subject: Cotton On To Mancunian History And Culture: Manchester Hotels [print this page] It is difficult to think of any cities that have embraced social change as readily as Manchester. Once the belly and guts of the nation, the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, it has been transformed into a proving ground for modernist design, and the UKs most important cultural centre outside of London. Manchesters confidence is not misplaced. From its all-conquering football teams to its two world renowned orchestras, it is an incredibly successful city. With major concert halls, theatres, a buzzing cafe culture and a clutch of impressive new museums, Manchester has well and truly arrived on the UK tourist map - a fact reflected in the increasingly wide range of boutique and luxury Manchester hotels.
Arguably, the focal points of Manchesters thriving cultural scene are its museums. High levels of investment in Manchesters cultural scene have reaped impressive rewards, with Daniel Libeskinds Imperial War Museum North chief among them. This impressive building with its striking aluminium-clad sail stands next to the Manchester Ship Canal in the thoroughly rejuvenated Salford Quays. Also perched on the waters edge, the newly built Lowry Centre is home to some of L.S. Lowrys best works, as well as wide range of other permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Manchesters vibrant streets and the surrounding countryside offer a wide variety of interesting opportunities for day trips and excursions. The Pennines are just short drive away, so its well worth hiring a car if youre in Manchester for more than a few days. Characterised by stone built farms and long-standing dry-stone walls enclosing picturesque moorland, the Pennines are just a short drive away from the hustle and bustle of Manchesters busy streets. If you want to explore this captivating landscape while on holiday at one of the many fantastic Manchester hotels, there are some useful websites that are worth checking out, or, alternatively, the staff at your hotel should be able to provide you with maps and information about routes.
Meandering for 70 miles from Manchester to Liverpool Bay, the river paths of the Mersey are popular with walking enthusiasts. In 2007, clay figures of Ganesha, the Hindu elephant deity riding a mouse, were submerged into the Mersey, earning it the title the Ganges of the North. The largest navigational canal in the world when it was completed in 1894, the Manchester Ship Canal is perhaps the citys most famous waterway, attracting thousands of tourists every year.
Manchester is perhaps most well known for being a city of sport. It is home to two premiership football clubs, Manchester United and Manchester City. Each club boasts of separate accomplishments, with Manchester United having the largest football fan base in the world, and Manchester City being the richest football club in the world - largely due to its owners. The City of Manchester stadium is the only club football ground in England to host a UEFA event.
