Manchester is not what it once was. Although forever cold and painted by drizzle, the place has a burgeoning reputation across the world. Suddenly, it has become an area to explore. And not just for a football team on the east side who are winning trophies with a style never seen before and will, in all likelihood, win the Premier League this weekend.
Lonely Planet listed the city as England's must-visit this year, sharing company with Nova Scotia, Umbria and El Salvador. In 2021, Time Out readers chose only San Francisco and Amsterdam as more desirable destinations.