| the bmibaby best list |  |
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Our tips for a great
getaway in... Amidst Manchester’s impressive architectural industrial heritage is a city in constant evolution, with new bars and restaurants springing up almost daily, developing the city’s diverse character. From the independent places at the Northern Quarter, the waterside bars and restaurants in Castlefield to the super-slick Spinningfields area, Manchester suits all moods. Shopping doesn’t disappoint either, there’s hundreds of high street stores in the city centre including a flagship Topshop, the world’s biggest Next, label lovers will find luxury department stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges as well as Vivienne Westwood, Tommy Hilfiger and Agent Provocateur on King Street. For one off pieces the Northern Quarter is home to independent boutiques and vintage clothing stores. Out of town, The Trafford Centre has over 230 stores under one roof, from high street to designer shopping, more than 60 restaurants, cafés and bars. To find out what’s happening this summer in Manchester, plus hotel deals and special offers go to www.visitmanchester.com |
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best view:
from Cloud 23 skybar Cloud 23, the 23rd floor skybar of Beetham Tower, the city’s tallest building, is the perfect place to sup Manchester-themed cocktails such as Ena Sparkles and Shakermaker. From it you can admire the progress of a city on the high-rise. Where > Cloud 23, Beetham Tower, 303 Deansgate, Manchester, Tel: +44 (0)161 870 1600. view map Website > www.hilton.com
best park:
Heaton Park If you're bored with celeb-spotting and like your treats a little more organic, just four miles north of the city centre is Heaton Park. Here, you can meet the resident alpacas, Hebridean sheep and Kune Kune pigs, and soak up the history of the nine registered structures (including the glorious 18th-century Heaton Hall). Where > Heaton Park, Heywood, Greater Manchester. view map Website > www.heatonpark.org.uk
best live music:
Night and Day Café Hardly a secret but still the best place in town to see live music, the Night and Day Café hasn't let its reputation go to its head and you’ll still see the same old dudes rocking out to international and local bands. The food is poor and the coffee shocking, but the vibe rivals none. Where > Night and Day Café, 26 Oldham Street, Manchester, Tel: +44 (0)161 236 4597. view map Website > www.nightnday.org
best vintage shop:
Pop Boutique Like your clobber with a touch of seventies flair? Head down to Pop Boutique on Manchester's funky Oldham Street. With its own retro ranges and hanger upon hanger of proper vintage gear, it's the place to find your own style. Where > Pop Boutique, 34-36 Oldham Street, Manchester, Tel: +44 (0)161 236 5797. view map Website > www.pop-boutique.com
best building:
Peveril of the Peak It would be easy to cite the famous town hall as the best building in Manchester, but look a little deeper and you can find some real architectural gems such as Peveril of the Peak, a Grade-II listed pub named after a famous stagecoach from Derbyshire. Its yellow-brick and green-tiled exterior is a quaint change from the city-slickness of the surrounding new developments. Inside, the ceramic tiles, stained glass and occasional music nights add atmosphere to a genuine folk icon. Where > 127 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, Tel: +44 (0)161 236 6364. view map
best place for spotting celebs:
Panacea An award-winning restaurant and cocktail bar beneath the Restaurant Bar and Grill, Panacea is the place to see the stars. SuperWAG Colleen McLoughlin recently celebrated her hen night there and its strict door policy means that the rich and famous flock to it for a quiet lunch. Where > Panacea, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Tel: +44 (0)161 833 0000. view map Website > www.panaceamanchester.co.uk
best veggie food:
Oklahoma Quite aside from the chalkboard in the loo on which to write secret love notes, in the heart of the laid-back Northern Quarter, Oklahoma is the best place for delicious, organic veggie food. Check out the hummus toastie with beetroot, lime and coconut soup, or baked potato with goat's cheese and roasted veg. Where > Oklahoma, 4–76 High Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Tel: +44 (0)161 834 1136. view map |
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| best trivia | The computer was invented in Manchester. Alan Turing, a pioneering mathematician and widely considered to be the father of modern computer science, conducted his work on turning thought processes into numbers at Manchester University. There’s even a bronze statue of him in the city's Sackville Park. |