It's known for its warm people, its incredible music scene and its unrivalled swagger. And now Manchester's identity as one of the best places on earth has been truly cemented.
The city has been ranked 13th best on the PLANET in a list published by Time Out. And we couldn't be prouder.
Manchester, which ranked higher than any city in England - including London - was commended for its friendliness, its “ever-welcoming landscape of restaurants, bars” and its “top-notch” culture. It even ranked higher than New York, Melbourne, Mumbai, Tokyo and San Francisco.
Explaining why Manchester featured so high up the list, Rob Martin from Time Out Manchester said: “Voted the second friendliest city in the world this year, Manchester will always make you feel at home, with its ever-welcoming landscape of restaurants, bars and top-notch culture (feline-themed eateries Neon Tiger and Kitten are two formidable recent additions).
"A true melting pot, Manchester is a resilient, progressive city, appreciative of its history but always looking ahead. Right now we’re in amazing shape, with expanding neighbourhoods like Ancoats and Prestwich surely among the best and easiest places to live in the world."
Naturally, we would have to agree, which is why we’ve pulled together a list of reasons the city is so great. From its friendly people and unrivalled cultural pedigree, to its beautiful architecture, there’s plenty to stand up and shout about.
The music
As the birthplace of The Smiths, Joy Division and Oasis, Manchester's musical heritage is certainly one of the most revered. The city’s live music scene, like many industries, struggled during the pandemic, but it has come back fighting.
This past June, dubbed “Mad June” due to the sheer number of huge stadium gigs, festivals and concerts, a string of global music stars, from Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles to Tyler, The Creator and 50 Cent descended on the city, proving that Madchester still very much has it.
While the city has a plethora of gig venues - large and small - next December, Manchester’s music scene will also welcome Co-op Live, a new £365 million arena, which will open next to the Etihad Stadium, and has already booked some major musical talent. The 23,5000-capacity venue is set to become the biggest indoor arena in the UK when it opens in December 2023, and will host around 120 acts each year.
The People
This year’s Time Out rankings also placed Manchester as the second friendliest city in the world - quite the accolade. After all, nothing says more about a city than the people that live there - and we’re known as a proud, friendly and funny bunch.
Whether you’re from Stockport, Wigan, or Salford - one of the main things that brings us all together is our strong sense of community. Whether it's coming out to support those running the Great Manchester Run, or celebrating events like Pride and Manchester Day, we’ve often got each other's back.
Perhaps, most important though - we know how to pull together in tough times. This strong spirit of togetherness was clear to see in the aftermath of the devastating Manchester Arena attack on May 22, 2017, and the outpouring of support shown across the Manchester community.
Restaurants and bars
Back in 2019, Manchester restaurant Mana earned the city’s first Michelin star in over 40 years, but the city also boasts a plethora of top-tier restaurants and bars, many of which are nationally acclaimed, from The French to District and Erst.
Over the last few months a string of new restaurant and bar concepts have opened across the city as its post-pandemic recovery gathers pace. From the hit Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant Maray and Japanese charcoal grill Kitten, to Blinker, the bar with its own dedicated martini menu, there's plenty to get stuck into.
Museums and galleries
From the Science and Industry Museum to the People’s History Museum, the city is full of exciting and educational museums accessible to all ages. At Manchester Museum, visitors can take a walk through the history of the world and its inhabitants, while at Science and Industry Museum, based on the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station, and currently undergoing a major refurbishment, people can learn about the innovations that began in Manchester and how they changed the world.
As for galleries, we’ve got plenty from the award-winning Whitworth and its home of internationally significant collections of art, to the Manchester Art Gallery, and its world-class works - notably its Pre-Raphaelite paintings. The latter's Mosley Street building is also home to a treasure trove of craft and design, from ceramics and silver to glass and furniture.
Football
Whether it’s City or United, there’s no denying that Manchester has some of the best football teams in the world. So big is sport in Manchester that we even have our own National Football Museum dedicated to it.
Aside from our two Premier League clubs, Manchester’s earliest known association football club was Hulme Athenaeum, established in 1863. Manchester also hosted the first meeting of representatives from the home nations football associations in 1866, and the International Football Association Board, which makes the rules for the game.
The nightlife
From the dance floors to the basement raves, Manchester has long be the envy of other cities thanks to its buzzing nightlife scene. The Hacienda may have just celebrated its 40th birthday but its enduring spirit lives on at institutions like The Warehouse Project, which brings some of the biggest names in dance music to the city.
Whatever kind of night you're planning, whether its the late-night bars of the Northern Quarter, neighbourhood bars of Ancoats, swish eateries of Spinningfields, or Canal Street - one of the most popular gays villages in Europe - there's something for everyone.
Shopping
Manchester is well known for variety of shops from the Northern Quarter's vintage boutiques, eclectic gift shops and much-loved record stores, to the Arndale's high street brands and the luxury designer shops and department stores near the Corn Exchange and Deansgate. Not forgetting The Trafford Centre - one of the largest shopping centres in Europe.
Theatre and the arts
It's been a tough couple of years for the arts but Manchester's theatres have rallied and now that normal service has resumed, the city's venues, big and small, are drawing back crowds.
Manchester Opera House and the Palace Theatre continue to set the bar with recent performances including Sister Act, The Adams Family and Beauty and the Beast delighting theatre goers. There's also plenty of grassroot venues like Contact, Hope Mill and HOME to check out new and emerging acts.
Buildings and landmarks
Manchester's skyline has changed quite considerably over the years but the city still boasts an impressive number of historical buildings, which blend well with today's modern skyscrapers. Manchester' Cathedral for example has a history dating back to the Middle Ages, while Chetham's Library - the oldest public library in the English-speaking world - has been open since 1653.
Perhaps one of the most notable buildings in recent times is the Beetham Tower, the 47-storey skyscraper that until 2018 held the title of the city's tallest building. Other buildings that continue to catch our eye include Urbis, designed by Ian Simpson, the Imperial War Museum North designed by acclaimed architect Daniel Libeskind, and the Neo-gothic Manchester Town Hall.
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