Birmingham is nearly double the size of Manchester, with a population of 510,000 versus Manchester’s 270,000. Yet, both cities burst at the seams with nightlife, music, and attractions. Birmingham has a much busier airport, which makes the city even more accessible.
Manchester is bigger by size than Birmingham.
When it comes to size, the city of Birmingham is considerably more extensive than its neighbor, Manchester. Birmingham has an urban area of 510,000 people, over double Manchester’s. However, when it comes to economic competitiveness, Manchester is significantly better. It is the best-ranked UK town outside of London. According to the Santander Global Competitiveness Index, Manchester ranks 24th and Birmingham is 50th.
Although Birmingham is twice the size of Manchester, it is more populous. The population of Birmingham is more than 1.1 million, according to the 2011 Census. When combined with the people of surrounding towns, Birmingham has a population of 2.6 million, making it the country’s second-largest metropolitan area.
Manchester is considered a metropolitan region based on the number of residents. However, Manchester has a higher population density than Birmingham. The city is composed of 10 local authorities, not just one. It is also larger than Birmingham in land area, but not by size. The metropolitan area of Manchester is also slightly larger than Birmingham due to the inclusion of built-up areas that aren’t strictly part of the city.
While the two cities are similar in size, Manchester is home to world-class theatres, galleries, and museums. Both cities have rich histories. For example, Manchester was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and was an essential part of the Women’s Suffrage movement. The town also boasts a 15th-century gothic cathedral and twenty-five Nobel Prize winners.
Although Birmingham is the UK’s second-largest city, Manchester is a more popular tourist destination. It is more vibrant, has a richer culture, and has more cultural and nightlife attractions than Birmingham.
Manchester’s nightlife is more prominent in size than Birmingham’s.
Whether you’re a club freak, a snob, or a party animal, Manchester is the place to go. The city is home to some of the country’s most impressive nightclubs. These nightclubs can be found in warehouses, factories, chapels, rooftops, and more. You can check out the legendary Digbeth Dining Club, a gay-friendly bar with live music and street food. If you’re looking for a more sophisticated night out, try PST or MOJO, which offer great drinks.
Birmingham and Manchester have considerable differences in size and population, with Birmingham being twice the size of Manchester. Birmingham is home to over one million people, whereas Manchester is home to around 550,000. The population of the Greater Manchester Built-up Area is 2.6 million, so Birmingham is more prominent in size, but Manchester is smaller by population.
Manchester is also home to some world-class performance venues. The city is home to the O2 Apollo and the Manchester Arena if you’re into musicals. It is also the home of the iconic band Oasis. You’ll also be able to enjoy a classy/high-end night at Spinningfields.
The two cities are also home to world-class museums, theatres, and galleries. Their cultural scene is thriving, and both towns have a rich history. Manchester’s history includes being the birthplace of the industrial revolution, while Birmingham played an essential role in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. In addition to its cultural offerings, Birmingham also has some of the best culinary scenes in the UK.
The city also has two universities. The Cathedral is visible in the background. Manchester’s nightlife is bigger by size than Birmingham’s, so there are plenty of options for everyone.
Manchester’s music scene is bigger by size than Birmingham.
The music scene in Manchester is much bigger than Birmingham’s, but there are some similarities between the two cities. Both are popular in the United Kingdom, and each has a strong history of rock music. Birmingham has been home to many notable artists and bands, including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Napalm Death, and the Smiths.
The first noticeable difference is size. Birmingham is twice the size of Manchester, with a population of 1.15 million versus five hundred and fifty-three thousand in Manchester. Including smaller outlying towns, the people of the area is over two million. Therefore, Manchester is bigger by size but not by population.
The city is also home to two symphony orchestras – the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Halle Orchestra. Manchester also has a chamber orchestra, the Manchester Camerata. The Free Trade Hall on Peter Street has long been the main classical venue, and there is also a new, more modern performance space called Bridgewater Hall. There are also four performing spaces at the Royal Northern College of Music.
While both cities have strong arts and cultural scenes, they differ. Both cities have their advantages and disadvantages. What’s more, a second city is a very personal decision. If you’re considering moving to either Manchester or Birmingham, keep in mind the facts before deciding.
Manchester’s cultural scene is bigger by size than Birmingham’s, with a vibrant music scene. The City of Manchester is home to many galleries, including the Manchester Art Gallery, which has over 55,000 works of art. It also has the most extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite art outside of London. In addition to that, the city is home to the world-renowned Symphony Hall. There’s also Cadbury World, which is the UK’s historic center for chocolate production.
Manchester’s airport is busier than Birmingham’s
Manchester’s airport is busier than Birmingham Airport, so that you might find queues outside the terminals. The travel industry has kicked into gear after the recent restrictions due to the pandemic. However, passengers in both airports have complained of long security lines and delays. Some have even missed their flights as they could not get through the security line in time.
The size of an airport has a lot to do with its popularity. For example, Manchester Airport has nearly twice as many flights as Birmingham Airport, while Birmingham handles around a fifth as many. However, Manchester is still better for those seeking convenience and more excellent international flights.
The first three months of 2019 saw many delays and cancellations at Birmingham Airport. As a result, the airport has admitted it is 15% understaffed but has since started a recruitment drive. In early June, the airport began training its recruits. Despite this, the numbers for the Easter and spring half-term holidays have not yet been published.
The airport is the main gateway to the north of England. It serves over 225 destinations and employs about 23,500 people. The airport is also one of the busiest in the UK and handled 13.5 million passengers in the first eight months of 2013. Manchester Airports Group mainly owns it.
Manchester’s airport has excellent public transport connections. Trams, buses, and local, long-distance coaches are available at the airport station. The terminals also feature many shops, restaurants, currency exchange booths, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The airport also features a runway visitor park where you can watch planes take off and land. In addition, the airport offers tours of retired aircraft.
Manchester’s outer ring road
Manchester’s outer ring road is more than twice as big as Birmingham’s ring road. This resulted from politicians and engineers devising plans for a new road network. The city’s ring road was intended to encircle the civic center hub, which would support other town center facilities. At the time, the outer ring road and middle ring road were considered alternatives.
Birmingham and Manchester are part of the West Midlands, the UK’s second-largest urban area. The 2011 census estimated the region’s population at 2.44 million. However, Manchester is significantly larger, despite not having as many residents.
The M62 is a ring road with an inner ring road. The M67 is intended to cross the Pennines and meet the Inner Ring Road at Ardwick, but its western extension was never completed. This left two lanes of empty tarmac at the western terminus, where the M60 and M7 motorways meet.
The inner ring road would have taken drivers across the south and eastern Glasgow. Visual cues can be found to help you identify the inner ring road, such as the M8 junctions, which have two sizeable 2-lane slip roads. The M62 also passes by the city center’s Simister Island, the busiest road in Manchester. It also includes a large roundabout with many traffic lights.
The inner lane of the ring road was initially intended to be a parking area. Some public car parks were constructed on unused plots. In 1964, Manzoni designed a ‘new car parking concept’ for the Bull Ring development. Drivers would leave their keys with a parking attendant who would drive the car into a semi-automated lift. However, after a year of dissatisfaction, the scheme was abandoned.