Manchester is a city in the county of Greater Manchester, England. Greater Manchester has a population of more than two million (as of 2018) and it is the second largest city by urban area in the United Kingdom.
The history of Manchester is both rich and fascinating, shaping it into the modern and forward-thinking place it is today. From the old mills and textile factories of the industrial revolution to the nearby MediaCity in Salford, Manchester has played an invaluable role in science, politics, arts, culture, TV, music, and sports over the years.
A unique blend of the old and the new, the city centre’s history remains visible in its architecture, museums and Manchester Landmarks, including Manchester Town Hall, which is being lovingly restored and re-opening in 2024, and Sackville Gardens, the sitting place of the life-size memorial to Enigma code-breaker Alan Turing. From visiting the Manchester Museum established in the 19th Century, exploring over 600 acres at Heaton Park, to taking a tour of the world-famous Old Trafford Football Stadium, there is plenty to see and do in Greater Manchester.
The Manchester Christmas Markets in St Anne’s Square
Before exploring the history of Manchester, let’s first consider how the city got its name. Manchester originates from the latin name Mamucium. The etymology of the word comes from the Brittonic word mamm for ‘breast’ and refers to the ‘breast-like hill’. Other studies suggest the name could come from the word mamma and refer to the local river goddess as Manchester is situated by a network of rivers including the River Medlock, River Irwell and the River Mersey.
There is no doubt that Manchester has a fascinating history. The first modern city, Manchester and its birth of the Industrial Revolution changed the world.
However, before the chimneys and view of factory roofs, Manchester UK was a Roman settlement associated with the Mancunium Fort established around AD 79 near the confluence of the River Medlock and River Irwell.
You can explore a reconstructed section of the Roman fort in Castlefield in the city centre. The civilian settlement grew through the middle ages before expanding at an astounding rate at the turn of the 19th Century as people moved in their thousands from their countryside town or village to Manchester.
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry in Castlefield
Dubbed Cottonopolis, the image of terraces, factory workers, narrow, crowded lanes, and towering mills are now immortalised in the ‘matchstick’ paintings of L.S. Lowry, and Manchester continues to be proud of its history as the first industrial city.
During the industrial revolution, Manchester was at the heart of a global manufacturing and trade network driven by the textiles industry and the demand for cotton. The Manchester Ship Canal was constructed between 1888 and 1894 to allow trade ships to enter the Port of Manchester and Trafford Park, the world’s first industrial estate.
Sadly, living conditions in the city’s slums weren’t ideal, and many died due to poor sanitation and health problems caused by air pollution or disease. Life wasn’t easy for the average mill worker or factory employee, but a unique working-class culture developed in Manchester due to the increased population. Several reform laws and work legislation were put in place during the 19th Century to reduce the negative impact of the industrial revolution, including The Factory Act of 1833, which prevented children under nine from working, although tough conditions and child labour continued in many workplaces.
By the second half of the century, Manchester had been declared an independent city and several societies and committees had a view to improving the conditions of the working class. A new community of philanthropists, doctors, businessmen, architects began to reinvest and improve Manchester city centre and the surrounding areas. With the emergence of the stunning Manchester town hall, free public libraries, Owens College, later the University of Manchester, and the Free Trade Hall, Manchester was becoming the city we know today and, in some ways, the everyday people of Manchester were beginning to benefit from their hard work and the Industrial revolution.
To discover more about the history of Manchester and the textile industry, visit the Science & Industry Museum, also home to the railway house of the world’s first intercity passenger train from Liverpool to Manchester.
Memorial by Jeremy Deller to victims of the Peterloo massacre
Manchester Library in St Peter’s Square
There are many famous Mancunians and people of interest in Manchester’s rich history. Take a look at our timeline of some of Manchester’s most famous people and events of the 20th Century.
In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst of Moss Side founded the Women’s Social and Political Union, later known as the Suffragettes who famously campaigned for Votes for Women. Visit the Pankhurst Centre, the previous home of Emmeline, to further explore the cause and her political work. In 2016, Manchester also paid tribute to Emmeline Pankhurst with a statue near St Peter’s Square, making Pankhurst the first woman to be honoured with a statue in Manchester city centre since Queen Victoria over 100 years ago.
Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square, Manchester
According to the commemorative plaque outside of the building, the Midland Hotel is where Frederick Henry Royce met Charles Stewart Rolls on Wednesday 4th May 1904. Rolls-Royce celebrates the meeting each year with a company event at the hotel. The first Rolls-Royce car was built at Henry Royce’s electrical and mechanical business workshop, later known as Rolls Royce Works, on Cooke Street in Hulme, Manchester. The car manufacturer went on to become the greatest and most well-known British Luxury brands in the world.
During the second world war, ‘the father of modern computing’ Alan Turing was a mathematician working for the British Government’s Code and Cypher School. Along with his code-breaking team he developed the Bombe machine to read German Air Force signals and gain intelligence for the war effort before working to decrypt more complex German naval communications with the Hut 8 team. After the war, he worked for the National Physical Laboratory where he invented the concept of a stored-program computer, ‘The Turing Machine’, and wrote several important academic papers on computing at the University of Manchester, developing the foundation of computing as we know it.
Sadly, despite Alan Turing’s invaluable work and efforts in the war, he was prosecuted for gross indecency in 1952 when homosexuality was illegal. He died 2 years later from cyanide poisoning. In 2013, Alan Turing was posthumously pardoned by HM The Queen. Visit the life-sized memorial to Alan Turing in Sackville Gardens close to Manchester University and Canal Street in Manchester’s Gay Village.
Alan Turing memorial in Sackville Gardens
Born in Harpurhey, Manchester, Anthony Burgess later studied English literature at Xaverian College and the University of Manchester before joining the Army as a teacher during the second world war. In the early 1950’s, Burgess wrote his first full-length play and his first two novels and continued to teach and write in Malaya. By 1962, Burgess was writing his most prolific work, including his most iconic work ‘A Clockwork Orange‘. Burgess continued his life and work as a novelist, composer, playwright, journalist, poet, and broadcaster until his death in 1993. Visit The International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester to discover more about Antony Burgess and his contribution to literature and music.
Tony Wilson, a.k.a Mr Manchester, was a radio broadcaster and TV presenter and the founder of legendary music label Factory Records, signing bands such as Joy Division and the Happy Mondays, as well as opening the famous Hacienda nightclub. A Manchester ambassador, Tony Wilson was a visionary who made a huge contribution to the city and transformed Manchester’s post-war city centre to a cultural hub.
It isn’t possible to discuss Manchester history and its cultural importance without acknowledging Manchester’s music scene and legendary bands, including Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, The Stone Roses, The Fall, The Charlatans, M People, 52nd Street, Simply Red, Happy Mondays, and even The BeeGees who grew up in Chorlton! As well as great music, Manchester city centre has a thriving performing arts scene and is home to several historical venues such as the Manchester Opera House, the Palace Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre at the city’s former cotton exchange.
Manchester has also been a hub for media and television broadcasting since the 1950s and is home to ITV’s Granada Television and the world’s longest-running TV soap opera, Coronation Street, which was first broadcast on December 9th 1960 and has continued to since.
Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter
The village of Manchester became a populous town in the 13th Century. Manchester continued to grow due to the region’s thriving textile industry manufacturing and trading linen and woollens in the 15th Century. In 1853, Manchester became a city and the city was transformed by an increased population, new technology, and the Industrial Revolution.
Greater Manchester, England was formally established in 1774 and was an administrative unit until 1986. Greater Manchester is currently a geographic and ceremonial county consisting of 10 metropolitan boroughs: Wigan, Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, Stockport, Trafford, Salford and Manchester.
Manchester is a city in North West England with a rich history, beautiful buildings and plenty of famous landmarks to explore, whether you book a guided tour or just take a stroll through the Victorian streets.
The Manchester Town Hall, located at Albert Square, is one of the most iconic buildings in Manchester, England and has been home to Manchester City Council since 1877. Manchester Central Library, located at St Peter’s Square, is another famous landmark in the city centre since being opened by King George V in 1934. A more recent major landmark built in Manchester in 2006 is Beetham Tower on Deansgate. The Manchester skyscraper, standing at 169 metres, was recognised as the tallest building in the UK outside of London and until the construction of Deansgate Square, the tallest building in Manchester.
A photo Manchester City Centre taken from the air above Cornbrook
Discover more landmarks in Manchester city centre and Greater Manchester, including;
Designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1877, the Manchester Town Hall is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. The Victorian Gothic building is home to a number of important civic offices, including the Lord Mayor’s office, as well as the sculpture hall home to statues of people who have contributed to Manchester and the stunning Great Hall.
