To think that Manchester is awful?

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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?

Specsavers?

Manchester is brilliant.

Manchester is amazing, what’s up with you! I only left for uni and came straight back!

Decent clothes shops, lots of non fast food eateries - although not near the museum I suppose.

Northern Quarter is nice.

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!

Thank you! It's so confusing

Wilmslow road go for it

Are you walking around near Elizabeth Gaskell's house? It's not really what I would call the city centre!

Well if you are walking around the back streets of Ardwick near Elizabeth Gaskell's house you are going to be disappointed. The most exciting thing you will stumble across is the hospital.

Did you not do any type of planning for your visit to find out where the best places to head would be?

I don't like visiting Manchester unless I'm with my Mancunian friend who shows me all these amazing and cool places and then I love it. She's young enough to be my daughter and is very on trend so she shows me a great day out.

If I'm ever there for work or on my own for any reason I hate it!

Manchester is big.

What's confusing?

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)

Did you not do any type of planning for your visit to find out where the best places to head would be?
Yes, I planned to do EG's house in the morning, and assumed I could have a nice wander afterwards. Wrong

You might be near Whitworth art gallery, which has a very nice cafe overlooking the park...or if you are up by MMU you could go to the Eighth Day for a nice veggie meal? If you are up by St Peters Square there are loads of nice places to eat there or behind the central library in Albert Square. It's also architecturally interesting up there.

I also found it a difficult city as a visitor - and because I’m a wanky Londoner, my initial attitude to quite a lot of stuff was “well, this is okay, but I have it home, only a bit better.” But then the day after I met up with my friends who live in Manchester and know all the really good places to go and things worth seeing which aren’t always obvious - and I really liked it then.

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.

You aren't really wandering in the right places. Get right into the centre and go to the northern quarter, or afflecks palace market, the cathedral, the quays. Do some quick research online.

😀

I live on the outskirts of Manchester and cant find a good reason to go into the city centre and haven't for about 5 years

St Anne's square is quite pretty, Shambles Square is picturesque and has lots of eateries.

The walk from Piccadilly to Elizabeth Gaskell's house is not "Manchester". Can you get a bus back in to St Peters Square?

I loved Manchester, where have you come from? I found it really has its own identity which can be rare in the UK.

Go in the Royal Exchange Theatre cafe, a beautiful oasis of calm in the city centre.