Boasting an impressive number of tourist attractions, from art galleries to giant stadiums or science museums, Manchester is a complex tourist destination. Here is our list of five must-see attractions in the city of Manchester:

5. Manchester Art Gallery

Located at the heart of the city center, near St. Peter’s Square and Piccadilly’s train stations, the Manchester Art Gallery is a must-see attraction for art enthusiasts. It occupies three of Manchester’s most impressive-looking buildings and features three floors and 21 rooms full of art displays.

The free-to-enter Manchester Art Gallery features both historical and modern works of art, including paintings by famous British and foreign painters from the pre-Raphaelite to modern times.

4. Manchester Cathedral

Dedicated by Henry the 5th to St. Mary, St. Denys and St. George, Manchester Cathedral is built in Gothic style and marks the medieval center of the city. The original building dates back to 1421, when Manchester was just a small village, but the structure we see today is a 19th century reconstruction, faithful to the initial styling.

In 1940, during WW2, Manchester Cathedral was hit by a bomb and suffered serious damage, with many of the old painted glass windows lost forever. The city’s municipality did a fine job restoring the holy edifice and it’s now one of Manchester’s most popular tourist attractions.

3. Museum of Science and Industry

Located on the grounds of the world’s first passenger railway, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is an establishment that showcases various scientific and technological achievements, especially those linked to the city of Manchester.

It’s not everyday you get the chance to walk through a Victorian age sewer, complete with typical sounds and smells, or see the world’s very first computer, so don’t miss the chance if you’re ever in Manchester.

2. Manchester Town Hall

Considered by many as Manchester’s most impressive architectural attraction, Town Hall is indeed a man-made masterpiece. Completed in 1887, at a cost of 1 million British pounds, Manchester Town Hall is worth every penny. Its triangular design is often considered odd, but it proved very practical at the time of the construction, and makes Town Hall stand out even more among Manchester’s buildings.

1. Old Trafford

It might seem strange that a stadium tops our list of Manchester attractions, but if you’re familiar with soccer, you know this is the home of the world’s most popular soccer club. Old Trafford, often referred to as “The Theater of Dreams” has been home to Manchester United since 1910 and is the second biggest soccer stadium in the UK.

With a giant fan-base that stretches to all the corners of the world, it’s no wonder many Manchester tourists skip other more historically or artistically significant attractions, for a chance to tour Old Trafford and the Manchester United Museum.

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