As Manchester and New York embark on an inaugural two-year tourism partnership, which will see Virgin Atlantic increase its flight capacity on its direct route, we’ve rounded up some of the most Instagrammable parts of this diverse city – those likely to lure in some lovely likes!
Industry Everywhere
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First up, Manchester has a big industrial heritage, which is displayed proudly in its regeneration. Wherever you are in the city, you can feel its history all around you. The canals and warehouses, in particular, serve as reminders of its past and are a testament to sturdy Victorian engineering – they built them right the first time.
Big Old Libraries
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Next, to the neo-gothic architecture of The John Rylands Library, and the oldest public reference library still standing in the United Kingdom – Chetham’s Library. Both of these have been used as filming locations and it’s not hard to see why!
Salford’s Media Circus
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The Salford area is home to Media City, where many famous TV channels are based, and The Lowry arts hub, which hosts theatre performances, exhibitions and concerts. The complex is named after the painter L. S. Lowry who famously depicted scenes of industrial life in the area, and you can see some of his work in the Salford Museum & Art Gallery. As you might expect in an area crawling with media, Salford Quays is a great spot for snapping, especially at either end of the day when the sun is low.
Hipsterville
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Beard oil, flat whites, street art, arm tattoos… Are we in Shoreditch? The once gritty textile producing areas of the Northern Quarter and Ancoats now have all of the hipster ingredients – but are 200 miles to the north. Twenty-seventh on Time Out’s 2019 list of coolest neighbourhoods in the world, which we’re assured is 100% science based, makes Ancoats somewhere to brag about on your Instagram Story!
More tea, vicar?
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Dating back to the 1400s, Manchester Cathedral is free to visit and is spectacular both inside and out. Candlelight concerts give you the chance to capture an atmospheric shot, and we highly recommend the Proper Tea cafe , which does a stonking bacon butty – or perhaps bap or barm cake is the correct term here!
Football Crazy
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This is a must-visit for football fanatics, and there’s still plenty here of interest for the more casual fans. Hunt out your favourite kit, take photos with replica trophies and discover many more oddities to share with your followers.
Jazz Club… Nice
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Matt & Phred’s in the Northern Quarter is open every night of the week. Musicians perform live music ranging from jazz and blues to electronica, hip hop and rock – and most genres in between! They also do pizza, which you can get for free when you buy two drinks during happy hour! Great…
Bees, also everywhere!
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Lastly, beware of the bees – the city is covered in them! The worker bee has been associated with Manchester since 1842 and remains an important symbol of the city’s identity. If you can bee-lieve it, ahem, the hive mind has come together through the powers of the internet to map their whereabouts.
