Travelling to Manchester couldn’t be easier with the city’s network of motorways and abundant train services. The M6 connects Manchester with Preston, Blackburn and the rest of Lancashire and continues to the south to run through much of Cheshire and on to Birmingham. Much of Manchester city centre is made easily accessible by the well-positioned railway stations. Most long-distance travellers will experience their first taste of Manchester when they alight at Piccadilly station. Piccadilly’s main attractions are Piccadilly Gardens - the only botanic gardens in Greater Manchester - and the numerous hotels, including Ibis and The Portland. Manchester Victoria station deals with most local railway traffic, it is situated on Hunts Bank, to the north of the city and close to Manchester Cathedral. Deansgate railway station lies in the Castlefield area of Manchester and is heavily used by commuters on both the Manchester to Preston Line and the Liverpool to Manchester line.

Just as fashion is always changing, so is the area of Manchester you buy it from. King Street used to be the last word in style in the city, but it no longer dominates the Manchester fashion scene. The Triangle in Exchange Square has gradually prevailed over the well established shopping street and now holds the fashion crown of Manchester. Serious shoppers will want to visit here, as well as Harvey Nichols and the two huge shopping centres which govern the high street shopper: The Trafford Centre and The Arndale Centre. Also worth a browse are Manchester’s numerous department stores: House of Fraser on

Manchester boasts restaurants of every cuisine imaginable. As well as numerous high quality eateries, Manchester is also home to many foodie events – from Young Star Chef Evenings to the annual Manchester Food and Drink Festival. Gaucho on St Mary’s Street offers finest Argentine fare in elegant monochrome surroundings, spread over two mezzanine floors in one of Manchester’s grandest Grade II listed buildings. The French at The Midland Hotel has one of the best reputations for its excellent service, opulent surrounds and sumptuous food. It is also famous for being the location of ex Manchester United player David Beckham’s first date with his now-wife Victoria.

After-dinner drinks can be enjoyed in The Wyvern Bar or Octagon Lounge, both situated inside The Midland, or you can decide to explore further afield. The Tempus is a plush cocktail bar just five minutes walk away on Manchester’s Oxford Road. The Tempus is situated in The Palace Hotel, itself being a famous Manchester landmark – the 217 feet high clock tower. Cinnabar is another must-visit venue, with its heady mix of ultra-modern architectural features and gorgeous Asian antiquities. It’s a 10-minute drive outside of Manchester city centre, but well worth the effort for the ambience and abundant celebrity-spotting opportunities! Catalan Square is a fairly recent development, but well worth a visit to peruse the menu of Manchester-born Mick Hucknall’s bar and restaurant, Barca. With its excellent canal-side location and modern, open-plan design, the Square becomes particularly popular with the Manchester crowds on warm summer evenings.