Day and a bit in Manchester with cool 17 year old

[ZittiEBuoni]

Hello, dd (17) was supposed to have an interview at Manchester Uni this week but it was cancelled because of the lecturers' strike. We can't cancel our hotel room though and tbh we're quite happy to spend the ex-interview day taking a look at what's what in the city.

I visited once before - in 1988 when I was the cool 17 year old, and I'll take her to Afflecks, which I remember loving, but I'm a bit past nightclubbing now...

Any recommendations? She's musical/arty/bookish, loves a charity shop, Asian/fusion food, bubble tea etc. I like all the same things, handily enough.

If she’s interested in Manchester Uni or Manchester Met then she ought to get to know Oxford Rd! Specifically the art school, (you can wander round the ground floor), Manchester Museum (re-opening around now?), RNCM - brilliant conservatoire with endless free concerts, Contact theatre, and (my favourite) the Whitworth Gallery at the end of the road. Factor in plenty of time for the last; it’s the loveliest, small, beautiful gallery with an absolutely breathtaking glass walled cafe overlooking the (maybe less than breathtaking) park.

Close to Oxford Road is HOME - an arts venue with really excellent pizza and chips as well as cinemas and theatre. Very contemporary cosy - hard to drag oneself away. Surrounded by chain eateries - and what looks like some very expensive student accommodation round the corner.

Also try to get to the Royal Exchange Theatre in St Ann’s Sq - it’s amazing on many levels inside.

Manchester Art Gallery - is a nice juxtaposition of old and new, if you have the time. But not as distinct as the Whitworth.

(Coolness also resides in the area developing beyond Piccadilly Station as an extension of the Northern Quarter and Ancoats. I gather it’s full of artisan bakeries and such like.)

Another main area for artsy students would be Media City. Best way to arrive is by taking a tram from St Peter’s Sq to Salford Quays, and then walking along the canal (nice open built space with ducks and benches and hotels and a marina) to, on one side Imperial War Museum North and on the other the Lowry Centre and Media City.

Manchester has gone rather downhill in the last decade (after a few golden years) but the academic and arts institutions are still hugely impressive.

I know nothing about clubs and student nightlife!

Brilliant, we were going to have a good nose around Oxford Rd anyway, that will be a great way to spend some time. (No plans to go clubbing...that was what I mostly seem to remember from my 1988 visit...)