Manchester prides itself on the variety of entertainment available in the city. From its many galleries, through to its music venues and plethora of museums, it is second only to London in the UK for its nightlife, bars and café culture. Be sure to visit The Lowry (www.thelowry.com), Salford Quay’s shining steel arts centre, consisting of galleries and workshop spaces. A stone’s throw away and you’ll discover the Imperial War Museum North (www.iwm.org.uk/north), the home of exhibits exploring war and its devastating effects. It’s housed in a stunning Daniel Libeskind-designed modernist structure. Football fans will be in their element at Old Trafford, home to Manchester United, arguably the most famous football team in the world and a true theatre of dreams (www.manuttd.com, Tel: 0870 442 1994).

The city has a whole host of other types of theatres too. The Contact (www.contacttheatre.org), Corner House (www.cornerhouse.org) and Green Room (www.u-net.com/set/greenroom) are all renowned for their innovative schedules. If classical music excites, then Manchester Cathedral (Tel: 833 2220) runs an excellent season of ensemble and orchestra pieces, while the Opera House (www.manchestertheatres.co.uk) is a major venue for touring musicals and dramas.

Excursions
There really is so much to do in Manchester that you are best off heading to the Visitor Information Centre (Town Hall Extension, Tel: 234 3157). It offers two-hour guided walks that concentrate on various themes, suc as the city’s cemetries, industrial heritage and so forth. Walks alongside the city’s famous Ship Canal are a gentle break from the havoc of the city and if you really want to escape, the surrounding moors are a haven of tranquillity.