Afternoon in Manchester - what would you do in four hours?

[ShaLaLaLaLaLaLash]

Just that really, me and young adult DCs, four hours to kill. Staying at the Lowry so relatively close to there. Manchester has changed a lot in the 20 odd years since I worked there. Not sure DC have ever been. I’ve looked at Time Out recs but would love personal recommendations.

John rylands library, they used to do free tours. Not sure if they do anymore though. But I'm sure you can still walk round.

Museum of science and industry, round the corner from the lowry

John Rylands Library, the Cathedral, Manchester art gallery, Imperial War Museum. Hollingworth Lake, Haigh Hall, Manchester Museum.

Football Museum is brill.

Train to Liverpool 🤣

Turtle bay 😃

Chetham's library at Chetham's School of Music on Long Millgate is fascinating and fabulous.

People's History Museum
Northern Quarter for shopping
Lots of great places for food - Manchester has a Chinatown area, or cheaper street food type stalls at the Arndale.
DH likes getting his hair cut - there's a good barbers!

Not round the corner, that's the imperial war museum (which is good also.) Science and industry very accessible on tram though.

People's History Museum if in any way political. Whitworth for art. Otherwise a mooch around Afflecks Palace and the Printworks.

I love Manchester but it's a great city to live in rather than a great day out if I'm honest.

I'd go to Manchester Art Gallery, or the museum up by the university. Then Affleck's Palace for old time's sake, lunch somewhere in the Northern Quarter like Mackie Mayor. John Ryland's is beautiful but tours are only on certain days and I believe you need to book.

I think the OP means The Lowry Hotel which is off Deansgate? Not the lowry as in Salford Quays

I would go to Ancoats and see the new green spaces, or NQ for lunch. Freight Island could be a good option

Haigh Hall and Hollingworth Lake are not options for 4 hours spare in the city centre!

Afflecks for a mooch
Castlefield viaduct
The art gallery
Street art tour of the northern quarter
Cathedral
Or you could go
Axe throwing
Crazy golf
Flightclub
Bowling
Cinema

We took the boat ride (groupon) from Salford to the city centre, strolled about and explored and got back on a return to the Lowry.

The Lowry museum itself is free and good for an hour or two.

I walk a lot, less than a mile is round the corner to me and 'round the corner' is an expression not meant as literal

Yes i often feel like this. Its an amazing place to live but not so much to visit ( unless trafford centre etc is your thing)

@TheNortherner

I walk a lot, less than a mile is round the corner to me and 'round the corner' is an expression not meant as literal

Snort. Oh just admit you got muddled up!

Main art gallery for me, for the pre-Raphaelites.

@HeddaGarbled I didn't get muddled up. I'm Manchester born and bred. The Lowry hotel is half a mile from the museum and if you don't recognise 'round the corner' as being an expression you are obviously not nothern

Came on to say the same!

Dishoom

I disagree. I go to Manchester City centre from Leeds every couple of years for a visit.

Mainly for Uniqlo to have a good browse and try things on, but also the museums, outdoor spaces and different restaurants.

I'm planning a trip later this year for the David Hockney exhibition.

John Rylands library (you don’t need to book a tour you can just walk around), lunch at the Indian Tiffin room then the People’s History Museum. If you have any time left Mayfield Park or the Castlefield Viaduct.

Take advantage of the £15 two course fixed price menu at Kala then a mooch around the Northern Quarter.

The Lowry hotel is technically Salford but it’s just off Deansgate, so yes it’s near the Science & Industry museum and the imperial war museum & Salford Quays/MediaCity would be doable by tram.

I disagree the city centre is great, I can’t stand the Trafford centre it’s always too crowded, ugh!