Manchester is one of the most fun cities to visit in England. There is a variety of things to do in the city – from football matches to shopping to museums and libraries. Manchester has something for everyone, which makes it a must-visit stop on any northern England road trip.

As one of the largest cities in England it’s also a great place to set up base, and explore the regions around. There are several organized daytrips that you can take from Manchester, the most popular being a day trip to North Wales or the Lake District. You can also catch trains from Victoria to a lot of the nearby cities and explore on your own.

John Rylands Library is any bookworm’s dream! Not only does it look like it is taken straight out of one of the Harry Potter books, but it’s also home to one of the world’s most unique collections of books, manuscripts, maps, works of art and objects.

The library is open to visitors Wednesday-Saturday and you will not need a ticket to access it. However, during busier times there might be queues to limit the number of visitors.

Next to Victoria station and the football museum, you’ll find the oldest public library in England – Chetham’s Library. Founded in 1653 the library has stood through several historic events. It is known as the place where Marx and Engels met to discuss their theories and ideas and it is also the location where Dr. John Dee supposedly summoned the devil.

Today the library is only accessible through pre-booked tours.

Manchester houses two of the largest football clubs in England – Manchester United and Manchester City. And the clubs alone are reasons enough to visit the city. As Manchester United fans, our main motive to visit Manchester was to catch a game at Old Trafford (the stadium of Manchester United). Even if you are not all that interested in football, I will highly recommend catching a game when you are in the area. The atmosphere alone is an experience; you will find yourself singing along with the crowd before you know it.

Old Trafford – the home of the Red Devils

The Stadium tour of old Strafford will immerse you in the history of the club as well as take you behind the scenes through the players’ tunnel and the players’ changing rooms. You will also get a close view of the pitch and the seats of some of the legendary managers.

Etihad Stadium – the home of Manchester City

There are several options of types of stadium tours you can take to Etihad. The classic stadium tour will take you through areas not usually accessible to the public such as the press room, the players’ tunnel and the pitch side.

Prefer to do some shopping? Manchester has a large shopping centre in the middle of the city centre as well as shops dotted all around. You will find everything from large warehouse brands to independent shops. No matter what you are looking for you will probably find it here.

If you are in Manchester city centre the Manchester Cathedral is worth a stop. It is situated behind a set of charming old buildings that stands out from the rest of the modern architecture of the shopping mall and brand warehouses. The lawn in front is perfect for a little snack break in between your sightseeing.

Manchester does not only have football and shopping, it also has a variety of museums, everything from the Manchester Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, the Manchester Art Gallery, and the Imperial War Museum just to name a few. Exploring some of the interesting museums is a perfect way to spend a rainy day!

A must-do anywhere you are in England. It’s the perfect way to get the full British experience. The Old Wellington quickly became a favourite for us with its quirky floorplan and charming exterior. The more wonky the building the better (in my opinion)!

If you are looking to get out of the city hustle Heaton Park is perfect. With its 600 acres, it’s the largest park in the northwest. It also houses an estate from the 1700s called the Heaton Hall that is open to the public as a museum and event location.

Taking a day trip is also a great way to get out of the city. There are organized day trips to North Wales and the Lake District from Manchester. Both will take you through beautiful nature and charming villages. Some of my suggestions are:

Snowdonia and Chester with Rabbies Trail Burners
– Stopping at Conwy Castle, driving through Snowdonia National Park visiting Betws-y-Coed and rounding off in Chester before heading back to Manchester

Windermere and Lake District with Rabbies Trail Burners
– Stopping at Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake Windermere and Coniston Water. This trip also includes a Lake Cruise on Windermere Lake.