Attractions in Manchester

Old Trafford — the Theatre of Dreams — is the 74,310-capacity home of Manchester United, the most decorated club in English football. Even for non-fans, the stadium's scale and atmosphere make it one of Manchester's most iconic landmarks.

The Etihad Stadium, also known as the City of Manchester Stadium, is the 53,400-capacity home of Manchester City FC. Built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, its sweeping bowl design offers excellent sightlines and a modern matchday experience.

Manchester Town Hall is a grand Victorian Gothic building dominating Albert Square. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1877, it is widely considered one of the finest municipal buildings in the world.

Manchester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, is a medieval church at the heart of the city. Its wide nave, ornate misericords and vivid stained glass make it one of northern England's finest parish churches.

The John Rylands Research Institute and Library on Deansgate is a breathtaking neo-Gothic masterpiece often compared to a cathedral. Part of the University of Manchester, it houses one of the world's finest collections of rare books, manuscripts and archives.

Chetham's Library, tucked behind Manchester Cathedral, is the oldest free public reference library in the English-speaking world. The building also houses Chetham's School of Music, one of the UK's top specialist music schools.

The Alan Turing Memorial is a life-size bronze statue of the mathematician and computer science pioneer sitting on a park bench in Sackville Gardens. It serves as both a tribute to his genius and a poignant reminder of his persecution.

Manchester Central Library is a magnificent Grade II* listed building on St Peter's Square. Reopened in 2014 after a £50 million renovation, its soaring domed reading room is one of the most photogenic interiors in the city.

The Royal Exchange Theatre is a unique theatre-in-the-round housed inside the Grade II* listed Royal Exchange building — once the world's largest room for cotton trading. The futuristic capsule auditorium sits dramatically inside the Victorian hall.

The Bridgewater Hall is Manchester's premier international concert venue, home to the Hallé — one of the oldest professional orchestras in the world. The 2,341-seat auditorium is renowned for its exceptional acoustics.

The Pankhurst Centre is the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst and the birthplace of the suffragette movement. This unassuming terraced house at 60–62 Nelson Street is where the Women's Social and Political Union was founded in 1903.

Victoria Baths is a stunning Edwardian swimming pool complex in Longsight that was voted the nation's favourite building in the BBC's Restoration programme. Though no longer a working pool, it operates as a heritage venue and event space.