About Manchester

The City - Manchester

Education in Manchester

Greater Manchester is well served with Educational and Training establishments at all levels. Within the Metropolitan County are 4 universities – Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, UMIST (formerly the oldest technological university in Britain, now part of the University of Manchester) and Salford University, plus
the University of Bolton. Manchester has a huge network of educational facilities. There are 170 primary and high schools, a good number of which perform within the top 5% of schools nationally. There is plenty of choice, from vibrant multi-cultural state schools to grammar schools with histories stretching back hundreds of years.

Sports in Manchester



Manchester is well known for being a City of sport. Two Premier League football clubs bare the city’s name, Manchester City and Manchester United, currently FA Cup holders and Premier League champions respectively. Manchester City’s ground is at the City of Manchester Stadium (near 48000 capacity); Manchester United’s Old Trafford Ground, the largest club football ground in the United Kingdom,
with a capacity of 76000, is just outside of the city in the borough of Trafford. It is the only club football ground in England to have hosted the UEFA Champions League Final, in 2003. It is also the venue of the Super League Grand Final in rugby league. Lancashire Country Cricket Club’s Ground is also in Old Trafford.

Shopping in Manchester

Manchester is the main shopping centre for the North West. The prime retailing area is based around the pedestrianised Market Street and one of the Europe’s largest shopping mall, the Arndale Centre. In a recent study, Manchester was found to be the UK’s second most popular location for retailers outside London. Outside of the City Centre is the enormous Trafford Centre, opened in September 1998, and within easy access of Manchester by car along the M602 and the M60 motorways about 15 minutes drive. This has all shopping facilities as well as a considerable range of leisure activities all under one roof, with parking for more than 10,000 vehicles.





Food and Drink in Manchester

Manchester has the most cosmopolitan range of restaurants, cafés, bars, diners, inns and public houses within its boundaries, and throughout the Greater Metropolitan Country every kind and variety of ethnic cuisine may be found. Pubs, inns, wine bars and cafés are as diverse as they are numerous.

Transport in Manchester

Manchester is very well served by its transport systems. It is probably surrounded by more road systems than any other city in Britain and lies at the heart of a national transport infrastructure of rail and motorway networks. There are numerous ways of getting around, or in and out of the City and the surrounding boroughs. Apart from an excellent public service provision of buses and coaches to local and long distance destinations, the conurbation is at the centre of the main west coast intercity train system with direct lines to most UK major cities. Like most great cities, Manchester is served by its own distinctive Black Tax Cab fleet as well as innumerable private hire taxi companies (sometimes known as minicabs).

Manchester International Airport

Manchester Airport is now the largest outside London and Handles over 20 million passengers a year. With its three world class terminals, two runways, some 250 check-in desks serving around 65 airline operators, it is truly an International airport. As a result of a £35 million refurbishment of Terminal 1, more than
190 worldwide destinations are now possible for departure passengers as well as receiving incoming flights to serve the whole of North West England. On the doorstep are many Airport Hotels, ranging from 5 star luxury to budget accommodation as well as profusion of nearby Guest Houses in the surrounding countryside.