Manchester, I love you... (PICTURE HEAVY)

Manchester has been on my list of places to visit for a long time now, both Mark and I have family who live there but we have never actually got round to visiting. This weekend we finally made it up there and did a whirlwind tour of the city before heading over to Mark's brother's house for a barbeque to celebrate his birthday. We only had a couple of hours in town but I fell in love with the city and I will definitely be back. Warning: this does sound like the Tourist Board have asked me to write a gushing piece about the city but I was just bowled over by the place; I mean how could you not love somewhere with more trams than you could shake a stick at?!


The Old Wellington near the Corn Exchange looked brilliant, I love the wood panelling on the eaves of the pub and it was absolutely heaving with people. Apparently there was some kind of festival on over the weekend and it was pretty busy but despite the crowds, everyone was in a good mood because of the sunshine...


The Oast House is an absolutely amazing building, next time I visit, I definitely want to go there, the food looked incredible!


I loved all of the different street performers that were around, this guy looked like he had been blown off his feet by the wind, I don't know how he managed to balance without falling over!


I know not everyone is a fan of buskers but this guy was incredible, he had such an amazing voice! Apparently the 'Hoochie Coochie Mancunian' is the 'self-proclaimed king of buskers'- it's hard to disagree when you hear him sing...


The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the Lego store in the Arndale centre. Mark and I were very excited and we spent ages in there trying to decide what to buy. Mark was very taken by Jabba's palace...


...whereas I wanted to take home the Arkham Asylum, just look how amazing Poison Ivy is!  I have major hair envy...


In the end though I settled for a worried looking Frodo, a jazzy Wonder Woman and a Stormtrooper for Mark. Next time I go, I will definitely be bringing Gimli home with me...


A really cool water feature near the Printworks, there was a paved stream which extended down the street but I didn't manage to get a photo so here is one to show you what it looked like...


The building for the National Football Museum was really cool and looked amazing in the sunlight. Apparently the museum used to be in Sheffield but not enough people visited it so they moved it to Manchester in 2011. 


Spinningfields is a 'business, retail and residential development in the west of Manchester city centre' (ooh fancy!) and it really reminded me of Canary Wharf or the Mailbox in Birmingham. How great are these flats though?! I'd love to live in the ones in the middle!


We called into the People's History Museum for a quick look at the post-1945 political posters (the perils of hanging out with two politics geeks!) and I really wish we had had more time to spend there as it was absolutely fascinating. I will definitely be devoting a full day to look round the museum next time, there looked like so many interesting collections. I especially wanted to see the one relating to Emily Wilding Davison and women's suffrage but we didn't have time :( 


Possibly my favourite poster in the collection...


Sir Robert Peel looking out over the city - I love playing guess the famous figure with statues, I had never even heard of half of the people whose statues we saw, I think I need to brush up on my history!


Beetham Tower - apparently this is not only the tallest building in Manchester but the tallest residential building in the world. I would hate to live on the top floor if the lifts broke down! 

 

Me and Paul by the National Football Museum - can you see the family resemblance between him and Mark?!


Mark looking like a German tourist...


The placement of these windmills was a bit random and I had to look them up when I got home as I was so intrigued by them. Apparently the artist saw the reflection of the Triangle Shopping Centre and the old Corn Exchange in Selfridges' window, thought it looked like a sandcastle and came up with these over-sized beach windmills. Thanks Manchester Evening News!


The birthday boy looking decidedly unimpressed. I'm not sure if that face was because of the chocolate cake or the insanely strong vodka jelly, who knows?! 

I hope you enjoyed my whistle-stop tour; have you ever been to Manchester? Where do I need to visit next time I go?

13 comments

char said...

Manchester is my favourite city in the UK, by far. I used to spend every weekend there but sadly I haven't been for an age - must change that, last time I went we ate at Giraffe in Spinningfields and most of the offices weren't finished.

Gem said...

Sane as Char, Manchester is my favourite pace in the UK. I LOVE the People's History Museum, the John Rylands library is right by there too and it's gorgeous x

HighlandFling said...

Oh hello! I am going to Manchester for a day with work, hopefully I have an evening to explore! Looks amazing. I hope you had a great day!

Em x

Anonymous said...

I've already commented on facebook I know, but I HAVE GIMLI! Heh. You have to get him!

Glad you love Oop North :)

Sarah x
scandinavianontheinside.blogspot.co.uk

Leanne Cornelius said...

I've never been to Manchester, I now really want to visit! x

joanna said...

I love Manchester so I am incredibly jealous that it was sunny when you visited. I last visited in 2007 in June and it was raining. Boo.

Oklahoma Cafe is a abolutely lovely place! It has houses a shop with lots of kooky homeware stuffs.

x

Sherin said...

I've only been to manchester once. Definitely need a proper trip there.

Natasha said...

What a lovely post! I've always wanted to visit Manchester too and after reading this I've got a list of places I'll need to stop by as well. Great photos too! - Tasha xxx

The Style Rawr said...

I still haven't been to Manchester but I've been to Bolivia...Haha! It looks lovely, I really want to go there to shop when I have lots of money.

Tara
www.thestylerawr.com
xoxo

Vintage Reflection said...

I've been to Manchester and totally get what you mean, its such a cool city!! x

Carly said...

I love Manchester! I'm so lucky to live so close. Next time you go try the Northern Quater. You'd love it.
Just followed your lovely blog via GFC :)
FashionProject x

Kierra Makayla said...

Beautiful shots! xoxo

loveekierramakayla.blogspot.com

Shes Dressing Up said...

Great photos! I used to live in Manchester and this post really makes me want to go back :)!