Why Should You Visit Manchester 2024
Manchester. Synonymous with music, football, and persevering industrial heritage, the ‘Beehive’ continues to evolve and captivate visitors from all over the globe. The city today is at the forefront of media production, digital developments, sports branding and real estate; and with each year that passes, Manchester will only grow bigger and better. It’s fair to say that the city has come a long way from the cotton mills and textile factories in the 19th century.
From exciting cultural events to historical monuments and sites, here’s a rundown on why you should visit Manchester this year.
Thriving Art Scene
The Manchester Open Exhibition at HOME Gallery showcases the talent of local artists. Unifying artwork, paintings, photography, sculptures, ceramics, video, audio and more - this is the spot for everything artsy.
In addition, the newly opened Aviva Studios provides a platform for contemporary art and hosts Factory International, who run the extremely popular Manchester International Festival.
Explore the city's street art scene with a guided tour, or discover hidden artistic gems in independent galleries. There’s a symbolic mural on almost every street corner in Manchester City Centre, so be sure to grab your camera and snap some stunning shots for your Instagram.
Unforgettable Events
Immerse yourself in the city's energy with its diverse events. The Great Manchester Run has been running since 2003 and offers a chance to challenge yourself with a 10k run, the largest of its type in Europe. Starting in late May, get your miles in on the treadmill soon to sure up your endurance before the big day.
Also, the £365m Co-Op Live Arena opens in April, with a capacity of 23,500. Planned to be the largest indoor arena in the United Kingdom, it should come as no shock that there are already A-listers planning shows.
Entertainers such as Take That, Olivia Rodrigo, Peter Kay, Eric Clapton and Eagles have already announced their upcoming events here, so head to their website and see if you can book a ticket.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
The Northern Quarter has wonderful independent street food vendors and hip shops, the perfect refuge for young creatives looking to experience the urban culture of Manchester first-hand.
Feel free to stroll through the serene Manchester Arndale, a beautiful modern shopping arcade with hundreds of outlets offering deals every single week. Just outside of the city centre, The Trafford Centre holds Europe’s largest food court, the UK’s busiest cinema and again, more stores than you could imagine.
And these are just the bigger complexes, as each borough in Greater Manchester has its own square with local goods and traders, such as Levenshulme Market or Stretford Mall.
Sustainable Exploration
Manchester is committed to sustainability through various public transport schemes. Explore the city using its efficient Metrolink routes or rent a bike from the Bee Network and navigate on two wheels.
The council is openly and avidly supporting the city’s climate change ambitions and is also right at the heart of the city’s post-coronavirus Economic Recovery and Investment Plan.
Almost £300m worth of projects have been planned, including a proposal to retrofit 10,500 social homes over four years. This aims to massively cut carbon emissions and energy costs. Minimize your environmental footprint and be the difference…
