Reasons To Visit Manchester

The city has undergone a real resurgence in recent years, caused by investment and by its hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Knowledgeable tourists recommend using Manchester as a base to explore other parts of northern England, as well as North Wales. More and more people are choosing to reside there, mostly from London, but also from other countries. As a matter of fact, many see Manchester as a rival to London. They also see Manchester as a young, vibrant, and cutting edge city full of friendly people, where there is always something happening and plenty of amazing Manchester hotels to choose from.

One of the reasons for this new vibrancy is the city's large student population. Central Manchester is home to two of the largest universities in the UK, the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University (also called "Man Met"). These schools, along with other minor schools of higher education in and around the city, mean that over 86,000 students reside full-time in Manchester. The result is that Manchester is known for its student lifestyle; many businesses in the city centre and South Manchester are geared towards students, so things can be quite inexpensive there.

Perhaps due to its status as a university town, Manchester has a long history of tolerance and acceptance of people from different backgrounds, perhaps more than most cities. Many races and religious groups have communities there. Manchester is very liberal minded; as a matter of fact, socialism has some of its roots in the city, and both Marx and Engels spent a great deal of time as they developed their theories.
The city is one of the most tolerant of the gay scene, centred in The Village, an area concentrated around Canal Street. Its annual twelve-day Pride Festival, beginning with its parade through the district, is testament to the city's openness of all cultures and types of people. The LGBT community in Manchester is the largest and most visible of any city in England.

As is true for most major cities in Britain, Manchester has a long and rich history, which is apparent in the city's energy and architecture. It was the site of a Roman fort during the 1st century AD, but a town was not built until the 13th century. The city did not begin to flourish as a major force in Britain until the Industrial Revolution. By the end of the 19th century, Manchester was one of the ten biggest urban centres in the world, and its architecture reflects this. There are Victorian-style buildings throughout the city, providing excellent examples of the era's architecture.