As one of the UK’s finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture, Manchester Town Hall is one of England’s most important Grade One Listed Buildings. The detail and design of the building are awe-inspiring, from the 280 ft tall bell tower to the image of ‘Ouroboros’, a snake eating its tail to symbolise the cycle of life, on the main entrance ceiling.
Visit Manchester Town Hall at Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB.
Manchester Town Hall
Albert Square, named after Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, is a public square located in the city centre of Manchester, England. The Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall dominates the north end of the square which is home to several statues and sculptures, including the Albert Memorial, erected in 1866 to commemorate Prince Albert. Other statues at Albert Square include Oliver Heywood, John Bright, Bishop Hames Fraser, and William Ewart Gladstone. Albert Square is also home to a fountain erected for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
In recent years, it has been the main site of the Manchester International Festival that celebrates the city’s arts and culture.
Visit Albert Square, Manchester City Centre, M2 5DB.
Manchester Victoria Station is a major railway, tram, and bus station in Manchester, England. Located to the north of the city centre on Hunts Bank, close to Manchester Arena and Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Station hosts services to North England destinations such as Leeds, Newcastle, Hull and Sheffield. It also runs a Liverpool service using the original Liverpool to Manchester line which was the first inter-city passenger train line.
Designed by Sir John Fowler and completed in 1892, Manchester Victoria station spans 4710 square yards and has 15 platforms. In 1988, the station received Grade II listed building status. During the recent renovation, some heritage features such as the former first-class cage and booking office were restored.
Visit Manchester Victoria Station at Victoria Station Approach, Manchester, M3 1WY.
Manchester Victoria Station
Standing tall at 168m, Beetham Tower is one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings. Also known as the Hilton Tower, the 47-storey skyscraper on Deansgate was designed by Ian Simpson, who lived in the top floor penthouse, and completed in 2006. Floors 1 to 22 of the tower are occupied by the Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel, Cloud 23 sky-bar is mid-tower boasting amazing views of the city centre and beyond, and floors 25 to 47 are occupied by residential apartments.
Beetham Tower was the tallest building in the UK outside of London and the tallest building in Manchester until the recent construction of Deansgate Square, although it remains one of the slimmest skyscrapers in the world.
Visit Beetham Tower at 301 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LQ.
Opened in 1849, Oxford Road station was the first inter-city railway station in Manchester. The station is now a Grade II listed building and the current 1960’s timber facade structure is considered ‘one of the most interesting and innovative buildings of the period’ as well as ‘one of the most remarkable and unusual stations in the country’.
Today, Oxford Road Station in Manchester runs services to Southport, Bolton, Blackpool, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows, Warrington Central, Manchester Airport, Crewe, Stockport and more.
Visit Oxford Road Station at Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 6FU.
The Principal Hotel clock tower opposite Oxford Road Station.
Heaton Park, in Prestwich, Manchester, is the largest public park in the North West. With over 600 acres, the park includes a boating lake, golf course, animal centre, café, tram museum as well as various historic buildings and listed structures.
The most notable feature of Heaton Park is Heaton Hall, a Grade I listed building which dates back to the 18th century. It was built by Sir Thomas Egerton, the 1st Earl of Wilton, and was used as a private residence until 1902 when it was sold to the Manchester Corporation for £230,000 and Heaton Park became public to the people of Manchester.
A perfect day out for all ages, visit Heaton Park at Sheepfoot Lane, Manchester, M25 0DL.
Sackville Gardens is a public space in Manchester, England between Manchester College’s Shena Simon Campus, Sackville Street, Whitworth Street, the Rochdale canal and Canal Street.
The gardens, part of Manchester’s vibrant gay village, were created in the early 20th century by Manchester Corporation and are now home to a life-sized memorial statue of ‘the father of computing’ Alan Turing who was prosecuted as a gay man in 1952 despite his major contribution to the Allies winning WW2, and the Beacon of Hope, the UK’s only permanent memorial to people living with or sadly lost their lives to HIV or Aids.
Visit Sackville Gardens at Whitworth Street, Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3WA.
Canal Street, the main walkway in Manchester’s Gay Village
The Manchester Cenotaph is a war memorial in St. Peter’s Square, Manchester. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled in 1924, the cenotaph is made of granite and Portland stone and is 12 metres (39 ft) high, with an eight-metre (26 ft) long base. After the second world war, dates were added along with A Garden of Remembrance and commemorative plaques.
