Manchester: Exploring Icons & the Etihad Experience!

Manchester, is quite a controversial city! You find some people who say they love it, while others outright hate it! Why I went here was not to explore but just with a friend to meet another couple of friends. It was a £12 open return train ticket from Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly, and I’m not going to lie, the first 4 hours was the most dreadful time of my life. So much that it was pouring continuously so we couldn’t roam, or see anything basically and that means being stuck in a cafe. We couldn’t even have lunch that early in the morning, however, that’s how volatile the English weather really is, it rains almost everyday (except for summers). So if that is something that stops you, you’re out of luck throughout the year.

That being said, I found Manny to be a city of heritage and diversity, with gothic, and grand architecture making you halt mid-step because you can’t miss it. We strolled through the city centre, covering the Arndale & Exchange Square after the rain stopped. This can be a great destination for shopping and people-watching. However, we didn’t have that luxury as we had lost quite a bit of time. So we stepped into the John Rylands Library, which was like entering a movie set, absorbing the feel of dark wood, stained glass, and Hogwarts vibes, it felt like history whispering from the shelves. Must’ve easily spent around 3 hours in the city centre, and then hunger called, so we hit the Duke Street Market for an early dinner and then explored the most vibrant place in the city which was the Northern Quarter, exploring its street art, and that cool, slightly bohemian energy.

Then came the highlight of the day, which was a major factor in deciding to come to Manchester, the visit to the Etihad Stadium. We took a bus there which costs around £2 per person and drops you at a 5 minute walking distance from the stadium. Speaking of the stadium, the only word that can describe it is “Grandiose” It is sleek and imposing, and dominates the skyline. This quickly turned into a football pilgrimage for the guys, however, the girls surprisingly had a fun time too (thanks to the Instagrammable pictures). The tour didn’t disappoint. We walked through the players’ tunnel — imagining the roar of thousands of fans. Saw the dressing rooms, boots neatly lined, shirts hanging as if waiting for legends to walk in. Gawked at the trophy cabinet (because who doesn’t?). Being a hardcore Cricket fan, it was still impossible not to get swept up in the atmosphere. The Etihad feels alive, even without a match on.

The part that we could not explore however, and it was bragged about by my friends who we went to meet there was the vibrant nightlife of Manchester, as we had to get back and had no plan to stay. So that was Manchester in a day, we managed to cover the main attractions, however, left with a feeling of incompleteness, and a promise to come again. The city in itself wears many hats:historic, cultural, edgy, sporty. What makes it addictive though is the mix of all these and some rain!

Would we go back? Absolutely. Next time, though, it would have to be a overnighter, to maybe explore the nightlife, the underrated gems, and even catch a live match under the Etihad lights.

Until then, Manchester — thanks for the memories.

—