08/ MANCHESTER UMBRO CUP – TOURIST INFORMATION

The legendary music scene that brought us the Haçienda, the Smiths, The Stone Roses, Oasis, Mr Scruff and Badly Drawn Boy lives on in Manchester. Free events and festivals run all year round, and the massive student population keeps the city’s bohemian atmosphere humming.

Manchester City Centre Shopping
Whether you’re a label lover, a bargain hunter or looking for one-offs, you’re sure to find something special in Manchester. For the latest high street and designer label items, head for Exchange Square, Deansgate, King Street and St Ann’s Square. This is where Harvey Nichols and Selfridges stand alongside designer palaces like Armani, Hermes and Vivienne Westwood, as well as high-street shops like Top Shop Shoes and Karen Millen. For chain store favourites and a new marketplace all under one roof, visit the fabulous Manchester Arndale.

Manchester Trafford Centre
Europe’s largest shopping centre – The Trafford Centre is home to over 280 shops. As well as another Selfridges department store – check out the food hall for its stunning food displays – all your other regular favourites are here too: the likes of Zara, Mango, H&M, Ralph Lauren and Manchester’s only Apple store. Shops stay open until 10pm Monday to Saturday (6pm Sunday). And with dozens of restaurants, cafés and bars, a 20-screen cinema complex, bowling and more, the Trafford Centre is your one-stop-shop for a whole day-and-a-night’s entertainment.

Manchester Attractions
The city’s attractions – from museums and galleries to sports stadiums and music venues – tell the Manchester story better than any person or guidebook. For Manchester’s role at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, see LS Lowry’s well-loved paintings at The Lowry in The Quays. Urbis in the city centre is an innovative attraction dedicated to urban culture, with exhibitions on everything from the future of cities to the history of punk rock.

Sports fans can revel in Manchester’s sporting prowess at the tours and exhibitions of Manchester’s sports arenas and stadiums – including the hallowed turf of Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium.The Museum of Science and Industry is a favourite with residents and tourists alike and tells of much more than just science and industry. For a sense of the city’s pioneering spirit check out the list of Manchester Firsts – the first computer and the first to split the atom being just two examples. Try an open top bus tour from St Peter’s Square.

Manchester Art Galleries hold one of the country’s most impressive fashion collections, with over 20,000 individual pieces.

Manchester Events and Nightlife
Manchester’s legendary musical heritage is still the very heartbeat of the city. Live music is a touchstone of Manchester nightlife, from the 19,500 capacity MEN Arena – largest of its kind in Europe – to the city’s more intimate venues, like The Roadhouse in the Northern Quarter. Most of Manchester’s iconic bands paid their dues on the local live circuit and it’s still a great place to hear new music.The Manchester Academy, attached to the University of Manchester, is another top venue for live music. It’s also worth keeping your ear to the ground for the city’s regular live music festivals. But you can’t visit Manchester without sampling some of the city’s nightclubs. While the legendary Haçienda may have long since closed its doors, club culture lives on at places like Sankeys and Music Box, which attract big name DJ’s and clubbers from all over the world.

Manchester – A place to Eat and Drink!
Thanks to the city’s huge student population, affordable cafes and cheap eateries abound. In Europe’s second largest Chinatown, you’ll find over 40 restaurants within a quarter of a mile of each other, serving up dishes not just from China but across the Far East, including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia. On Rusholme’s Curry Mile you’ll find a stretch of Wilmslow Road lined with Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurants.