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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
TheNuthatch · 19/09/2024 14:59

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:49

The accent is awful.

And where are you from that makes your accent so much better? Please enlighten us with your classism.
My dd has just experienced people like you on her freshers week.

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:58

VickyEadieofThigh · 19/09/2024 14:58

Blimey, judgemental or what!

Do you ever watch council estate queen on the socials?

VickyEadieofThigh · 19/09/2024 14:58

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:49

The accent is awful.

Blimey, judgemental or what!

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:57

BishyBarnyBee · 19/09/2024 14:55

It's a regional accent - whether it's awful or not very much depends on what you are used to. Though I can't imagine ever describing another region's accent as awful. It seems like a very arrogant and narrow minded way to view people who happen to be different to you.

Its the way they say skewwwll for school.

StressyDepressy · 19/09/2024 14:56

Lincoln24 · 19/09/2024 14:06

I've said this on other threads, but imo (as a Mancunian) Manchester is a great place to live but a poor place to visit, unless there are specific museums and galleries that interest you. It's certainly not a great city to amble round unfortunately!

Agree!

MasterBeth · 19/09/2024 14:56

I think Manchester is way too big to randomly "browse" for a couple of hours, starting at some point outside the core city centre, and expecting to land on the kind of area you're interested in. There are too many different areas, too much variety, too many choices.

What kind of "interesting shops" are you after? Afflecks or Harvey Nicks? What kind of attractive? Architectural or greenery or cultural?

It's not like York or Chester where the "good bits" are obvious and central.

"Is there something I've missed?" Yes, obviously. You walked up two main arterial roads and thought you'd seen the city.

(I have no allegiance to Manchester, by the way, but I've spent some nice weekends there.)

Leniriefenstahl · 19/09/2024 14:56

It’s not amazing. It’s fine for shopping, some nice classy restaurants, occasional big name show on at the opera house. If you’re a student it’s probably great but to visit as a tourist it’s all a bit meh. Science museum is okay, likewise the art galleries, but once you’ve seen them that’s it. Chetham’s library is pretty unique but again, not somewhere you’d go again and again to find new things.

BishyBarnyBee · 19/09/2024 14:55

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:49

The accent is awful.

It's a regional accent - whether it's awful or not very much depends on what you are used to. Though I can't imagine ever describing another region's accent as awful. It seems like a very arrogant and narrow minded way to view people who happen to be different to you.

Button28384738 · 19/09/2024 14:55

User135644 · 19/09/2024 14:31

What's the best visitor/tourist city out of Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham?

Didn't really like any of them, but Leeds out of the three

Kalettesarethebest · 19/09/2024 14:54

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:49

The accent is awful.

Woah, how rude. Yes, I'm Mancunian!
The Mancunian accent can differ so much as well you know.

Button28384738 · 19/09/2024 14:53

I really don't like Manchester either, much prefer Liverpool!

sonofrageandlove · 19/09/2024 14:53

101Nutella · 19/09/2024 14:45

YABU - loads of different areas with their own identities but you probably need to travel from one place to another. Not to mention the moors on the outskirts of GM.

you walked down one busy road and said it was not good 😂. Didn’t even google trip advisor for top 10? Go to Simon rimmers place ‘Greens in didsbury’ then go for a walk around Fletcher Moss. Etc

Greens is closed now unfortunately

youheard · 19/09/2024 14:53

I've lived quite a bit in Manchester, I could never learn to love it, it's ugly and the weather was shite. Nothing there that London didn't have but better .... I much prefer Leeds and Liverpool. However, each to their own.

FlippertyFlopperty · 19/09/2024 14:51

I commute through Manchester everyday and there's lots of poverty. I've seen drug users preparing their crack pipes more than once. Piccadilly Gardens has a threatening feeling. Drug dealers on every corner.

Media City and Salford Quays which are a tram ride away are both wonderful places. As is the airport so you can get the hell out of Manchester!

RaraRachael · 19/09/2024 14:51

I went to Manchester a couple of years ago and could find nothing to recommend about it. Awful, depressing place. Never seen bouncers on supermarket doors at 8am anywhere else.

Dunkler · 19/09/2024 14:49

The accent is awful.

TealTraybake · 19/09/2024 14:49

Each to their own but I can’t stand the place.

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.

PointsSouth · 19/09/2024 14:48

I have many friends, from twenties to fifties, who were students in Manchester, and loved it. Or what they remember of it. I can’t think
of a UK city apart from London that gets such great reviews from former students.

But none of them seem to want to live there.

MzHz · 19/09/2024 14:46

I spent 3 days in Manchester for work a couple of years ago.

Never again.

101Nutella · 19/09/2024 14:45

YABU - loads of different areas with their own identities but you probably need to travel from one place to another. Not to mention the moors on the outskirts of GM.

you walked down one busy road and said it was not good 😂. Didn’t even google trip advisor for top 10? Go to Simon rimmers place ‘Greens in didsbury’ then go for a walk around Fletcher Moss. Etc

Starlight1979 · 19/09/2024 14:45

Sausagenbacon · 19/09/2024 14:13

Are you walking around near Elizabeth Gaskell's house? It's not really what I would call the city centre!
I know that!
I walked from Picadilly Station, and then back in again along Oxford st)

Oh god. As someone born and raised in Manchester, you could not have picked a worse route to see the city. You're not even in the centre and haven't even been anywhere near the decent parts!

And Piccadilly Station to Ardwick on foot?!?! Never in 40 years have I - or would I - walk that route 😂

Bloom15 · 19/09/2024 14:44

It's quite spread out compared to Liverpool, where I live. So it feels like separate parts and a distance between them; northern quarter etc.

I like it though

Stringagal · 19/09/2024 14:43

User135644 · 19/09/2024 14:31

What's the best visitor/tourist city out of Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham?

Leeds. A lot more compact than the other two with some amazing Victorian shopping arcades, a vast array of very nice restaurants and bars, and all that glorious countryside on its doorstep. It’s in Yorkshire, of course it’s great.