We’ve had the london one so…what do non-Mancunians think of Manchester?

[RishisPA]

Interested to see how it compares? Any insights into Manchester? I hate how so many visitors end up getting off at Piccadilly and going straight to Piccadilly gardens when (imo) that’s the worst bit of the city centre!!

I agree with the poster upthread who described it as brooding. That's exactly how it felt to me when Ive visited. Been to conferences there a few times but that hardly scratches the surface. Apart from brooding, I noticed good shopping and interesting independent shops, some good coffee places.

I’m from Glasgow - it kind of reminds me of Glasgow.

I haven't been since I had friends at uni there in the late 90s/early 00s. The impression I have in my head is grey, wet, a bit dirty, good clubs.

full of people having a properly good time and talking to each other. Good mix of business with lots of creative and performance work happening. Big confidence in the architecture (though not quite on Liverpool's scale). Gorgeous countryside within easy reach.

This is exactly how I see Manchester. Not a Mancunian but lived nearby for a while. I’m frankly astonished at the negative reactions here!

When I think of Manchester as it is now, I think of sitting in the extraordinary glass-walled cafe at the Whitworth Gallery (my favourite place in the whole city) looking out over Whitworth Park, thinking about the exhibition I’ve just seen.

Or walking up Oxford Road late at night, in ecstasy after a concert at the RNCM (conservatoire).

Or wandering into HOME at midday for an impromptu film screening - and lingering all day; drinks, cafe, theatre - because once there it’s hard to leave.

Or taking the tram to Salford Quays, walking along the canal towards the War Museum / Lowry / Media City …

Or just standing in the street, anywhere in the city centre and looking up to enjoy the really breathtaking juxtaposition of red brick crenellations and glass towers.

I love London, Edinburgh, Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool; I wonder if it’s just that one has to look a little harder to find the best in Manchester?

Like the bars and some shops but generally I really find it is dirty and smelly.

Much more multicultural than any other city I've been too (exc London) though which is nice as keeps it interesting. Generally because of this though I find that the people arent as friendly or engaging with strangers as you get in places like Liverpool or Newcastle where everyone speaks to everyone.

Bad weather
Not London

I think it’s a myth that everyone in Newcastle speaks to everyone. Maybe if ‘everyone’ is a category of people who sound and look like geordies.

Other cities are much friendlier. Glasgow in particular, in my experience.

Manchester feels like a proper city in a way that places like Newcastle just don’t.

I don't visit often, but what blows me away about Manchester is the people - so warm and friendly! It's fair to say it's pretty grey and dirty, but then, most big cities are. I love to visit, although wouldn't want to live there (but I feel exactly the same way about London).

@KittenKong snap! Been in Manchester over 20 years now - I always say it reminds me of Glasgow too!

I am a Mancunian and was always super proud of my home city. It was very cool. Now it’s up it’s own arse and the centre is a disgrace. Really grotty.

Their is some brilliant local history, the odd lovely spot to eat and two brilliant piercing studios. But it’s time has passed. Leeds and Liverpool are far better to visit - I never thought I’d say that.

@OfTheNight

I am a Mancunian and was always super proud of my home city. It was very cool. Now it’s up it’s own arse and the centre is a disgrace. Really grotty.

Their is some brilliant local history, the odd lovely spot to eat and two brilliant piercing studios. But it’s time has passed. Leeds and Liverpool are far better to visit - I never thought I’d say that.

I think that sums up how I feel too.

A genuine thought is that I have no idea of any iconic images / views or buildings in Manchester. Eg London has the skyline with the Eye / Shard / St Pauls etc, plus Westminster / Big Ben etc, Newcastle has the Angel and the bridge, Liverpool has the Liver Building, but what does Manchester have?

I went to uni there in the 90s
Pluses
-loads of buzz
-interesting shops
-great night life

• small enough to be easily navigable

Minuses -rain -muggings -being burgled -grey

• rain

-the strong local hatred of students (who are geographically integrated, but not generally accepted) -rain

It was the muggings and the rain that made me choose to leave. I'm strictly east of Pennines or south going forward.