In 2014, the Manchester Cenotaph war memorial was moved and reconstructed on the other side of St. Peter’s Square by the Peace Gardens and Manchester Town Hall.
Visit Manchester Cenotaph at St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 4EG.
The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester is dedicated to the history of science, industry and technology. The museum has exhibitions and displays for all ages that explore Manchester’s textiles and cotton industry, transport, computing and other industrial technologies.
Built on the site of the oldest passenger railway line, the science and industry museum delves into a 250-year history of discoveries and inventions that shaped Manchester and the world. Search for objects, from locomotives to televisions, and stories in the museum’s online collection.
Visit The Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP.
Designed by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas and completed in 1938, Manchester Central Convention Complex is a Grade II* listed building in Manchester, England. The complex is in the heart of Manchester and consists of differently-sized spaces, including the Central Hall, the Exchange Hall, and the Exchange Auditorium, medium spaces such as The Gallery and Charter Suite, as well as the smaller meeting room spaces.
In recent years, the complex has undergone extensive renovation hosting a huge range of events all year, from fan conventions, to political conferences, live performances, industry exhibitions, and Christmas parties.
Visit Manchester Central Convention Complex on Windmill Street, Manchester, M2 3GX.
Manchester Piccadilly Station is a Grade II listed railway station in Manchester, England. The station was originally built in 1842 as Store Street, was renamed Manchester London Road in 1847 and became Manchester Piccadilly in 1960. Manchester Piccadilly Station is one of the most iconic buildings in Manchester and is a symbol of the city’s industrial heritage.
The busiest station in Manchester and the third busiest in the UK outside of London, Manchester Piccadilly is a major hub for both local and national rail services. Destinations from Manchester Piccadilly include London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Reading and North England services to Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and York.
Visit Manchester Piccadilly at Piccadilly Station Approach, Manchester, M60 7RA.
Manchester Piccadilly Train Station during peak time
Deansgate is the longest road in Manchester city centre from Deansgate railway station at Castlefield to Manchester Cathedral and is one of the oldest thoroughfares in the city. Nicknamed ‘Devil’s Gate’, during the Victorian era, the area was notorious due to the high levels of crime and extreme poverty. Today, Deansgate is best known for shopping attractions, the Great Northern Warehouse, Beetham Tower and John Rylands Library.
The Deansgate Locks on the Rochdale Canal in Manchester were built to allow boats to navigate the river between Manchester and Salford. The locks are now a popular tourist attraction and are lined by a selection of lively bars and nightclubs.
Visit Deansgate Locks at 5 Century St, Manchester, M3 4QL.
Known as The Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford is a football stadium in Greater Manchester and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 74,879, it is the largest club football stadium in the United Kingdom. Designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, the stadium has been host to football matches since 1910. The stadium has been renovated over the years, including in early 2006 when its capacity was increased to approximately 76,000.
The Munich clock at Old Trafford stadium is stopped at the time of the Munich air disaster on February 6th 1968 to pay tribute to the Manchester United players ‘The Busby Babes’ who lost their lives. The Manchester United Museum exhibits a wide range of memorabilia and explores the football club’s past. Stadium tours of the ground, changing rooms and trophy cabinet are a must-do experience for any Manchester United fan.
Visit Old Trafford Stadium at Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester, M16 0RA.
Old Trafford Football Stadium, the home of football club Manchester United
Formerly known as Manchester City Stadium and before that, simply as Eastlands, The Etihad Stadium is a football stadium in Manchester and home to Manchester City Football Club. The sixth-largest football stadium in England, Etihad Stadium was originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has since been used for football matches, concerts, and other sporting events.
The stadium has a capacity of 55,097 and is one of the most modern and sophisticated football stadiums in the world. The stadium is also known for its excellent acoustics, which makes it a popular venue for concerts. Manchester City fans can visit the stadium and take an immersive tour of the pitch, home team changing room, tunnel, trophy cabinet and more.
Visit the Etihad Stadium at UCFB Etihad Campus, Ashton New Road, Manchester, M11 3FF.
Home to students from across the world, Manchester is also known for its emphasis on education and world-changing scientific breakthroughs. Some of mankind’s most significant inventions and discoveries have their roots in Manchester. In 1917, The University of Manchester was the site where Ernest Rutherford split the atom, which led to the development of nuclear power and radiotherapy. Other Manchester Inventions include the first stored-program computers, nicknamed ‘Baby’, and isolating the strongest material in the world, graphene, in 2004.
The Manchester Baby, also known as the Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM) was the first electronic stored programme computer. It was developed and built in 1948 at The University of Manchester by Fredric C Williams, Geoff Tootill and Tom Kilburn. The Science & Industry museum exhibits a replica of ‘The Baby’, which was the first machine to possess all of the elements of a modern electronic digital computer.
A working replica of the first programable computer, The Manchester Baby.
Graphene is a practical and innovative material that was first isolated from graphite at The University of Manchester by Professor Andre Geim and Professor Kostya Novoselov. The thinnest compound on earth, Graphene is just a single layer of carbon atoms bound in a hexagonal sheet. The National Graphene Institute (NGI) is located at the University and collaborates with industry partners to demonstrate new concepts, unlock the potential of graphene and develop manufacturing methods.
The birthplace of Nuclear Physics, The University of Manchester laboratories is also where Nobel Prize Winner Ernest Rutherford split the atom over 100 years ago. In 1917, Rutherford became the first to create an artificial nuclear reaction after experimenting with nitrogen gas and alpha particles.
Manchester is a great place to study and enjoy student life! The city is home to some of the top universities in the UK and attracts students from around the world. The University of Manchester boasts the largest alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK. Neighbour Manchester Metropolitan University is also one of the UK’s largest universities and the Royal Northern College of Music is the first choice for many musicians.
The University of Salford, University of Bolton and the University Academy 92 in Greater Manchester are also nearby schools. Whatever Manchester education institution you choose, you’ll soon find out why the city is a popular choice for higher education in England.
University Academy 92 in Stretford, Greater Manchester
Manchester Metropolitan University has a proud heritage dating back to 1824. It is one of the largest universities in the UK with over 38,000 students in the community, including international students from over 120 different countries.
Although located close to the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan is also a top university and recognised in the QS World University Rankings due to its commitment to research and wide range of postgraduate and undergraduate courses, from sport to architecture, art and science.
Manchester Metropolitan University is proud to have a triple accredited business school and offer professionally valuable business courses in one of the most exciting cities. Global Connections mean the university has also developed productive partnerships with leading global companies and business schools worldwide. The Manchester institute also hosts regular employability events, guest speakers and industry networking opportunities.
Manchester Metropolitan University is the UK’s number one sustainable university! When ranked by environmental and ethical performance, Manchester Metropolitan University is first-class and at the top of the league due to its commitment to being a sustainable university.
With a range of academic schools and buildings built on campus locations across Manchester city centre, Manchester Met is best known for its commitment to higher education and assisting students with achieving their ambition in a wide range of industries and subjects in a creative and world-leading city.
The Manchester Metropolitan University near Mancunian Way
The University of Manchester has a fascinating heritage, inspiring present and an exciting future. The academic school began as England’s first civic university and has a rich past that entwines with the history of Manchester.
The current University of Manchester was formed in 2004 and combined two schools, Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), into one single university.
Now the institute offers a wide range of degree courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students, from medical sciences to the arts, engineering and humanities.
According to The Graduate Market in 2022, The University of Manchester is the most targeted university by the top 100 UK graduate employers. Manchester beat other prestigious British universities to reclaim the top position as the most popular destination for the UK’s leading employers.
According to The Guardian University Guide, The University of Manchester is number 28 in the top universities 2022 UK rankings with a Guardian score of 72.4 out of 100.
The University of Manchester has kept its position in the top 2% in the latest QS World University Rankings. In 2022, it was named the world’s 28th best University to attend and is also the 6th best educational institution in the UK. It was also awarded another award in the QS World University Rankings and received a prize in Recognition of Internationalism due to its diverse community of international students and staff.
Manchester Students Union represents students at the Uni of Manchester and is the largest student’s union in the UK. Located on the university campus, it plays an important part in student life and is the home of societies, student events and much more. Since 2004, the unified University of Manchester Students Union has had over 40,000 members each year at the Oxford Road Campus and North Campus. It also hosts Pangea, the largest student-led festival in Europe.
