On Business In: Where to eat sleep, and enjoy the delights of Manchester

On business in... Manchester

Industrial charm will win the hearts of visitors to Manchester, last year declared the third best city in the world by TimeOut. From a vibrant music and arts scene to foodie options galore – oh, and a couple of pretty decent football clubs – this northern city has a lot to shout about, writes April Waterston

Third besT ciTy in The world?

Getting there

The 'Gateway to the North', Manchester Airport is just seven miles from the city centre. It's the busiest UK airport outside of London and is well connected to Europe, the US and beyond. For domestic travel, Manchester is easiest to reach by train, with over 50 services a day from London and a direct travel time from just over two hours. Avanti West Coast services many of the routes, with a one-way fare starting at around £70. Onward travel to the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield is also easy with regular and inexpensive services. By car you're looking at closer to four hours travel time from London. Head up the M40 or M1 and M6 for an easy, straightforward drive.

SLEEPING A flurry of openings has broadened the city's accommodation options.

Try the striking Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly, fondly known as the 'Jenga’ building, or the "fun and affordable" Moxy Manchester City in the heart of Spinningfields with rooms from £99. Choose from not just one but two Hyatt Hotels which opened just before Covid hit – The Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House – both in the Innovation District on the Oxford Road Corridor. For longer stays, there's a new a Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity in St Peter's Square and a CitySuites aparthotel in Embankment West.

EATING

Escape to Freight Island – literally! The ultra-cool re-purposed freightdepot is just a two-minute walk from Piccadilly station. The industrial space boasts a unique selection of bars, a food market and varied seating areas, all complemented by live music and DJs. Or, for something a bit more boujee, OSMA brings a taste of Scandinavia to the city. Its name is symbolic of the founder's hometowns (Oslo and Manchester), a heritage which is reflected in the menu. The Norwegian-Mancunian fusion may sound like an odd one, but OSMA consistently ranks as one of the best eateries in the city.

AFTER HOURS

Catch a gig at the newly-refurbed Band on the Wall on Swan Street, a venue ingrained in Manchester's famous music scene. The likes of Buzzcocks, the Fall and Joy Division played some of their earliest gigs at the venue back in the 70s, with today's shows offering a platform to up-and-coming local artists.

GETTING AbOUT

A fleet of buses, trams and trains make travelling around Manchester a breeze. The Metrolink tram network covers four zones from the GaTeway The nor To Th city centre to the suburbs. A single ticket costs from £1.40, or a day pass for all zones is £7.10.

MUST-SEE SIGHTS

Head to the Northern Quarter to get a feel for the city's artistic flair or explore Chinatown, the third largest in Europe. Or take a tour of one of its famous football stadiums – Manchester United’s historic Old Trafford or Manchester City’s ultra-modern Etihad Stadium.

vibranT music and arTs scene