Coach travel to Manchester

Market Street

Market Street in Manchester city centre is pretty self-explanatory. It is a bustling pedestrian market in the middle of the city, packed with shoppers and street traders and entertainers.

Arndale Centre

The legendary Arndale shopping centre is located in the heart of Manchester. With over 200 shops, cafes and bars, the Centre is home to many high street names, alongside a host of unique independent stores. Trust us, if shopping’s your thing, there’s really nothing you won’t find here.

Museum of Science and Industry

Manchester is an incredibly important city in the fields of science and industry, a trait that dates back to the Industrial Revolution. The Museum of Science and Industry is a monument to these feats and the larger advances made in the respective fields. It provides a fun, interactive and educational day out that lets you appreciate the advancements made in Manchester alongside the technology that surrounds us today.

National Football Museum

Manchester is one of the biggest cities in the world for football fans. With two of the world’s biggest clubs mere minutes from each other, there is more than enough to keep even the most fanatic football nut entertained. Apart from the two obvious stadium tours, the National Football Museum is a place that cannot be missed by history lovers and football fans alike. Located in the home and birthplace of football, this is the best place in the world to learn and explore the history of the global game, with fun interactive elements and skill testing simulators.

Gawp at the John Rylands Library

Built by the wife of the man for whom it is named, the John Rylands library is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Manchester. While some may baulk at the idea of voluntarily visiting a library, the jaw dropping architecture and artwork on display here makes this a must see attraction.

Let them loose at a Legoland Discovery Centre

Forget Legoland Windsor, the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester is one of the best destinations to bring your child to in the UK; after all, the Danish toy has been a staple in every family’s home for decades. The Legoland Discovery centre provides a space for kids and adults alike to get hands on with the famous brick, making it a great family day out for all.

See how CBBC is made with Studio Tour

Let your kids see how the shows that they know and love get made. The tour around the beloved TV studio lets your kids learn how television gets made, all while having fun little interactions with popular shows, like Blue Peter and Horrible Histories. Hiding the education behind the fun makes this tour something that your kids will remember for a long time.

Experience the Imperial War Museum North

Ever since the First World War, the Imperial War Museum (IWM) has been entrusted to ensure that the stories of those who fought for Great Britain and the Commonwealth are not forgotten. Inside is a stunning collection of intensely personal and humanising stories from the conflicts fought by Britain and the Commonwealth. The IWM also contains one of the world’s largest collections of historic war relics.

Exploring all of Manchester in just one day may seem a daunting task but, rest assured, it can be done. While you cannot see everything there is to see in the one day, if you follow our top recommendations for a day out in Manchester, you’ll have the best chance of making the most of this northern powerhouse.

Visit the Imperial War Museum

Already mentioned within our family recommendations section above, the Imperial War Museum of the North is impossible to omit from any must-visit Manchester list. Being located a little outside of Manchester city, it is best to tackle this museum early in the day. The Imperial War Museum lets you experience some of the wars fought by British and Commonwealth soldiers like never before. It is an experience that, for kids, will let them expel some of that morning energy and, for adults, allow you to spend the rest of the day in the City proper.

Go to an exhibit

Manchester has one of the most diverse and enriching collections of museums and art galleries in the world, primarily owing to the city’s uniquely rich and vibrant history. In particular, we recommend the Lowry Museum which regularly hosts new exhibits that will take your breath away.

Nip out for the evening

The legendary Haçienda may be gone from Manchester’s night time scene, but where raving once ruled, a beer-friendly northern capital has freshly arisen. As well as a thriving food scene, craft ale and beer can be found in the trendy Northern quarter. Check out Seven Brothers’ bar in Ancoats for live music and great craft beer, or student favourite The Font in the unofficial ‘University Quarter’. Gay or not, many of the bars in Manchester’s village offer a different scene altogether – just don’t be offended if you’re turned away.

Ancoats Peepholes

If you wander around Manchester, you may notice some peculiar little spyholes hidden in some old buildings. Stop and look through any of them to find a lovely glimpse into the rich industrial past of the city.

St. Mary’s Church

One of the oldest Catholic churches in the UK; the paintings of the Stations of the Cross contained inside are awe inspiring to say the least.