Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Original poster

To think that Manchester is awful?

211 replies

Sausagenbacon · 19/09/2024 14:02

I came for the day to visit Elizabeth Gaskell's house museum (very nice) and have subsequently walked around, trying to find somewhere attractive, or with interesting shops (or any shop that isn't selling fast food).
Is there somewhere I've missed?

OP posts:

RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 15:46

Manchester doesn't have many 'destinations' in the sense of 'heres the historic centre, here's the museums, here's the shiny visitor trail'.

The attractions are much more niche in terms of cultural importance. Important but not promoted in a tourist way. I don't think they are particularly accessible for outsiders and I don't think they are particularly big.

For an experience there are better. As I say, there's few places in the world better for live music, if you are into football great, there are good restaurants (the pretentious ones with the names are massively over rated), there's the shopping with plenty of interesting little places and the drinking culture is fab.

It's definitely somewhere local knowledge and word of mouth is the thing.

But to visit, particularly as a family with kids, na. Just not a great day really.

There's loads of other stuff in the North West I'd do. Manchester wouldn't be top of the list.

Digweed · 19/09/2024 15:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

LlynTegid · 19/09/2024 15:33

The only time Manchester is to be avoided is about 25 times a year when the plastic fans of Mr Ten Hag's team come to visit Old Trafford. Most of whom have no connection or heritage to the area.

Went to said Old Trafford as a visiting supporter a few years ago (usual atrocious biased referee that happened there when Alex Ferguson was manager), and the only local accents I heard were catering staff and stewards.

Lovely place otherwise, cultural centre of the north west, has given much music. art and other culture over the years.

Beezknees · 19/09/2024 15:32

I really like Manchester but I live in Derbyshire and Derby city centre is a hole.

Starlight1979 · 19/09/2024 15:29

Cantabulous · 19/09/2024 15:23

My DD lives there, I’ve really tried to like it but I just find it grim with terrible weather

You should come over this week - it's glorious sunshine!

Original poster

Sausagenbacon · 19/09/2024 15:29

Wouldn't

OP posts:

Original poster

Sausagenbacon · 19/09/2024 15:27

Would you like visitors commenting like this on your town?
Would bother me at all. A lot of the centre of Bristol is pretty shit now. Might as well be honest.

OP posts:

Combattingthemoaners · 19/09/2024 15:24

I love Manchester!

Maray1967 · 19/09/2024 15:23

RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 14:16

Agree with this if I'm honest.

I don't think it's a destination. Unless you are going for a night out.

As somewhere to live it's a decent city with lots to do. But nope, not to visit.

Liverpool is much much better as a tourist.

Show quote history

Yes, I’d advise you to get back on the train and head here. Liverpool is much better.

Cantabulous · 19/09/2024 15:23

My DD lives there, I’ve really tried to like it but I just find it grim with terrible weather

bringincrazyback · 19/09/2024 15:21

@Dunkler you are behaving like an absolute arse on this thread. Stop embarrassing yourself.

CremeEggThief · 19/09/2024 15:19

YABU and very insensitive too.

Would you like visitors commenting like this on your town?

Thought not!

x2boys · 19/09/2024 15:19

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:58

Do you ever watch council estate queen on the socials?

Show quote history

I do and she's very funny ,but I don't think she's representative of all Mancunians

TheNuthatch · 19/09/2024 15:19

x2boys · 19/09/2024 15:16

Well not all mancunians do I,. have lived in Greater Manchester my whole life I don't pronounce school that way.

Show quote history

I think it's one of those small ugly men who live under bridges

Lwrenn · 19/09/2024 15:18

AuntieMarys · 19/09/2024 14:35

I was just saying this yesterday.

Show quote history

My partner and I were also saying this yesterday, how odd 😂
We're scousers who didn't enjoy living in Liverpool particularly but love visiting it, but when we visit friends in Manchester who know all the fab places to go (and there are many!) I often think I'd really enjoy living there.
But if we go for a day we don't really know wtf we're doing and just end up lost 😂
Glad it's not just us 😁

oakleaffy · 19/09/2024 15:16

Crumpleton · 19/09/2024 15:10

I'm from down south and I've stayed in a few different areas of Manchester, DH worked during the day so on my own and each time I've managed to fill the days out and about with plenty to do and the evenings we've both enjoyed our time there.

Trams were really reasonably priced so didn't feel we had to stick to one area if we didn't want to drive.

I also found the people really friendly, would definitely plan a non working long weekend up there.

Yes, the friendliness is really noticeable.
I had to meet someone in Sheffield, {Not been before} and stepped off the train and locals were really helpful at telling me the right way to go.

It was bitingly cold, but the people were helpful and lovely.

Try asking for directions in London! - no one will want to help.

{My home City}

x2boys · 19/09/2024 15:16

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:57

Its the way they say skewwwll for school.

Show quote history

Well not all mancunians do I,. have lived in Greater Manchester my whole life I don't pronounce school that way.

DPotter · 19/09/2024 15:15

I love Manchester

ruffler45 · 19/09/2024 15:14

KnottedTwine · 19/09/2024 14:40

Liverpool, Chester or York.

Show quote history

York is a destination for stag and hen parties so choose carefully when you go

RuleForFire · 19/09/2024 15:14

I grew up in Manchester but my family moved away when I was about 12. I had fond memories and always felt we shouldn't have moved. I'm in my 60s now and went for a weekend in 2019 with DH. It was great to see my old home and wander the park we played in as kids but the city centre, which holds so many memories for me, seemed really run down, dirty and unsafe. Lots of rough sleepers and beggars, and many shops and hotels had security on the door. I found it quite depressing.

Starlight1979 · 19/09/2024 15:13

DiscoinFrisco · 19/09/2024 15:08

It doesn't have a centre as such but has lots of excellent parts so its fabulous to live here but quite hard to suss out on a short visit

Edited

This is why whenever I go on a city break, I try to never go for less than 3 days. Because the first day or two are spent wandering round the commercial, touristy areas thinking it's a bit shit before you start to stumble on the cool back streets, quirky bars and shops and then by day 3 you feel like a local 😃

sonofrageandlove · 19/09/2024 15:13

booisbooming · 19/09/2024 14:48

OP, if you know London you did the equivalent of getting off at Paddington, crossing the Westway walking through a bit of Bayswater but not as far as Notting Hill, then back to Paddington.

Brilliant 😂😂

Titsywoo · 19/09/2024 15:11

I'm a Londoner and it is my fav city in the world but I also thought Manchester was great. It has its own vibe and some amazing bars and restaurants. I found it great to wander around.

x2boys · 19/09/2024 15:11

x2boys · 19/09/2024 15:09

Depending on how many years,ago the Manchester of today is very different from 90,s Manchester
After the 1996 bomb the city center was rebuilt, it confuses me these days,when on the rare occasion I go into Manchester I struggle to get my bearings .

Show quote history

Oops sorry I misread it and thought you said many years ago.

Crumpleton · 19/09/2024 15:10

Trams were really reasonably priced so didn't feel we had to stick to one area if we didn't want to drive.

I also found the people really friendly, would definitely plan a non working long weekend up there.

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9