Several places in Manchester are safe to visit as a tourist, but avoiding specific neighborhoods is highly recommended. Some of them are New Islington, Didsbury, and Heaton Park. You’ll be fine if you’re afraid of graffiti and boarded-up buildings.
New Islington
The former industrial heart of Manchester, New Islington, used to be a dismal slum — a mix of derelict buildings and crime. Even taxi drivers weren’t willing to venture into the neighborhood — and people often felt unsafe walking around. But in 2000, a team of developers called Urban Splash won a bid to make the area a more attractive place to live. This project, which received six architecture awards, transformed the space into one of the city’s most extraordinary communities. And today, it is ranked among the best places to live in the country.
For families, New Islington offers many attractions, including a water park. This oasis is near the historic cotton mills of Ancoats and Redhill Street. It’s a great place to bring the whole family — and is an excellent place for a picnic. It’s also a great place to exercise, surrounded by greenery, a marina, and cotton fields. The area is also home to many new businesses. One new restaurant, Pollen, recently opened at the waterfront.
The city is an incredible melting pot of cultures. You can find delicious food in Chinatown, mind-blowing Indian cuisine, and a thriving LGBTQ+ community. You can also see the neo-Gothic grandeur of the Town Hall, which is a beautiful reminder of the city’s industrial past. It also contrasts sharply with the more modern, futuristic structures that dot the skyline.
If you’re planning to stay in Manchester, New Islington is not your place. The city’s hipsters and alternative-minded residents have made the area one of the most cosmopolitan areas in the city. You can also find affordable hotels and apartments in the area. It’s just three miles south of the city center.
Although Manchester is relatively safe, you should still be wary of scammers. Be vigilant and make sure to negotiate prices and stay away from sketchy areas. However, you should not be afraid to approach the police if you feel threatened. Remember that reporting crimes are one of the police’s primary duties.
If you’re looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant, consider going to Chinatown. It’s the second largest in the UK and the third largest in Europe. You can find delicious and cheap Chinese food in this area. There are also plenty of bubble tea spots.
The area also features the Museum of Science and Industry, which hosts the annual Science Festival, and the world’s oldest railway station. Also, don’t miss the shopping district in Castlefield, where the Victorian Grade II-listed Barton Arcade features sparkling iron and glass ornamentation.
A trip to Manchester is not complete without visiting Manchester’s CBD. Besides the business district, the city has a bustling waterfront, including the Lowry theatre. The city’s Chinatown is a cultural center for the Chinese community in the north. It’s the second-largest Chinese community in the UK and third in Europe.
Didsbury
Didsbury is an outlying suburb of Manchester, located south of the city center. It consists of two distinct areas, East Didsbury and West Didsbury. East Didsbury has excellent charity shops and kid-friendly Fletcher Moss Park, while West Didsbury is known for its many independent dining options. A tram stop on Burton Road provides easy access to downtown, and the Didsbury Market sells baked goods and scented candles. Hip young people populate the area.
Didsbury is also home to the BBC’s 4Daily Service, the oldest continuous radio program in the world. This is broadcast from the Emmanuel Church, located on Barlow Moor Road. In addition to the BBC’s broadcasts, Didsbury hosts the Didsbury Lectures.
If you’re a sports fan, you might enjoy visiting the Didsbury Sports Centre on Wilmslow Road. The sports center is part of the Manchester Metropolitan University campus and has a fitness suite and tennis courts. There is also a junior assault course. Didsbury also has one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world, the Old Bedians. The club was founded in 1954 by Desmond Pastore, the oldest rugby player in the world.
The location of Didsbury is ideal for tourists visiting Manchester. The area is close to the city center and the famous Bridgewater Canal. Didsbury is one of the safest parts of the city. However, if you are traveling by train, it might be worth staying in another part of the city.
Manchester is a safe city, but it is still a good idea to be cautious while exploring it. It’s a good idea to stick to well-lit areas if you’re traveling alone at night or don’t carry large sums of cash. It would help if you also tried to avoid areas with high crime rates.
Didsbury is a historically significant neighborhood in the city. It was once the site of an ancient Roman fort, Mamucium. Today, it’s home to trendy bars and restaurants. A museum of science and industry is nearby that provides historical context.
The Manchester Art Gallery is another attraction that should not be missed when visiting Manchester. The museum houses almost four million items worldwide and welcomes nearly half a million people annually. The building is impressive with gothic-style details and is home to various galleries focused on different topics. You can also explore the interior of the Cathedral. The stained glass windows allow light to stream in. Each step in this historical landmark makes you feel the weight of history.
The city center is the city’s commercial center. A large city section is connected to the Ship Canal, which stretches west to the Irish Sea and Liverpool. The city’s cotton trade during the nineteenth century contributed to its growth. Victorian architecture can still be found throughout the city.
Heaton Park
If you’re visiting Manchester, you can’t miss Heaton Park, a unique and expansive park. It’s not just an amusement park, either. It is also a major cultural center in the region. In the 19th century, it was ranked among the top ten most significant urban areas on the planet, and it was among the world’s largest before a more comprehensive census counted the entire population of the Northern England region, which included Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford, and Leeds.
The Park is one of the largest in the UK, and it has a variety of attractions for families, including an animal center and a tram museum. It’s also about four miles from the city center and offers plenty of entertainment for kids of all ages.
The Park also hosts several events throughout the year. Open-air pop concerts have been held in the Park since the 1980s. Several famous bands, such as Travis and Supergrass, have performed at this Park. In the past, the Park has even hosted the BBC Proms in the Park. This year, Liam Gallagher has announced a concert in the Park for 27 November. Tickets sold out within three hours after going on sale.
The Park is also home to the Museum of Science and Industry, which celebrates Manchester’s contribution to science. It has exhibits focusing on power, transport, and computing and is an excellent place for kids. Besides displaying artworks, the museum also hosts musical performances and theatrical pieces.
Heaton Park is Europe’s most famous public park and is a beautiful location for picnicking and exploring nature. It has numerous attractions, including the Heaton Park Animal Centre, centered around the original stables from 1789. Other highlights include the Hazlitt Wood Pond, where you can watch goats and alpacas. In addition, there’s a historic tram from the early 20th century is open for visitors to ride.
There’s plenty of history to explore here, including the city’s famous Cathedral. The Gothic-style structure of the building, constructed in 1421, was home to the priests of Manchester’s Collegiate Church. The interior features a collection of over 100,000 volumes of printed books, including 60,000 that were published before 1851. You can also see prints, broadsides, and other pieces from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The park also contains a golf course and a boating lake for sports enthusiasts. The Park also has an 18-hole golf course, an adventure playground, an observatory, and a National Squash Centre. There are also many tennis courts. If you’re looking for a unique way to spend your holiday, Heaton Park should be on your list.
There’s also a Chinatown in Manchester. It is the second largest in the UK, with many ethnic restaurants, supermarkets, and shops. The colorful and diverse area has some of the most authentic Chinese restaurants. Make sure to try Red Chilli, which serves authentic Szechuan food. Another good option is Ho’s Bakery, where you can pick up savory Chinese buns.