Just how cool is Manchester, actually?

“We want you to see if you can recreate one of your favourite experiences abroad, right here in England.”

“Challenge accepted!”

That’s (roughly) how my conversation with VisitEngland happened, and it’s the reason I found myself on a train on Monday morning, whizzing through the lush British countryside to Manchester, a city I’ve heard much about in recent years, but never visited (shame on me, I know).

I’m a city slicker at heart. I love a nice beach or mountain, but I’m happiest when I’m pounding the pavement in a new destination, people watching, trying new food and scouring vintage shops for hidden treasures.

One of my favourite cities in the world is Vancouver, a place I called home for two years, and a destination that never fails to wow me with its spectacular scenery. It’s more than just mountains and pine trees though; Vancouver has a vibrant food scene, great shopping and a public transport system that makes getting around a breeze.

So here’s the thing about my challenge.

Manchester doesn’t have mountains; that much I knew before I arrived. It’s also lacking giant green spaces like Stanley Park and beaches to rival English Bay. But I wanted to discover whether I could find those things I love most: food, coffee, vintage shopping and a cosmopolitan vibe, without needing my passport.

A mini guide to Manchester

Getting there

The train journey from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly is just two hours on Virgin Trains, costing from around £42 (the cheapest I could find) for an off-peak return journey.

No passport needed, no jetlag suffered.

Where to stay

I can’t speak for anywhere else, but I stayed at INNSIDE Manchester, in the artsy First Street district that’s right near Oxford Road station. I definitely recommend it – the location is perfect, the decor is stylish and minimal, and the service is excellent.

My room was bright and spacious, with an open-plan layout, a free soft drink minibar and all the amenities I needed. Rooms start from £99, which includes breakfast – a filling affair that bizarrely (or perhaps epically) is accompanied by a DJ.

It’s certainly one way to wake up in the morning!

Getting around

When I first arrived, I glanced at a map of Manchester and assumed it was about the same size as London. It didn’t take long for me to realise how wrong I was.

The city is comparatively small, making it easily walkable from end to end. I barely used public transport, but if you prefer not to walk, the free shuttle bus or affordable tram will get you around with little fuss.

There’s even free wifi on the trams!

Things to see and do in Manchester

I highly recommend taking a walking tour to get your bearings when you arrive. Manchester Guided Tours offers a Discover Manchester Walk daily at 11am for just £8, which will get you acquainted with the city’s distinct neighbourhoods.

Much like Vancouver, Manchester is divided into sections, like the hipster Northern Quarter, Chinatown or upmarket Spinningfields, so there’s something for everyone.

The Northern Quarter was where I spent most of my time – it reminded me of Vancouver’s Commercial Drive, but on a much larger scale.

Street art adorned brick walls, hipster cafes served delicious coffee alongside funky homewares and vintage shops outnumbered high street chains. More on shopping in a sec.

Manchester is home to some of the most breathtaking libraries* I’ve ever seen. I’m a total bookworm so I popped into the Manchester Central Library as well as Chetham’s Library, The John Rylands Library and The Portico Library.

*I am fully aware that not everyone would say libraries are cool. But they’re wrong.

Wow.

I’m reading the Harry Potter series from scratch at the moment, so I have Hogwarts on the brain, but seriously, do these photos not look magical to you?!

I’m not much of a museum-goer, and I was far too busy gawping at libraries anyway, but there are loads of interesting museums to visit in Manchester.

The one I wish I’d had time to check out is Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. Her famous (and awesome) novel North and South is a window into the culture and history of Manchester during the height of the Industrial Revolution, and just walking past the imposing old mills made me feel like I was immersed in the world of Margaret Hale.

Fun fact: in Australia, we call bedding ‘Manchester’ because of the origin of the cotton sheets imported Down Under.

For a full list of Manchester’s museums, head to the Visit Manchester website.

The Manchester Cathedral is an ornate oasis of calm in the heart of the city, and well worth a peek inside for the colourful stained glass windows and intricate choir stalls.

One of the things I love about Vancouver is that, no matter when you visit, you’ll usually see some kind of filming for a big Hollywood film happening in the city.

Although Manchester isn’t quite the film destination Vancouver is, I did spot a familiar movie location while walking along Dale Street…

source: captainamericafilmingmanchester.co.uk

Shopping

There are high street stores and malls left, right and centre in Manchester, but I’m not going to talk about those.

The kind of shopping I love is the vintage kind, where I can rummage through a rack and pull out a one-of-a-kind treasure with its own story and character. And there’s plenty of that to be found, too.

Start at Afflecks in the Northern Quarter, a sort of vintage department store spread across four floors. You’ll find retro boutiques, independent jeweller’s, design shops and even an ice cream parlour.

You could easily spend a whole afternoon getting lost in the passageways here, but when you do emerge, blinking and laden with bags, you’ll want to check out COW Vintage.

Although slightly on the pricier scale of vintage shopping, its selection is worth a look. I found an incredible navy blue leather drawstring bucket bag for £26; a nice souvenir of my 48 hours in Manchester.

The Manchester Craft and Design Centre can be found in an airy, primary-coloured Victorian hall where 30 designer-makers display their beautiful workmanship.

And when all that shopping has got you all hangry and weak, stop in at Fig + Sparrow for a coffee, a bite to eat and a spot of interiors shopping.

Eating and drinking in Manchester

48 hours was absolutely not enough time to eat all that I wanted to while I was in Manchester.

On every street corner there was a cafe or restaurant with a menu so mouthwatering I struggled to pull myself away. One highlight was Gorilla, something of an institution in the city, apparently. It’s a gin bar, restaurant and gig venue, so you could easily spend the whole night there, delicious cocktail in hand.

I enjoyed a hearty and delicious Aussie-style brunch at Federal where, being run by antipodeans, they take their coffee [far too] seriously. I highly recommend that you start your day here – it’s the perfect fuel for a day of exploration.

For lunch, take a trip on the city’s easy-to-navigate tram system, called the Metrolink, to Altrincham. Here you’ll find the Altrincham Market, housed in a Grade II listed building, and packed with artisan eateries like Honest Crust sourdough pizza, Sam Joseph ice cream and Great North Pie Co.

It’s well worth the trip out of town for a delectable lunch.

And finally, for an unforgettable dinner in a trendy setting, head straight to award-winning El Gato Negro for Spanish tapas that are so tasty you won’t be able to stop, even long after you’re full. Try the monkfish; it’s divine!

The verdict: just how cool is Manchester?

You know what? It’s pretty darn cool. As a Twitter user pointed out to me,

@elle_croft@VisitEngland@marketing_mcr Manchester has unbeatable soul. Vancouver is bridge to unbeatable nature

— Adam Wojnar (@AdamWojnar_com) April 20, 2016

I was quick to reply that Vancouver has oodles of soul, too – but Adam has a point.

Manchester is surprising in so many ways. The architecture is spectacular. The street art is colourful. The canals offer an outdoor space that rivals many city parks. Art, history and culture is everywhere. And the food…well, let’s just say I’ll be coming back just as soon as Northern Soul comes up with a gluten free option!

Although I’d never say that you should visit Manchester instead of Vancouver (because that was never the point of this challenge), it’s incredible to think that the same calibre of city is right on my doorstep, just a couple of hours away, and I can explore it anytime I like!

Have you visited Manchester? Do you think it’s as cool as your favourite cities abroad?

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