The Manchester University Student Union on Oxford Road
The University of Manchester is best known for its pioneering taught courses and world-leading research. The core goal of the university is social responsibility, and as well as a fantastic academic ranking also boasts an important role in the history and development of the city.
The Uni has a rich past, and 25 Nobel Prize winners among the current and former staff and students, including Ernest Rutherford who in 1908 received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work and research on radioactive substances at the Manchester University.
The city of Manchester boasts one of the largest and diverse student populations in Europe undertaking a wide range of courses and subjects from medicine and science, to history, business and sport. Over 51% of Manchester students stay and live in the area after graduating university. This means Manchester businesses and a range of industries in the area have a fantastic opportunity to tap into the talent pool and work with highly-skilled Manchester graduates.
Europe’s largest urban higher-education precinct, Oxford Road is home to the University of Manchester campus and the All Saints campus at Manchester Met University. Moving through to Wilmslow Road, it is considered one of the busiest bus corridors in Europe with services run throughout the day and night.
The University of Salford building in the heart of MediaCityUK is surrounded by national broadcasting giants the BBC, ITV and hundreds of businesses working in the media and digital technology industries including TV, radio and games design.
Media City, the home of broadcasting giants ITV and the BBC
Students in Manchester benefit from a large student community, a fantastic music scene and plenty of events and fun activities to get involved with from Manchester International Festival to Parklife. As well as a great nightlife and food scene in Manchester city centre, students also benefit from great transport links and access to attractions across Greater Manchester such as Heaton Park and The Trafford Centre.
Manchester offers a wide range of student accommodation in the city centre and surrounding areas. Owens Park is a major student residential campus in Fallowfield and many students also rent privately in the south Manchester area.
Manchester is a vibrant, welcoming and multicultural city that is home to international students from over 150 countries around the world. Of Greater Manchester’s 99,000, around 19,000 are from outside the UK and the city is also the third most visited by international tourists in the UK.
The Whitworth Hall on Oxford Road and Burlington Street, part of the University of Manchester.
Manchester, UK is an international sporting city and plays host to a wide range of major sporting events and competitions. The city is home to Lancashire county cricket club, the National cycling centre and some of the world’s leading football teams. Whatever sport you enjoy, from athletics to swimming or, of course, football, you’re sure to find a Manchester team to support. Notable teams include:
The University of Manchester Rugby Union team, sponsored by Gorilla Marketing
Manchester United Football Club was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) before a name change in 1902. Manchester United play their home games at Old Trafford, or the Theatre of Dreams, which was built in 1910 and underwent an expansion in the 1990s and 2000s. Man United play in the Premier League, the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and the EFL Cup.
Manchester City was founded in 1880 as St. Marks Church team and was later known as Ardwick AFC before changing to Manchester city in 1894. Manchester City Football Club moved to the Etihad (The City of Manchester Stadium) in 2003 after playing at Maine Road Stadium in Moss Side for 80 years. Man City play in the Premier League, the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and the EFL Cup.
Lancashire Cricket Club, founded in 1864, play at Old Trafford. The ground also hosts Test matches for England national team and One Day Internationals. Lancashire County Cricket club are among the most successful cricket clubs in England, winning the County Championship eight times.
Old Trafford Cricket Ground, the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club
Founded in 1861 as Sale Football Club, Sale Sharks are a professional Rugby Union Club that play Premiership Rugby. The Sale Sharks’ home ground was Heywood Road in Sale between 1905 and 2003. Sale Sharks were temporarily at Edgeley Park in Stockport (2003-2012), moving to the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford in 2012. Sale Sharks have won four major trophies.
Manchester Giants were founded in 2011 and play in the top-tier British Basketball League. Home games are played at the National Basketball Centre in Belle Vue.
Manchester Titans are the city’s only American Football club. The team competes in the top-tier BAFA National Leagues Premier Division North. Home games are played at the National Speedway Stadium in Gorton.
Manchester Storm ice hockey team was founded in 2015 and is a member of the Elite Ice Hockey league. Home games are played at Planet Ice in Altrincham, which also hosts ice skating events.
