Travel: Manchester Blends Past, Present and Future

Forged by and forever identified with the birth of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester is a town of endless history re-creating itself now as a top travel destination in the north of England.

Originally founded as a far flung post of the Roman Empire, Manchester emerged from an agricultural town into a center of textiles and manufacturing thanks to historical giants like James Watt and Richard Arkwright. As you walk the streets of the city these days, there are echoes of that industrial past — thought the city is now home to a burgeoning travel, art, music and dining scene.

The River Mersey flows through the heart of Manchester, inviting everything from canal boat residences to cafes.

Just a couple days passing through the city on foot shows off more than a man can see in a week, so a travel excursion through Manchester becomes a matter of choosing the highlights.

You can’t go wrong starting out at an attraction that’s free for the public. The Manchester Art Gallery offers an eclectic collection ranging from classic paintings and modern art to Crafts and Costumes. It doesn’t enjoy the most massive studio space, but the atmosphere is subdued and classy, inviting the visitor to linger and examine some lesser known works in detail.

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When you check out the gallery, take some time and just enjoy the building itself. It’s a stately, ornately decorated building incorporating art into its very structure.

The Manchester Art Gallery is free to the public and home to a diverse gallery of classical and modern art.

Since the city is home to two of the Premiere League’s top teams, Manchester United and Manchester City, the city seems a natural home for the National Football Museum. Its exhibits, relics and memorabilia fill an impressive, glass structure — a wedge reminiscent of a modern Flatiron Building.

Inside, there’s a blend of Premiere League history and a look at the game’s complete history and global presence. This reporter can’t claim to be a dedicated soccer fan, so much of that history and passion is lost on me. However, I admired the museum’s designers for installing activities into the museum’s exhibits. What better way to learn an appreciation for the game and its development than to let visitors kick a goal or work on their dribbling?

Home to Manchester United and Manchester City squads, the city is a natural place to host the National Football Museum.

All of these attractions are an easy walk from one another, meaning Manchester opens up its downtown heart without asking the visitor to rent a car. For those less eager to walk a few miles throughout the course of a day, there’s ample, easily managed public transportation throughout the town.

Manchester is growing and evolving. Anyone can see that walking through the streets as construction, renovation and development is underway on many streets. The city will undoubtedly grow. For travelers, now is the time to visit the northern town to enjoy its mix of history and modern entertainment. 

You can catch more sights throughout Manchester via the gallery below.

Photos by John Scott Lewinski