Manchester, which is also called Madchester (from the English Mad - "mad"), has become one of the largest cities in Britain over the past hundred years.It is considered not only the second largest city of the United Kingdom, but also the center of Northern England.Although Manchester is a city with quite a rich history, the main direction of its development has always been industry.The center is almost completely lined with warehouses and factories, tangled with a network of canals and old railway bridges.
It is quite natural that when production was reduced, no one allowed such a good to be empty: fashionable bars are now open in the former workshops, designer stores are in the manufacturing warehouses, and nightclubs have “settled” under the old bridges (the most popular: Paradise Factory, Via Fossa, Britons, Protection , Velvet).
Since Manchester is also famous for its educational institutions, there are always many students here, so night clubs are also popular.It is because of the active night life that the city got its second name - Madchester.
HOW TO GET
The most reliable way to get to Manchester from Ukraine is to fly to the destination.There are no direct flights from Ukraine to Manchester, but you can fly with a stopover in one of the European cities.Ticket prices vary depending on the season, but in general it is cheaper to fly from Kyiv via London.
If you fly to London and then go to Manchester by ground transport, it will be cheaper, but only if you use buses or economy class carriages on trains.Moving from London to Manchester by train takes from two and a half to three hours, the cost of a round-trip ticket is from 90 - 150 EUR.Traveling by bus is even cheaper, but inconvenient - the journey will take about 5 hours.Buses depart from Victoria Coach Station.A return ticket will cost from 50 GBP.
TRANSPORT
In Manchester, as in any large European center, the transport infrastructure is quite developed. However, the city center is still worth exploring on foot: most sights are within walking distance of each other, and a leisurely walk through the city streets will allow you to better examine and remember the city's architecture. It is possible to plan the routes of your walks in advance online on special sites.
You can use the bus to travel long distances.In addition to regular buses, which cost £5 for a day pass, Manchester has three free city bus routes connecting all major areas of the city.They can be picked up at almost all Manchester train stations, as well as large car parks.
If you come to Manchester by car, you should know that parking in the center is quite expensive here.We advise you to leave your car in suburban parking lots, near bus or tram stations.
Taxis in Manchester are significantly cheaper than in London: a trip within the city will cost you 10-20 GBP.
By the way, it is best to move around Manchester on a rented motorcycle - it allows you to maneuver in traffic jams at peak hours, in addition, there are plenty of free parking spaces for motorcycles in the city.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
To admire the panorama of the city and decide which of the sights you need to pay attention to first of all, you can climb the Manchester Ferris wheel in the Millennium quarter.
In the historical part of the city, it is worth visiting the cathedral - the cathedral with the widest facade in all of England and magnificent choirs, and the town hall - a beautiful example of neo-Gothic architecture; The University of Manchester - the science of radio astronomy and the discovery of the element vanadium were laid here; The John Rylands Public Library - a fragment of the oldest of the known Gospels - the Gospel of John, which was found in Alexandria and dates back to the first half of the II century AD, is kept here. e.; church of St. Anne's - is located in a quiet secluded corner of Manchester, on Saturdays weddings are often held here.
There are also many historical sights of the city of Manchester, which usually escape the attention of the tourist: the oldest English-language library in Europe - Chetham, it is located next to the center of "Urbis" and is the place where Friedrich Engels wrote his book "The State of the Working Class of England";St. Mary's Church near Albert Square is the oldest post-reformation Catholic church in the country, dating back to 1794;Parsonage Gardens is a lovely place to stroll, hidden from prying eyes, with free parking, views of the River Irwell and the futuristic Trinity Bridge and much more.
Well, at the end of a culturally rich day, you will be able to relax properly in one of the numerous pubs, bars or night clubs of the city with a sense of fulfilled duty.
Chinatown
Manchester is also a multicultural center.Manchester's Chinatown has been one of the largest in England since the 1970s, but in recent years its population has been declining due to the massive relocation of businesses to the outskirts.However, this is a real slice of Asia in the middle of Foggy Albion - in Manchester's Chinatown you can find buildings of unique architecture, the Chinese Imperial Arch and most of all the East Asian restaurants in the city.In addition, in the dark time of the day, the neon signs of Chinatown serve as a good reference point.
Manchester Museums
Lovers of antiquity will be delighted by the Castlefield Archaeological Park with the ruins of the ancient Roman settlement Mamutium and the Museum of Natural Sciences with the remains of dinosaurs.There is also a museum of science and industry, which has many different exhibits, including a railway one.
Fans of sophistication are recommended to explore the exhibits of the Whitworth Picture Gallery and the City Art Gallery, as well as to look at the Museum of the History of Costume. It will be difficult to pass by the modernist building of the Military Museum, whose architecture has earned many awards.
Among other interesting museums - the Museum of Human History on Bridge Street (next to it are the Manchester Civil Records Center, nicknamed by local residents "metal storage cabinets", and a statue of a dove of peace, symbolizing Manchester's rejection of the nuclear industry);the museum of modern Manchester "Urbis", which will soon be "converted" into the National Football Museum;Manchester Jewish Museum - based in the building of an old Spanish-Portuguese synagogue, which was once the center of the Jewish quarter, the museum tells the story of Manchester's large Jewish diaspora.