The Sale Sharks playing rugby at the AJ Bell Stadium
Manchester experiences a temperate climate, not much different to the rest of the British Isles. Despite a reputation for high rainfall and grey skies, the average annual rainfall is 806.6 millimetres, compared to the UK average of 1,125.0 millimetres. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Manchester was −17.6 °C (0.3 °F) on 7 January 2010.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C | 14.3 | 19.0 | 21.7 | 25.1 | 26.7 | 31.3 | 37.0 | 33.7 | 28.4 | 27.0 | 17.7 | 15.1 | 37.0 |
| Average high °C | 7.3 | 7.6 | 10.0 | 12.6 | 16.1 | 18.6 | 20.6 | 20.3 | 17.6 | 13.9 | 10.0 | 7.4 | 13.5 |
| Daily mean °C | 4.5 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 11.9 | 14.6 | 16.6 | 16.4 | 14.0 | 10.7 | 7.1 | 4.6 | 10.0 |
| Average low °C | 1.7 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 7.7 | 10.5 | 12.6 | 12.4 | 10.3 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 6.6 |
| Record low °C | −15.0 | −13.1 | −9.7 | −4.9 | −1.7 | 0.8 | 5.4 | 3.6 | 0.0 | −4.7 | −10.0 | −14.0 | −15.0 |
| Average precipitation mm | 72.3 | 51.4 | 61.2 | 54.0 | 56.8 | 66.1 | 63.9 | 77.0 | 71.5 | 92.5 | 81.5 | 80.7 | 828.8 |
| Average snowfall mm | 24 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 71 |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 13.1 | 9.7 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 10.4 | 11.1 | 10.9 | 12.0 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 142.9 |
| Average snowy days | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 87 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 88 |
| Average dew point °C | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 (37) | 6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 52.5 | 73.9 | 99.0 | 144.9 | 188.3 | 172.5 | 179.7 | 166.3 | 131.2 | 99.3 | 59.5 | 47.1 | 1,416.2 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 3.4 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.1 |
| Average ultraviolet index | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Media in Manchester is an intrinsic part of the city’s culture and history due to its continued contribution to British television broadcasting, radio, print and new creative and digital industries.
As well as being the home of Coronation Street, the longest-running soap drama in the world, Manchester was also the location of A Question of Sport, Stars in Their Eyes, Red Dwarf and many more television series. The BBC first came to Manchester in 1954 and broadcasted from Dickenson Road Studios in Rusholme before moving to the purpose-built New Broadcasting House on Oxford Road. Manchester is also home to ITV’s successful Granada Television Studios.
The Studios in Media City, where ‘Match of the Day’ is broadcasted from.
Construction of Media City in Salford began in 2007, and the BBC soon announced they would be moving some of its London-based departments to the new media hub. In 2010, ITV also agreed to move their Manchester base to Media City. By 2011, Dock10 studios produced the first TV series at the Salford site and the BBC first broadcast from their new home. Since then, Media City has continued to grow and The Studios is now home to shows such as The Voice UK and Match of the Day.
Manchester has been a prime location for radio since the BBC first broadcast from Trafford Park in 1922. Today, a range of regional and national radio stations broadcast from Manchester, including BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Manchester and Capital Manchester. The city has the most local radio stations outside of London and also champions community radio stations with youth stations such as Unity Radio FM, and online Reform Radio.
Manchester has a long history of print, with The Guardian newspaper being founded as The Manchester Guardian in 1821. Until the 1980’s Manchester was the home of many national newspapers and had earned the nickname ‘second fleet street’ due to the number of journalists in the city. Today the main regional paper is The Manchester Evening News. Manchester is also home to online content creators and platforms such as The Manc and Manchester’s Finest and national social publisher Lad Bible based in the Northern Quarter.
Manchester is home to a wide variety of SEO and PPC professionals who live and work in the city. The city has a reputation as one of the largest digital hubs in Europe; with numerous multi-national companies choosing to have their digital marketing operations in Manchester, including Booking.com, Etsy and The Hut Group.
The Freemount in the Northern Quarter, location of regular SEO meetups.
Manchester Airport 1971–2000 weather averages
Manchester: the UK’s rock and indie music capital
The Factory Manchester £110m arts venue approved
The History of The Manchester Museum
British Council Annual Report 2013–14
Manchester’s parks and open spaces
Education and skills in your area: Manchester LA
Boom city Manchester has more super-rich than anywhere outside London
South Manchester: Living in the area: Introducing South Manchester
DON'T GO JUST YET!
Our free search marketing audits are the most comprehensive and insightful in the industry – and there is no obligation to work with us afterwards! Fill in the form below to get yours!
FREE SEARCH MARKETING AUDIT
