Where to Go and What to Eat

Often considered England’s second city, Manchester’s rich history spanning industry, sport, arts, and culture attracts millions of visitors every year, beaten only by London within the UK.

A perfect city-break destination come rain or shine, but without a plan, you might miss some of the city’s best bits. So – three days in Manchester? Here’s where to go and what to eat.

Three Days in Manchester

From the city’s densely-packed yet easy-to-navigate streets, you can find historic landmarks, world-renowned galleries, one-of-a-kind sporting museums, and top-rated eateries, alongside plenty of bars and breweries offering award-winning drinks and awe-inspiring entertainment.

When to Visit Manchester

Manchester can be a great UK city-break location year-round, but for the best experience, we recommend early autumn or late spring for an ideal balance of good weather and low traffic. 

Where to Go

One guarantee during your visit is that you’ll never run out of things to do. Manchester is filled to the brim with unique attractions for lovers of everything from sport to history and art.

To help you plan out your days in the city, here are our top picks by category as of July 2025.

Sport

Home to Premier League giants Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as popular rugby, cricket, and athletics associations, Manchester is steeped in sporting history and pride.

• Stadium Tours: All within walking distance or a short tram ride from the city centre, no sports fan’s holiday is complete without a tour of one of the city’s world-renowned stadiums, such as Old Trafford, the Etihad, and Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
• The National Football Museum: Located in the Urbis building just a short walk from Manchester Victoria Station, the National Football Museum is filled with one-of-a-kind memorabilia, including the original written laws of the game and the first FA Cup trophy. 
• Classic Football Shirts: Situated on Dale Street, around 5 minutes from Piccadilly Station, is the relatively new Classic Football Shirts store – a unique retail space that sells vintage and match-worn football shirts from global teams dating back decades.

Music

The Buzzcocks, The Smiths, Joy Division, and Oasis, not to mention the Madchester era and all the venues/stories it birthed, this city lives to push the boundaries of musical expression.

• Sight-Seeing: Whether on a guided or…