, come on certain days when community activities or celebrations are held in the city centre. You can enjoy the beautiful fireworks on New Year’s Eve ( New Year’s Eve ), buy handicrafts and souvenirs at the folk market on Christmas Eve ( Christmas Market ), and participate in celebrating the Chinese New Year, which is complete with dragon and lion dance performances. . This proves that the people of this city appreciate the values of racial and cultural diversity, making this city even more comfortable to visit.
2. Ball tour? Mandatory!
This is the most important! It’s not legal to say to Manchester if you haven’t visited Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium. Of course! The atmosphere of a football enthusiast is felt when you arrive in this city. Old Trafford Stadium can be reached easily from the city centre by bus in no more than 30 minutes, while Etihad Stadium only takes about a quarter of an hour. At each location, you can buy a ticket to visit the stadium to be allowed to see the football field ( stadium tour ), read the history of the club, as well as enter the dressing room. Don’t forget to buy original souvenirs from your favourite club!
3. The film is set in the city of Manchester
Have you ever seen a movie called The Imitation Game? This film tells the story of World War II, where a genius mathematician named Alan Turing tries to decipher a secret German code known as the Enigma. Now! Visit the University of Manchester, in Sackville Park, to be precise. You will find a statue of the Alan Turing Memorial, built in 2001 to commemorate his services. And uniquely, in this film, Alan Turing is played by a famous actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, who is also a graduate of the University of Manchester, you know!
4. Culinary tourism in Manchester? May also!
Are you a connoisseur of culinary tourism? If so, Manchester is a culinary heaven for tourists who want to pamper their tongues. There is a place in the town (about 10 minutes by bus from the city centre) known as the Curry Mile, and more than 70 typical restaurants from Asia and other continents you can find along the way—starting from typical British food, namely Fish and Chips, Burritos, Madras, Falafel, and so on. Don’t miss spending your lunchtime at Curry Mile if you don’t want to regret it!
5. Come on! It’s time to travel to Manchester!
Do you want your trip to Manchester to be more unforgettable? Come in June. Every year in June, Manchester is celebrated with Manchester Day celebrations. So, this year, the celebration of Manchester Day is promised to be more extraordinary compared to the festivals in previous years. The festival, which began in 2010, will be coloured by a parade involving tens of thousands of people and spectators around the city streets.
Do you know? In Manchester, no less than ten parades are celebrated every year. Still, the Manchester Day parade is the biggest and most lively celebration because it is an opportunity for all Manchester people to get together and join in the festivities.
Now! Have you been more determined to include Manchester on your travelling list when you go to England? A must!
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