Manchester has always been one of the coolest UK cities, but it’s definitely having a moment right now. I recently visited for a quick overnight stay and managed to squeeze a lot into just 24 hours. That’s the great thing about Manchester, it’s so walkable and you can get a real taste of this vibrant Northern city in a short time.
Here are some Manchester travel tips to add to your list:
Explore the neighbourhoods
Manchester is known as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and the worker bee emblem on its coat of arms can be spotted all around. Its architecture reflects the city’s rich manufacturing history, mixing Victorian neo-gothic styles with converted red brick warehouses and textile mills, railway viaducts, docks and canals.
The Northern Quarter
The Northern Quarter is Manchester’s creative hub and the place for brunch, drinks and shopping. It has an independent community feel and is filled with interesting street art and wall murals.
Canal Street
Further downtown, there’s nowhere quite like Canal Street in the iconic Gay Village. It was known as a meeting place for lesbian women and gay men in 1950 and became a vital part of LGBTQ+ history, hosting the very first Pride event in 1985. Soak up the atmosphere at the bars lining the canal and visit the Alan Turing monument in Sackville Gardens.
Chinatown
Also nearby is Chinatown, where you can indulge in traditional dim sum, roasted meats, baked goods and bubble tea (go for a Mulberry Blast at HEYTEA). It’s the second largest Chinatown in the UK and the third largest in Europe, so it’s worth a visit.
Eating Out
Medlock Canteen
Medlock Canteen on Deansgate Square is inspired by American diners and Parisian bistros yet it still feels very Manchester. It’s known for its juicy rotisserie chicken, house-butchered steak, New York deli-style sandwiches and the famous staff dinner for a tenner (be quick before it sells outs). It’s also home to the best Sunday roast I’ve had in years!
The Sunday set lunch menu offers two or three courses (£30/£36) and there’s plenty of choice. To start, we enjoyed crunchy smoked cheese croquettes with truffle mayo under a flurry of shaved cheese and a huge, insanely delicious roast chicken Caesar salad with parmesan and croutons.
For the main event, we went for the dry-aged beef and iron-aged pork with crispy roasties, red cabbage, carrots, seasonal greens, fluffy Yorkshires and rich gravy.
The quality of the meat was next level and the veggies were cooked with care to bring out lots of flavour, making it a truly decadent roast.
Gooey Bakery and Cafe
Gooey should be at the top of your list for brunch in the Northern Quarter and yes, it’s just as yummy as it looks on the ‘gram. This neighbourhood bakery and cafe is the place to come for all-day sandos, French toast cubes dripping in honey butter and giant stuffed baked goods.
It’s a casual, industrial space styled with flashes of neon and Keith Haring prints with an open plan bakery and kitchen and a counter laden with warm cookies, cruffins and doughnuts. You can order to take away, but it’s a lovely place to sit and refuel.
Sandos are the way to go and the two that we tried were unbelievable. The bacon sandwich with black pepper cured bacon, house-made ketchup and a fried egg on toasted shokupan was an absolute classic and the katsu sando with panko fried chicken breast, kombu cabbage and katsu mayo was lightly spiced and moreish – it’s hard to pick a favourite. A side of home-made hash brown stacks with ketchup are also a must!
There’s also a Gooey counter at Selfridges Trafford Centre and a kiosk at Ducie Street Warehouse for takeaway treats.
Fat Pat’s
What if I told you that some of Manchester’s best sandwiches are to be ordered online and collected from a tiny window down a dark alleyway? Fat Pat’s might not be the boujiest spot in town, but its outrageously big subs are the stuff of legends. They’ve got all of the American classics covered – hot honey fried chicken, shrimp po’boy, Philly cheesesteak or eggplant muffaletta.
We were blown away by the Philly cheesesteak with fresh-cut house steak, new bay seasoning, sauce Montreal, caramelised onions, cheese, crispy shallots, parmesan and chives. It’s gooey and satisfying with good quality meat and seriously intense flavours. Go for the combo with crinkle-cut fries and a drink and be aware that one is more than enough to share.
Siop Shop
For a sugar fix, head to Siop Shop, a quirky, colourful cafe on the corner of Tib Street in the Northern Quarter. All of the baked goods are made in-house and their doughnuts are super creative with interesting flavours and themes.
Foundation Coffee House
Take a break from exploring with a dose of caffeine at Foundation Coffee House. This Manchester-based independent coffee house has a bright, industrial aesthetic and there are now four outposts in the city centre (including Whitworth Locke).
Brunch is served all day with everything from toasted bagels and freshly-baked pastries to a full English and the signature Mancmuffin. They do an excellent flat white and strong matcha latte and you can try their single origin guest coffees.
Culture
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery is a fantastic publicly-owned art museum with over 25,000 objects. Established in 1823, it houses an impressive collection of art spanning six centuries with a particular focus on Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art.
The current Unpicking Couture exhibition features pieces by Cristobal Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaïa, Christian Dior and Yohji Yamamoto and runs until January 2026. Best of all, Manchester Art Gallery is free for all and there’s no need to book tickets.
If you have more time in Manchester, be sure to check out The Whitworth, The Lowry and new cultural venue Aviva Studios.
Shop
Shopping in Manchester is a real treat and you’re guaranteed to find some exciting things to take home. In the Northern Quarter, you can find rare records at Vinyl Exchange, indie zines and art books at UNITOM, vintage and retro clothes at the famous Pop Boutique and lovely blooms at Northern Flower.
For high-end designers, there’s Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Mulberry and streetwear at This Thing Of Ours, Suzylovesmilo, KershKicks and END.
It’s also worth stopping by the Royal Exchange Arcade and Barton Arcade – two delightful, historic shopping arcades filled with independent boutiques and cafes.
Stay
Whitworth Locke
Whitworth Locke is one of the coolest places to stay in downtown Manchester with all sorts of home comforts right on the doorstep. Opened in 2018, this design-led aparthotel is housed in a stunning redbrick former cotton mill, expertly transformed by New York architects Grzywinski+Pons.
I’ve stayed at a few Locke properties in London and Edinburgh and Whitworth definitely has the best social scene. At the heart of the open-plan lobby is the light-filled Conservatory Bar where you can enjoy a cocktail or craft beer under a beautiful glass dome. There’s also an outpost of Foundation Coffee House, a co-working space and Shallows, a beauty and tattoo studio set in an abandoned swimming pool.
Our loft-style Locke Studio was very spacious and comfortable with warm, pastel pink interiors, exposed brick walls and large windows. Room features include a signature jewel green sofa, cosy queen-size bed, large flatscreen TV and a sleek black kitchen with complimentary tea and coffee.
The pink and blue tiled bathroom features a walk-in shower, thick cotton towels and full-size Salted Caramel Vanilla and Himalayan Hibiscus bath products by Kinsey Apothecary.
Whitworth Locke also has a gym and a communal laundry room, making it ideal for longer stays in Manchester. The central location, stylish interiors and lovely staff would definitely bring me back to Whitworth Locke again.
For more information and booking, visit: www.lockeliving.com
All photos by Chérie City
