Does anyone actually like Manchester, or has it changed a lot?

[Spottybluepyjamas]

I've seen loads of threads recently slating Manchester, but I have good memories of it from when I used to go when I was younger.

I was considering booking a city break there, but has it really changed that much? Are there fun things do do in the city centre and nice restaurants etc? Is it family friendly? Or is it like others have said on here and that the centre is looking a bit grotty these days?

I went for the Christmas market last year and was bitterly disappointed. With the markets, the area, the shopping. It was all a little dull and grotty.

I don't like it much - far prefer Liverpool. Having said that, I'm going to the theatre there soon, so I will be able to update my opinion, as haven't visited for a fair few years.

It was my office base a couple of years ago for a job that took me all over the place. I loved it, there were nice restaurants, I saw some great exhibitions and theatre during the various overnight trips and the shopping was decent. Felt small but I'm used to London. Unless it's really gone downhill in the last couple of years I think it's just people being picky.

I'm from Manchester.

I think it punches above its weight.

It's now just a big shopping city with lots of bars and restaurants - no better than any other city.

There's a distinct problem with drugs in the city itself and sometimes feels quite threatening.

I'd go to York or Chester for more of a mini-break vibe.

We used to go there for a day out quite often as it's our nearest big city. The Museum of Science and Industry is excellent, and huge. We went as a family many times, and DH took DD there more on top of that. There are other decent museums and art galleries too.
We've also been to good plays/shows at various of the theatres (plus the Lowry at Salford Quays). The productions at the Royal Exchange have all been too-notch.

It's grotty and fairly unattractive - like a less fun version of Dublin. And as a PP said, has seemed quite menacing (fights, drugs, etc) on my last few visits.

Liverpool, Chester, York all more pleasant for a city break imvho.

I live in Manchester
It’s just your bog standard city now I think, there are of course nice bars and restaurants and things to do but I don’t think it’s really a ‘city break’ type place

I'm originally from Manchester and agree with the above. I also feel it's crap for young DC and not really family friendly.

We live nearby and agree with @FTstepmum.

We only really go there now if there is no alternative. Mosi is having alot of work done and has closed some of the museum including the air and space hall where all the vehicles used to be. Manchester uni museum I also closed for a refurb at the moment.

Much more to do for children in Chester or York.

It does well in the most recent time out rankings. Not as well as Edinburgh or Glasgow though.

www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-cities-in-the-world

I live here and tbh rarely venture to the city centre.

If you’re after bars / restaurants/ shops the city centre is great.

If you want culture / museums / stuff for kids it’s terrible. I’d choose Chester, Liverpool or York instead.

I liked it
Me and my DD got a coach to Shudhill . We were staying in what they term New Islington (Its Ancoats).
I loved the Northern Quarter especially Affleck's *and the lovely cafe opposite that actually sold Iced coffee" . DD liked Affleck's and also Forbidden Planet .
We went to The Printworks to eat a few times and over to Salford to The Lowry Gallery

Sadly, though, the reason we went (The Cathedral where my gt gt Grandparents got married in) was under renovation and closed.
I would definitely go again as that was in 2015

Ah Liverpool
Went there a few years previous to going to Manchester
I do like Liverpool .

We've just taken the DC to Manchester/Salford to watch England in the Euros. We had a fabulous minibreak, we went to the Blue Peter Garden, the IWMN, the Lowry, Old Trafford, the People's Museum. So we were mainly in the commercial districts, didn't go onto the city centre. But when researching what to do we found lots of good options of things to do with kids, I think it's very much a city break place and I want to go back again for longer. I think there's still a lot of prejudice against the northern Victorian powerhouse cities, Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow all share some negative stereotypes with Manchester that are undeserved. All cities have poor areas (Edinburgh had the worse drug problem in Europe at one point but that doesn't stop the tourists flocking) but Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds all have lots going for them and are well worth a visit.

I live near Manchester, I’d suggest the newly refurbished Manchester Museum, John Rylands library, Castlefield Highline is due to open 30th July, RHS Bridgewater has a shuttle bus from one of the local train stations, Lowry art gallery, numerous shows on at the theatre and plenty of decent restaurants. It’s not always the prettiest of places but certainly enough for a city break with DC.

I agree with others saying it's just a bog standard city now, we live about 45 minutes away and still go occasionally (I think the food scene is really picking up actually) but wouldn't recommend it for a city break.

Liverpool would be my choice for a city break or Newcastle depending on how much further that would be for you.

I prefer Manchester to many cities. Its easy to get around using the tram, not to big and has some nice things to visit on the edges

I like Ezra Gil, Mackie major, outside the city Dunham Massey, Altringham markets at the weekend

John Rylands library is lovely.

Any recommendations for nice restaurants/cafes/bars?

What IS a ‘bog standard’ city though?
Liverpool is much prettier, has better museums and a decent Chinatown but it’s doesn’t have the hustle, bustle and diversity of Manchester. In my humble opinion. Only a couple of streets full of restaurants.
In Manchester you can find any cuisine imaginable, there are street performances, different types of people. It’s a lot like most of the office/hangout bits of London, which many people hate.

No other English city (except Birmingham?) has stood out to me as such. They’re all rather sleepy ,they have ‘bars and restaurants’ but ‘ not guaranteed to find new and exciting foods or exactly what I’m craving. But then again I grew up in capital cities. I’m used to the noise, pollution and edginess in a way most people who grew up elsewhere in England aren’t.

I live in Manchester, I much prefer going to Salford quays/media city than into Manchester. It's developing all the time and is so pretty at night.

The Lowry outlet could do with rejuvenation but the rest is modern, the Christmas market works well there.

Manchester is more a single young persons weekend social / party / clubbing destination IMHO. Have lots of friends their and OH went to Uni there as did one of our DCs - always have a lot of fun eating, drinking, dancing etc. Not sure it’s that family friendly - it’s not very green, not many city centre parks and quite hectic and polluted with traffic. Liverpool is a much more interesting and elegant city for a city break.

*there !

I like Manchester and go regularly.
I do think it peaked about 5 years ago though

It's changed a lot in the last 5 years or so. Huge amounts of tower blocks going up. There is a lack of green space but two new parks opening this year with the Highline and then Mayfield Park which looks like the playground will be amazing.
A lot of museums seem to be shut or partially shut at the moment plus the townhall is too for renovation which measure the Christmas markets have been displaced. I kind think the Christmas markets are a bit dull now apart from a few independent stalls.
I do like the Jewish museum and Whitworth Gallery is pretty cool. There's a few interesting walking tours too.
Still a lot of international tourists coming though judging by the crowds at lunchtimes and once the new Co-op Arena opens it will be even more of a draw I think.

We lived in Manchester until recently.

I enjoyed living there most of the time but I didn’t really like the city centre - the area around Piccadilly Gardens is tatty/dirty and quite rough. I’ve always found the layout of the whole centre odd. It doesn’t flow very well.
I’ve always preferred Liverpool city centre and the museums/galleries around the Albert Dock.

Lack of green space was always an issue but there are plans in work for a couple of new parks, which look amazing and will really improve the area.

There’s no shortage of bars and restaurants, lots of really nice places in the Northern Quarter area.