Close Attractions

Based in one of the world's oldest railway stations, Liverpool Road Station, Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry contains 15 galleries which not only educate and inform, but also amaze and entertain. Permanent exhibitions include the Air & Space Gallery, which is packed with planes and flying history memorabilia;Out of This World, a space gallery with interactive computer displays and simulations;the Making of Manchester, an exhibition about the city and it's industrial heritage;Underground Manchester, a walk through Manchester's Victorian Sewer system, complete with sounds and smells;Xperiment, a hands-on science centre with amazing special effects;the Gas & Electricity Galleries, which show these two powerful utilities changed people's lives;the Power Hall, which includes various large engines, steam engines among them;as well as many other exhibits.

The most successful club of recent times was formed in a slightly less than glamorous manner - a club called Newton Heath being founded by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company in 1878. In 1902 they went bankrupt and Manchester United were born. United always enjoyed moderate success but in the Fifties and Sixties under Matt Busby they won five titles and a European Cup in an era that was only marred by the Munich Air Disaster which claimed much of the first-team squad. Fast Fact:The first five times United entered the European Cup, they never failed to get to the semi-final stage.

Opened on 5 July 2002, the long awaited IWM North is situated on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal on the Trafford wharfside of Salford Quays about 2 miles from city centre Manchester. It is located diametrically opposite the Lowry Centre on the Salford side, to which it is linked by the dramatic Lowry Footbridge across the Ship Canal. The building is an attraction in itself, and is expected to be visited by around 400,000 visitors a year. It is an inspired concept of internationally renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind, who also designed the adjoining Lowry Footbridge. Polish-born in 1946, and with his main office now in Berlin, Libeskind overcame severe budget cuts - from £40 million down to around £28.5 million when the millennium lottery grant failed to materialise, to produce this masterpiece, the first of only 3 buildings by the architect. His other two include the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the Shoah Centre also in Manchester.

A dazzling, award winning building in a stunning waterside location. One of the most exciting art galleries in Britain, explore L S Lowry's life and work in ways that might surprise you and discover something new in our other gallery spaces. One of the world's best venues for live entertainment, with an exceptional international programme of drama, dance, comedy and music. A great place for a superb value meal in our award winning restaurant. The Sunday afternoon rendezvous for great food and great free jazz, the first Sunday of the month in the Circle Bar, with the best of North West's jazz and World music artists. A great place to stimulate the whole family with fun activities and education programmes.

This is a full working museum with demonstrations of machinery, set in an original 18th century building with its magnificent water wheel, and two authentic working mill museum galleries. Visitors may experience the original (not reconstructed) textile mill with all of its real sounds and smells. The Higher Mill was built in 1789 by the Turner family with the purpose of finishing woollen cloths, and had an unbroken working family connection until its commercial closure in 1967.Other famous machines may be seen here including Spinning Mules, Hargreaves' Spinning Jenny, and many others. Talks on "The Lancashire Loom", the story of the Lancashire Textile Industry every half hour throughout the day, and a video "Hand to Wheel" at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour. There are attendants around who are happy to explain and demonstrate the working of the mills.

The Trafford Centre has had a massive impact on Manchester. It boasts 280 shops, 35 restaurants and a 20-screen cinema under one roof, attracting shoppers from all over the north of England - a veritable cathedral for the consumer! With fancy fake palms, neo-classical columns and marble floors, the Trafford Centre aims to attract the discerning shopper. Stuffed with designer outlets including DKNY, Selfridges, Miss Sixty, Moschino, Calvin Klein, Diesel and Lacoste to name but a few, it really has revolutionised the shopping horizon for Mancunians - and their eager visitors. Even better, the mall has ample free parking for those who wish to shop without racing out of the store to add money to the parking meter.