Manchester travel guide — Manchester tourism and travel information

Manchester travel guide

about Manchester

Manchester is a city in North West England, which in 2002 had a population of approximately 422,302. The city is situated in the centre of the large metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, which has population of 2,513,468.

The term "Manchester" is often loosely used to refer to the Greater Manchester conurbation, rather than the City of Manchester which is a metropolitan borough.

Manchester history

The Manchester area was settled in Roman times: general Agricola called a fort he set up there Mamucium, meaning "breast shaped hill". A facsimile of a Roman fort exists in Castlefield.

In the 14th Century Manchester became home to a community of Flemish weavers, who settled in the town to produce wool and linen, thus beginning the tradition of cloth manufacture.

Manchester remained a market town until the Industrial Revolution beginning in the 18th century. Its damp climate made it and the surrounding area ideal for cotton mills, such as Quarry Bank Mill. Its growth was also aided by its proximity to Liverpool's ports and the emerging rail and canal networks.

At 11.20 am on Saturday 15 June 1996, the IRA detonated a bomb containing 1500 kg of explosives in a van on Corporation Street, near the junction with Market Street. This was the largest IRA bomb ever detonated in Great Britain. Fortunately warnings received in the previous hour had allowed the evacuation of the area, but 206 people were recorded by the ambulance service as having been injured, mainly by falling glass and building debris. A large area of the city centre was devastated, and over 50,000 square metres of retail space and 25,000 square metres of office space subsequently had to be rebuilt. Since then the city centre has undergone extensive rejuvenation along with the more general efforts to regenerate previously degenerated areas of the wider city (such as Hulme and Salford).

In 2002, the city hosted the XVII Commonwealth Games very successfully, earning praise from many previously sceptical sources.

In the 1990s, Manchester earned a reputation for gang-related crime, particularly after a spate of shootings involving young men, and reports of teenagers carring handguns as "fashion accessories". Gun-crime is still a problem in Manchester (some have cynically referred to the city as "Gunchester") but a number of initiatives are in place by the Greater Manchester Police to help reduce the number of youths getting involved with gangs and their associated crimes. The district of Moss Side gained a particular reputation for gang violence, although substantial community and police initiatives have helped rejuvinate the area. The Canal Street area of the city is well known as the 'Gay Village' and the city itself has now been designated as the 'Gay Capital of the UK'.

Near cities to Manchester

• Salford travel guide 5.0 km
• Blackburn travel guide 32 km
• Liverpool travel guide 45 km
• Bradford travel guide 47 km
• Sheffield travel guide 51 km
• Chester travel guide 55 km
• Wakefield travel guide 55 km
• Stoke travel guide 56 km
• Leeds travel guide 57 km
• Lancaster travel guide 71 km

Near webcams to Manchester

• Manchester 1 webcam 3.7 km
• Manchester 2 webcam 3.7 km
• Ashton-under-Lyne webcam 10 km
• Cheshire webcam 34 km
• Leeds webcam 58 km
• Nottingham - East Midlands webcam 90 km
• Nottingham - London Road webcam 95 km
• Birmingham - Pebble Mill webcam 120 km
• Birmingham - Bull Ring 1 webcam 120 km
• Birmingham - Bull Ring 2 webcam 120 km

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Manchester travel services

cheap flights to Manchester

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Manchester, cheap flights Manchester, also available cheap airline tickets to United Kingdom and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Manchester deals also available.

cheap Manchester hotels

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cheap Manchester vacations

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cheap car rentals in Manchester

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Manchester, car hire in United Kingdom and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Manchester car hire deals also available.

Manchester travel insurance

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Manchester, accident health Manchester travel insurance, all using our online Manchester travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in United Kingdom. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Manchester real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Manchester real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Manchester property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in United Kingdom, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Manchester.

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Manchester travel books

Manchester travel guide books

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Manchester maps and atlases

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