Often considered England’s 2nd city, Manchester’s rich history covering market, sport, arts, and culture attracts millions of visitors every year, beaten just by London within the UK.
A best city-break location come rain or shine, however without a plan, you might miss out on some of the city’s finest bits. So– three days in Manchester? Here’s where to go and what to eat.
Three Days in Manchester
From the city’s densely-packed yet easy-to-navigate streets, you can find historical landmarks, world-renowned galleries, unique sporting museums, and premier dining establishments, along with plenty of bars and breweries providing award-winning drinks and awe-inspiring home entertainment.
When to Go to Manchester
Manchester can be a terrific UK city-break location year-round, however for the very best experience, we advise early autumn or late spring for an ideal balance of great weather condition and low traffic.
Where to Go
One warranty during your see is that you’ll never ever run out of things to do. Manchester is filled to the brim with special tourist attractions for enthusiasts of everything from sport to history and art.
To help you plan your days in the city, here are our top picks by category as of July 2025.
Sport
Home to Premier League giants Manchester United and Manchester City, in addition to popular rugby, cricket, and athletics associations, Manchester is soaked in sporting history and pride.
- Stadium Tours: All within walking range or a brief tram ride from the city centre, no sports fan’s holiday is total without a tour of one of the city’s world-renowned arenas, such as Old Trafford, the Etihad, and Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
- The National Football Museum: Located in the Urbis structure simply a brief walk from Manchester Victoria Station, the National Football Museum is filled with one-of-a-kind souvenirs, including the original written laws of the game and the very first FA Cup prize.
- Traditional Football Shirts: Situated on Dale Street, around 5 minutes from Piccadilly Station, is the reasonably brand-new Classic Football Shirts shop– an unique retail space that sells vintage and match-worn football shirts from global teams going back decades.
Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash Music The Buzzcocks, The Smiths, Pleasure Department, and Sanctuary, not to point out the Madchester age and all the venues/stories it birthed, this city lives to push the limits of musical expression.
- Sight-Seeing: Whether on an assisted or self-planned trip, you can’t walk far in the city before identifying an iconic musical landmark. Leading picks consist of the renowned Salford Lads Club, Factory Records’ FAC 251, and the initial site of the infamous Haçienda club.
- Nights Out: Manchester’s musical status isn’t stuck in the past, with a lot of brand-new and amazing bands playing throughout 100s of locations every night. Take a look at The Deaf Institute, Band on the Wall, Matt & Phred’s, and the Castle Hotel, just among others spots.
- Record Stores: Manchester’s busy city centre is a terrific place to pick up brand-new and vintage records, from Oldham Street’s Piccadilly Records and Vinyl Exchange to Vinyl Revival, Clampdown Records, and Chorlton’s Kingbee Records a bit more out.
Art and History
Manchester is considered by numerous to be the birthplace of the commercial revolution, with this and numerous wider factors affecting the city’s art, physical facilities, and cultural heritage.
- The Science and Industry Museum: Manchester’s Science and Market Museum is simply a brief walk from Deansgate Station, housing lots of permanent and temporary exhibitions tracing the development of science, innovation, and industry throughout the city.
- Manchester Art Gallery: On Mosley Street in the heart of the city is Manchester Art Gallery, a world-renowned institution devoted to the preservation and display of art, consisting of 1000s of oil paintings and watercolors from the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Performance Spaces: Manchester’s art scene continues to flourish today, with visitors able to see massive productions at high-capacity places like the Royal Exchange and Palace theatres, as well as independent setups at areas like Islington Mill.
What to Consume in Manchester
No trip is complete without great food; luckily, Manchester dining establishments have you covered.
From inexpensive consumes to Michelin-starred experiences, below are simply a few top choices to consider.
Ezra & Gil
For breakfast in the city, couple of spots match Ezra & Gil. Found in the Northern Quarter, leading dishes include smashed pumpkin on sourdough toast and decadent brioche French toast.
This & That
An organization for many Mancs, This & That (tucked away on Soap Street in the Northern Quarter) offers a mouthwatering variety of economical, genuine Indian curries to eat on the go.
Skof
The home of renowned chef Tom Barnes in Manchester. Skof opened in May 2024 and gained its first Michelin star 9 months later, of little surprise to fans of the Off Menu podcast.
Hideaway Developing Co
Hideaway sits simply outside Manchester in the neighbouring city of Salford. It deserves taking a short journey over to sample their independently-brewed beers and Southern BBQ-inspired food.
Concluding
England’s second city has a lot to use in regards to sightseeing, home entertainment, and excellent food. Equipped with the leading suggestions covered above, you’ll discover it easy to plan an unforgettable trip.
Like this:
Like Loading …