Top architectural sightseeing and landmarks of Manchester - ideas on city exploration routes

Manchester Cathedral from Blackfriars Bridge Our suggestion on the way to observe the most important architectural landmarks of Manchester is very simple – fly, read, watch. Thanks to our original 3D technology of flying over cities, you will be able to “visit” (see the video) and watch the most important architectural landmarks of the city - Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Central Library, Old Trafford, Imperial War Museum North, Midland Hotel and many others. We have carefully selected the supplementary information for each of them, including interesting historical facts and a collection of photographs. Additionally, we have placed all main sights on the map of Manchester below, since this information can be useful when you plan your walking routes in Manchester.

Manchester Town Hall, Manchester

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Manchester Town Hall is one of the main attractions in Manchester. It was decided to construct a new town hall in 1863 because the old one did not suit the developing town.
»  The famous architect Alfred Waterhouse built a building in 1877 in the New Gothic style. There are almost no decorative elements on its facade. An 85-meter tower with a clock and 23 bells rises above the Town Hall.
»  Although it looks like an old construction, it has all amenities: heating, lighting, and ventilation. These systems are hidden and decorated.
»  The interior is distinguished by frescoes depicting scenes on various themes: religion, trade, and manufacture. There are also sculptures of famous residents of Manchester.
»  At the entrance to the Town Hall, there is a sculpture of the founder of Manchester, General Agricola.
»  The Town Hall was shot in several films.

Manchester Central Library, Manchester

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Central Library is the headquarters of all libraries and information services of Manchester. It was built in 1934.
»  Designed by the architect E. Vincent Harris, the building resembles the Roman Pantheon. Its roof is a round glass dome. You can enter the library through a huge arch with columns. Right behind it, there is a high hall. On its ceiling, you can see English arms and wonderful patterns.
»  After the renovation and refurbishment that cost £50 million, the library was re-opened in 2014.
»  On each floor, there is a computer that displays the information you are interested in, the map of the library, and the detailed description of all rooms.
»  In the reading room, natural light comes through the glass dome.
»  The total length of all the shelves is 56 km.
»  There is also the Henry Watson Music Library.

Old Trafford, Manchester

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Old Trafford Stadium has been the home of Manchester United since 1910. It is the second largest stadium after Wembley.
»  In 1941, the German air forces raided Manchester. As a result, a part of the stadium was destroyed. The stadium has been reconstructed and extended for many years. Finally, it can seat up to 80 000 spectators.
»  In 2010, the stadium reached the age of 100. In commemoration of this event, a memory capsule was put by descendants of those footballers who played the first match at the stadium.
»  In November 2011, the North Stand was renamed after Alex Ferguson who had been the head coach of the club for 25 years. In April 2016, the South Stand was named after Sir Bobby Charlton who became a world champion and won the Ballon d'Or in 1966. During the Olympic Games in 2012, several football matches were held at the stadium.
»  The sports ground also served as a concert stage where such popular singers, as Bon Jovi, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo, Rod Stewart, and Simply Red, performed.

Imperial War Museum North, Manchester

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester is the fifth branch of the London Museum. Exactly this museum was seriously damaged by German bombs.
»  The famous architect Daniel Libeskind has designed an impressive museum building. The construction lasted from 1997 to 2001.
»  The building consists of three separate sectors that symbolize a broken globe. The museum collection includes artifacts telling about the First and Second World Wars.
»  The main purpose of the exhibition is to show the damaging impact of wars on human life. On the website of the museum, you can see these words: “It is more a world museum than a war museum.
»  At the entrance, there are the Soviet T34 tank and the English AV8a plane. They played a big role in the Second World War.
»  The walls of all halls are deep red, which symbolizes the blood spilled during military operations. The core of the collection is letters, photos, and belongings of ordinary people. The main purpose of museum founders was to show human destinies but not confrontations between countries.

Midland Hotel, Manchester

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Midland Hotel is the oldest in the city. It was built in 1903.
»  The hotel was designed by Charles Trubshaw and resembles palaces of the 20th century. The building still impresses with its festive appearance. The interior is designed in the classical sophisticated style.
»  At the hotel, there was a theatre that seated 1 000 spectators. Here, opera and drama plays were staged. The string quartet performs on the roof of the hotel.
»  Over the years of its history, many famous people stayed here. In November 1959, Queen Elizabeth had dinner at the hotel restaurant after catching a show. Winston Churchill made a political speech here. On 1 May 1904, Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls met at the restaurant. As a result, the car company Rolls-Royce was founded.
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Build your walking routes in Manchester on the landmark map

More to see in Manchester
Recent years Manchester is mostly identified with football discourse as the world renowned football club has skyrocketed the fame of this small scenic British city. However Manchester will be of great interest not only for football fans but for all the travelers being passionate to exciting tours and to visiting destinations of historical significance. Manchester is a place which was first to host British repertory theaters. Nowadays the city is of great attraction for dramatic art admirers from all over the world. The Palace Theatre is definitely worth visiting. Opera connoisseurs will enjoy the Opera House. Manchester will also entertain the fans of pictorial art with plenty of places to visit and explore. The sightseeing tour should include the Manchester Art Gallery. A beautiful building of great architectural significance hosts the gallery. The exhibition of the art gallery offers a rich collection of paintings of English artists of the 17th – 19th centuries. The same attracting tourist spot is the Manchester Museum which unique collection is concentrated on the Ancient Egypt history. The collection of the museum features inestimable archeological discoveries, significant historical artifacts as well as art objects. The museum is one of the most visited cultural destinations of the city. City visitors have a chance to explore unique architectural landmarks. The most remarkable and significant spot among them is the Manchester Cathedral. Its construction was held in … Read further

Architectural landmarks in the regions around Manchester

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