Learn about things to do in Manchester in a day. Find out what to do in Manchester England. Visit Manchester UK for one day.
One of the best things about living in Dublin is the opportunity to travel and take short weekend city breaks on Ryanair. Our very first Ryanair weekend was to Manchester City and Liverpool in Great Britain.
The general reaction that we got when we mentioned our weekend getaway to friends and colleagues was "why there?" with a raised eyebrow. We always answer "Why not?!"
After all, Manchester has one of the best known football teams in the world: Manchester United, and besides, every place is worth visiting at least once and the price and distance was certainly perfect for a weekend jaunt.
The flight from Dublin to Manchester is less than an hour each way and cost less than $100 per person. We paid strict attention to the Ryanair guidelines for baggage.
Ryanair is great if you are good at following rules. If you’re not, it will cost you.
We flew into Manchester and out of Liverpool. Read on to discover what to do in Manchester in a Day. We arrived on time to Manchester City Centre with no worries or unexpected surprises.
1. Breakfast at Cafe Metro
We arrived before 8 am on the first flight of the day and set out to find breakfast. We ate a no-nonsense meal of scrambled eggs and toast at Cafe Metro. It was a solid stop to fuel up for the day.2. A Quiet Walk in Manchester
An advantage to arriving before many shops opened was that was had time to enjoy the graffiti painted on the metal doors protecting each establishment and along the sidewalk including- A kid tucking a cupcake in her cap.
- An unexpected broom and dustpan sculpture.
- Sidewalk poetry
I especially liked the sidewalk poetry and thought I'd transcribe it here:
The telling lines within a sea of faces where sufferers take cover of street caves. Where wander the wayward and lost where the runaway can chart his journey back home. Here the water runs, the world defrosts, the street breathes beneath this stone
3. Exchange Square and Around
We wandered through a flower decorated shopping street to Exchange Square which features a large Ferris wheel. The Triangle Shopping Centre featured a light filled glass atrium. I found it amazing to think that less than 15 years ago, this whole area lay in ruins due to an IRA bombing. We stopped to pay our respects at the bright red post box that survived the destruction and still stands on the same spot today. We wandered toward St. Ann's church and were impressed by Barton Arcade -- both inside and out. On a whim, we popped into the John Rylands Library -- also impressive inside and out. The library featured a large, book-lined and wood paneled reading room for students and scholars.
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Looking for other city break ideas in the UK? For a similar vibe in other cities in the UK spend 2 days in Glasgow Scotland or a weekend in Birmingham England with an added bonus of some great eating and drinking opportunities.
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The Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) was our next stop in Manchester. We saw various types of engines on display. We also got to see a coal powered locomotive in action. For a few pounds, you could go for a short ride. We decided to skip it and leave room for the families with excited children. The decorations around the rail yard were also impressive. In the distance, we could see the striking (and asymmetrical) Manchester Hilton. I liked the texture of the rusting railcar in front of the orange brick. Another fascinating sight at the MOSI was the Water Supply and Sanitation exhibit. Part of the display involved walking through a Victorian era sewer -- not as gross as it sounds.