subject: Manchester, The Real Capital of the North [print this page] Manchester, The Real Capital of the North
There are a number of cities that lay claim to the title the Capital of the North' but very few have as strong a claim as the north-western city of Manchester. Famous for its music, culture and for being one of the most rapidly developing cities in the UK, Manchester is a great place to spend a weekend for a city break or a longer holiday.
Until relatively recently Manchester was a small and not-particularly important city in the north-west of England, though the city has some Roman heritage it was not really until the industrial revolution that it began to grow in importance. Accordingly, Manchester is proud of its industrial roots and this is reflected in the makeup of a number of the city's museums and galleries.
Nowadays Manchester is the second biggest economic area in the UK (behind London). The centre of the city in particular is developing astonishingly rapidly and every time you turn around it seems that a new building has been built.
Accordingly some of the best Manchester hotels are to be found in the centre area, particularly if you're looking to spend a little bit more on your accommodation.
Manchester is a great place to visit for music, for evening entertainment and as a base from which to visit the surrounding area. The city has a vibrant music scene and on any given night you can walk into a bar or a pub and find talented musicians performing at open mic or gig nights.
If you're looking for something a little more cultural Manchester is home to the best theatres outside of the West End, nearly all the major shows that you can find in London are also showing at Manchester and you can get a ticket for significantly less than you would in the capital.
Anther reason to visit Manchester is the surrounding cities and countryside. Liverpool is just an hour on the train, as is Leeds, and in half an hour you can find yourself in the Pennines or the Yorkshire Dales. One particularly beautiful place to visit is Hebden Bridge which is an idyllic little village in the heart of the Dales and a great place to visit if you fancy a bit of fresh air and countryside.
Manchester is swiftly becoming one of the places to visit in the UK, it is a city full of youth and optimism and the perfect candidate for a staycation.
