Other sights in Manchester
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Godlee Observatory
Maybe it's the vertiginous spiral staircase, but hardly anyone ever visits the fabulous Godlee Observatory, one of the most interesting places in town. Built In 1902, it is a fully functioning observatory with its original Grubb telescope in place; even the rope and wheels that move the telescope are original. Not only can you glimpse the heavens (if the weather allows), but the views of the city from the balcony are exceptional. It’s located at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Alternatively, you’ll get great views of the city from the Hilton bar atop the city’s tallest skyscraper, the Beetham Tower.
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Elizabeth Gaskell House
About 3 miles south of the city centre is Elizabeth Gaskell House, a Grade II detached Regency-style villa that was the home of novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, who lived here from 1850 to 1865 (and whose family continued to live here until 1913). It is a rare property: besides its unique literary associations (Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens were regular visitors), it is one of the few homes in Manchester whose interior has been carefully maintained and restored to its original elegance. The house has limited opening hours; to get here, take bus 50, 113, 130, 147, 191 or 197 from Piccadilly Gardens, or take the train to Ardwick.
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Whitworth Art Gallery
Manchester’s second most important art gallery has a wonderful collection of British watercolours. It also houses the best selection of historic textiles outside London, and has a number of galleries devoted to the work of artists from Dürer and Rembrandt to Lucien Freud and David Hockney. All this high art aside, you may find that the most interesting part of the gallery is the group of rooms dedicated to wallpaper – proof that bland pastels and horrible flowery patterns are not the final word in home decoration.
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Runway Visitor Park
Immensely popular with plane spotters, the Runway Visitor Park is also the only place in Britain where you can climb aboard Concorde (by separate tour) and explore the inside of a DC-10, an Avro RJX-100 (the last civilian airliner built in the UK) and an RAF Nimrod, which was in active service in Afghanistan as recently as 2010. The park is signposted off the A538 between Junction 6 of the M56 and the airport tunnels, but can also be reached via bus transfer from the airport itself.
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B
Pankhurst Centre
The Pankhurst Centre is the converted childhood home of Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928), a leading light of the British suffragette movement. It has displays on her remarkable life and political struggles. The museum is on Nelson St, which marks the southern boundary of the University of Manchester and the northern side of the Manchester Infirmary.
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C
Manchester Jewish Museum
The Manchester Jewish Museum, in a Moorish-style former synagogue, tells the story of the city's Jewish community in fascinating detail, including the story of Polish refugee Michael Marks, who opened his first shop with partner Tom Spencer at 20 Cheetham Hill Rd in 1894. From Piccadilly Gardens, take bus 59, 89, 135 or 167.
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Old Trafford Museum
The museum, which is part of the tour but can be visited independently, has a comprehensive history of the club, and a state-of-the-art call-up system that means you can view your favourite goals – as well as a holographic ‘chat’ with Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Museum of Transport
Thi museum is packed with old buses, fire engines and lorries (trucks) built in the last 100 years.
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Manchester Museum
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D
Chetham's Library & School of Music
Built in 1421, is the city’s oldest structure that’s still completely intact – and was where Messrs Marx and Engels used to study (by the big bay window in the main reading room). It is only open by prearranged visit, as it is part of a national school for young musicians.
reviewed
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