Sightseeing in Manchester - what to see. Complete travel guide

Manchester is a county city located in Lancashire. The city is situated on the bank of the Irwell River on the western slope of the Pennines hill. The city was founded in the X century by the Celts. In 79 AD the Romans built the Mankunium fort on the place of the Celtic settlement specializing in trading and crafts. Manchester City has received its modern name from the Saxon "Muncaster".

The city develops quickly, so from the middle of XVIII century Manchester becomes a large center of cotton industry. After the opening of the Manchester Canal this place also becomes one of the main transport crossings of the country. Nowadays Manchester has become a major transport, trade, financial and industrial center of the UK.

In addition to well-developed industry this city is the center of British history and culture. In Manchester, not London, have first appeared repertory theaters. Today the visitors of this wonderful city can enjoy attending numerous theaters: City Drama Theatre, Opera House, Palace Theatre, Apollo Theatre and others. The most interesting museums of Manchester are Salford Museum and Art Gallery that exhibits a collection of paintings by the local artist Lowry, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum that features the largest Egyptological collection in whole Britain, Art gallery Whiteworth, and more. The local Gothic Cathedral and the neo-Gothic Town Hall are also distinctive architectural landmarks of the region. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Finally, Manchester is famous for its numerous entertainment centers, clubs, and the largest shopping center in Europe named Arndale.

The building of the Central Library is an outstanding architectural attraction. It has an unusual rounded form and a domed roof. In this building with slender columns, the most valuable collections of old books on philosophy, medicine, science and art are kept. The building of the library was constructed in the 1930s. From the moment of completion of the construction, it remains unchanged and is a spectacular monument of the neoclassical style.

Artists will love the Art Gallery Whitworth. It bears the name of its founder, the wealthy engineer D. Whitworth, who is known throughout the world as the creator of a sniper rifle. It was on his donations that the fine art museum was opened. Paintings by famous artists of the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries are presented here. This museum will be interesting for fans of the works of Picasso, Van Gogh and Gauguin to visit. In 2003, the museum lost part of its collection as a result of robbery. However, it was possible to find the robbers quickly and return priceless masterpieces to the museum.

A very interesting collection of exhibits is presented to visitors of the Museum of Science and Industry. It is housed in an ancient building, which used to be a railway station. The main exhibits of this museum are elements of the old industrial equipment, which are in excellent condition and continue to productively functions. This museum is appreciated for the variety of interactive exhibits, despite the serious themes. It will be interesting even for tourists with children to visit it.

There are also modern architectural sights in Manchester worthy of attention. An excellent example is the 47-storey skyscraper Beathem Tower, which was eventually completed in 2006. The height of this skyscraper is 168 meters. It is the tallest building in the city. The facade of the skyscraper is revetted with a mirror tile. The building looks especially effectively on a sunny day. Now in the skyscraper there is a complex of elite apartments, as well as a popular hotel. On one of the last floors of the high-rise building is a prestigious night club with a panoramic view of the city.