I'm from the North West, Manchester is our closest big city for proper city centre shopping, theatre etc. I like it. Don't feel I know it well but I know enough. It's my favourite city to visit, mainly because of familiarity though I expect. I went to uni in Leeds and like that too, but it feels smaller and easier to get to grips with than Manchester. I don't recognise lots of these judgements though, I'm not sure there's any more homelessness or drugs etc than other cities (mainly thinking of Liverpool and Leeds here which I also know well ish)

I'm not a Mancunian, but I've lived in Manchester for two separate spells.

Manchester feels authentic. I love London too, and lived there for several years as well, but increasingly when I visit it feels like a playground for the rich, whereas Manchester's a city for a wide variety of people to work, rest and play in.

This can indeed make Manchester gritty/grotty/grubby like other posters have mentioned. Piccadilly Gardens up to the station is undoubtedly grim AF. It's such a shame that that's many people's first experience of Manchester. Mind you, 25 years ago it was like that in the immediate area around King's Cross and Euston so who knows what the future will hold? The development of Ancoats is promising.

Manchester could admittedly do with a bigger, more central green space, but it's historically an industrial city, and so not exactly fair to compare it to somewhere which benefits from massive Royal Parks. There is a wealth of huge green spaces just slightly further out on the city fringes, lots within a 20-30 minute walk or 15min tram ride, so for those who live in Manchester it seems much greener than it appears to tourists. And there is a great history of radicalism and protest that I think still forms part of the culture.

Personally I've felt welcomed as an incomer, both as a student and now elsewhere in the city. But most importantly: KEBABS. Thought I hated them until I moved to Manchester. Using a big thick pillowy naan instead of pitta is definitely one improvement, but the meat/sauces/salad always seem better as well.

The Wild West.

Yes the history of radicalism and protest is one of the great things that defines Manchester. There's so much amazing history, the industrial Revolution, the suffragettes, Marx and Engels, the working class movement, Elizabeth Gaskell. Health visiting as a profession was conceived in Salford. The events surrounding the peterloo massacre.

Yes picadilly and market Street are grim but I used to be terrified walking through kings cross and didn't base my whole view of London on that.

Also the Jewish museum, the people's history museum and the guided walks you can do chronicling the history of the city and its music heritage.

And as for the weather I'm visiting the South west next week for a holiday and as ever the weather is warmer and drier in MCR than in Devon/Cornwall... Every time I've visited this has always been the case!!

Chloe Sevigny got into trouble for saying "Manchester was one of the grimmest places I'd ever been in my entire life... I was like, I've gotta get the hell out of here. I'm not staying one more night, so I left"

She said there were too many chavs, people are closed off & cliquey and while both London and Manchester have a confrontational spirit and feel vaguely threatening "the North" does especially.

IME people either love or despise Manchester. Travel forums always have people arguing about it.

It reminds me of Croydon: trams, high rise blocks, graffiti, concrete, homeless people.

Shock, Horror! Nothing should remind you of THAT place!!!!!

I like Manchester. Live in Leeds so it's not far for a day out on the train. There are some great museums and it has a nice vibe. I wouldn't want to live there because it's too sprawling but it's a good place to visit.

@Deathraystare

It reminds me of Croydon: trams, high rise blocks, graffiti, concrete, homeless people.

Shock, Horror! Nothing should remind you of THAT place!!!!!

What’s your point?

Health visiting as a profession was conceived in Salford.

Completely different city, as I've been repeatedly been told by someone from Salford.

Lived there for a few years. My honest opinion is that I consistently found the people cold. I remember going to London a few times during this period and finding the locals so friendly in comparison. My husband agreed and both knew how this went against the grain. I'm sure there are absolutely lovely people in Manchester but we didn't meet any in the 3 years we lived there (actually that's a lie, I can think of 2). We lived in Liverpool for a few years too and we found the people really warm and friendly. Sorry to generalise but we must have had the worst luck with almost every colleague, stranger, squinted and passerby we met in that time.

Like it except for the rain, pollution and lack of green space.

Thinking about it, I haven’t tended to seek out human interactions in Manchester, so maybe haven’t noticed their absence. It’s just that the built environment is so dynamic and embracing. I find it exhilarating every time I’m there.

But yes, for friendliness, Liverpool is in a league of its own.