Gday folks, hope today’s blog finds you well. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been writing about Liverpool and the things I saw and did there. Today I turn attention to Liverpool’s neighbour in Manchester. Another famous British city, well associated with its two football teams in City and United internationally.

From Liverpool it was a short train journey across to Manchester by the train, and I had a day to explore the city, staying there overnight before heading back to my UK base in Northampton. I left early enough to leave most of the day open to sight seeing in Manchester, arriving at Manchester Piccadilly Station and setting off first by bus – there is a free bus doing a circuit (actually a couple of different ones I think) to get to the first stop. Here’s where I went and what I saw/did:

Castlefield Roman Fort Ruins

First stop wasn’t really a first stop, but I had to walk through the field where there are some Roman Ruins to get to the next stop so I thought it was worth mentioning. There isn’t much left of the ruins, it’s not really a tourist attraction in any way but there’s a little statue there and they have recreated one of the gates. But it is just below the railway line and the …

Castlefield Viaduct

The Castlefield Viaduct is a cool, free little spot in Manchester is a converted railway viaduct which is now a nice garden which you can visit. They hold occasional events there too – there was one when I arrived but it finished shortly and I got to explore! It dates back to 1893 and carried heavy rail traffic for many a year, but now it’s a ‘sky park’, and the coolest bit was I went through the information centre and found myself on a different part of the viaduct that hasn’t been converted (not sure if that’s the intention).

Liverpool Science and Industry Museum

This museum is cool. But, no worth that much time probably if you’re an adult. It’s a classic ‘Scienceworks’ kinda place with loads of different examples of science related fun that kids can enjoy. It’s also got a loom or two out the back and you can see how technology melded with industry, and somewhere you’ll find old computers too. Unfortunately for me some of the museum (there appeared to be a second building) was closed off at the time. It has free entry, and the immediate neighbourhood is interesting with the Campfield Market Hall – a market and so much more inside an historic building. The market runs every Saturday.

People’s History Museum

This was a recommended museum through the interweb, but I was surprised by this museum when I got there because it was really a workers’ and unions’ museum, you could probably call it a place of propaganda in many ways, but it was a museum to workers rights in England over the last hundred years mostly, although parts dedicated to workers from centuries past as well.

And although there was a massive political tilt to this museum (and I consider myself centre-left) it was very interesting to see how far in 100 – 150 year worker’s rights have come, and how people and their labour was disregarded in times past.

Sir John Ryland’s Library

So, another free item on the agenda was THE HIGHLIGHT of the day. It’s apparently one of the best libraries in the world, at least for historical books, and is housed in the most amazing building which you would swear must have been converted from a church, but not this is how he had it built!

Opened on the first day of 1900, in the Victorian Neo-Gothic style, you can explore a couple of floors whilst students study books. It’s beautiful – really do NOT miss this place! Inside it feels like you’re in Hogwarts at times, or some sort of castle. Downstairs you see these very tall bookshelves, upstairs the reading room is big with a statue at the end watching over everyone, and yes, well, loads of people taking selfies! Well, I snapped a couple in there too!

St Ann’s Church

Popped into this little church, in great condition, cute, only took five minutes near the centre of town. Consecrated 1712, Anglican in denomination.

The Old Wellington

Wonderful looking pub and place to eat, in a Tudor style building which always turns my head. Didn’t actually go inside, but plenty of outdoor tables and looked lively and popular.

Manchester Cathedral

Just behind the Old Wellington is the impressive Manchester Cathedral. Originally Roman Catholic, for most of its life it’s been Anglican and the current building dates back to the late 1400s/early 1500s. It’s worth a visit, the choir section and high altar (I think) is locate in the middle of the structure, but they had another altar and chairs set up I think for regular services as I am presuming the numbers are not what they used to be.

Sackville Gardens

Apart from the bus from the station, I should have said the rest of the day tour I walked. I got in loads of steps, naturally, but it was quite a walkable tour I mapped out for myself, it also went past the Albert Square which was sectioned off and hidden as there were works going on and so I really couldn’t see ANYTHING – it’s home to the town hall and a number of statues.

I continued on back to the station with my final stop at the Sackville Gardens. A small garden really, notable for it’s statue (seated) of Alan Turing, famous for being the genius behind the computer that cracked German codes during the Second World War, the Enigma Machine. There is a good but sad film about him called ‘The Imitation Game’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Worth seeing. Turing was arrested for performing homosexual acts in 1952, underwent various ‘treatments’, but committed suicide at the age of 41. There’s not really much to say.

Anyways, sorry to end on such a sad note, because it was a highly rewarding day in Manchester and I packed in a lot. Manchester is close enough to Liverpool that you could stay in one city and visit the other as a day trip. For me I felt there was more to see and do in Liverpool, but it helps if you love the Beatles! So that’s why Manchester was my day trip. But either way would be workable.

Thanks for popping by! Take care wherever you are in the world right now – May the Journey Never End!