1st Concert in an Unknown City - Manchester Academy or London Shepard’s Bush?

[Seeitsortit]

Which would you choose? Will be travelling by train and I know neither place, but I really want to see this artist, google him on spec and saw he’s coming to the UK.
Only other thing would be I will need to stay over, Manchester is closer but will need 2 days A/L, London just the Friday.......

Having recently stayed in both Manchester and London ... I'd say Manchester. Hotels are cheaper, city a lot smaller so easier to navigate, venues easier to find for a newbie.

But then, London ⭐️ if you're going to go and see some sights in the day, there is much much more going on in London. It's bigger, brighter and more wow. Really depends on what you want from the trip.

Manchester would be easier, unless you're comfortable with travelling by tube, as it's in the city centre and is easily walkable from either of the stations you'd be travelling into.

So long as I see the artist anything else will be a bonus @picklebarrelfalls! Not sure what Manchester has to offer and only ever been Leicester Square /Covent Gardens in London (I know - at my age that’s bad )!!

Bumping for the event crowd - anyone?

I’d say Manchester for reasons already mentioned, much easier to navigate, most places could be walked to in the city centre, you can get decent hotels cheaper and there’s loads of places to visit while you’re there

Plus I've been to Manchester for a concert by myself and I felt really safe walking around the streets afterwards.

I've been to lots of gigs at Manchester academy and found it a great venue. There's a bar next door called big hands which tends to host an informal after party and on a couple of occasions I've seen the band in there too.

Brilliant - Manchester it is then!!! (Is anyone up for a night out in October....??!!!!!)

I’ve not been to the Manchester Academy but been to loads at Shepherds Bush which is excellent , it’s also a stones throw from the large Westfield shopping centre so that’s an added bonus .

Who is it to see @Seeitsortit

I can also recommend Big Hands for after the gig, and before too. If you get off at Oxford Rd it's a straight Rd down to the Academy and Big Hands. But it's not much further from Picadilly.

Michael Franti - a mumsnetter did a ‘does anyone know this song?’, and someone identified this and I got hooked!

Michael Franti is amazing live, I've seen him a few times (but not recently). The Academy is a great venue too. It's next to the university and there are buses from the city centre or you could get a cab.

So for those in the know, I was thinking about booking the Travelodge, take it that it’s as safe a walk as any at the end of the night?

There are a few in Manchester. The nearest is on Upper Brook Street. It's v near but there aren't loads of people walking in that direction. I think it's fine and would happily do that walk but some people might not. You basically just walk round the hospital.

The Travelodge on Upper Brook St? Personally I would get a taxi if I were you, it might be fine but I wouldn’t risk it late at night on my own. Ardwick/ Plymouth Grove don’t have the best reputation and the area round the hospital isn’t great at night in my experience as there won’t be many people around.

I wouldn't walk to Upper Brook Street on my own late at night. Even though it's only a short distance I would get a taxi.

Can anyone recommend anywhere else to stay? Not sure a taxi would want such a short fare

I’ve never stayed in a hotel in Manchester as I live here so I’m not speaking from experience but there’s a Holiday Inn on Oxford Road which you could get the bus from outside the venue up to. I’d imagine would be a similar price to the Travelodge and is closer to the city centre.

I haven't stayed in hotels in central Manchester but there is a Holiday Inn Express at the top of Oxford Road (the long straight road leading from city centre to the university & Manchester Academy) there would be night buses going that way too. Or there is the Hyatt Regency on Booth Street West which is about halfway between the Academy and the city centre (personally i wouldn't walk to Booth Street West late at night either but I'm sure a cab would take you)

I agree it would be nicer to be in the city center. There is also an Ibis on Princess St and Hotel Pendulum that's near that. I havnt stayed in them but they are more city center than Upper Brook Street.

The Principal (on Oxford road opposite the train station) is more expensive but is a beautiful old Victorian building now a hotel, it originally housed an insurance company. I've been there for drinks and snacks and it's lovely in the communal areas, but I've not stayed there

Wonderful! I’m late to this but would have voted for London. Shepherds Bush is a lovely venue. Enjoy Manchester!

I've only been to shepherds Bush and stayed in the Ibis Shepherds Bush, it's literally 3 mins walk from The O2 Empire if that's where the gig is. You can see the hotel from the front of the Empire. I'm staying there again in July.