Manchester. England

Due to a rapid growth of the city during the Industrial Revolution, Manchester is now England’s 3rd largest city with a population of 2.5 million.

Spinning machines were introduced, allowing the cotton trade to develop here, and the building of the Manchester Ship Canal allowed access directly to the city to help the trade grow further. The wealth that arose from the cotton trade allowed many historic buildings to be erected. There is The Royal Exchange, which was the trading centre for cotton and is now used as a theatre. There is also the Central Library, the Town Hall and a memorial statue for Prince Albert (husband of Queen Victoria).

Just outside of the city you can take a walk through the countryside. There is the Peel Tower with excellent views over Manchester and North Wales. The Peel Tower was built in honour of Sir Robert Peel in 1852, founder of the British police force, and Prime Minister from 1841 to 1846. Manchester is a thriving and exciting city; you will find a wealth fascinating museums, fabulously varied dining, and where you will find some of the best shopping in England outside of London.

It cannot go without mention that the city is best known for its soccer team Manchester United, one of the strongest teams in the UK. Soccer has been a strong tradition in Manchester for many years; the original teams were workers from different factories across the city.

Manchester has seen a big social change throughout it’s time. From stricken poverty, engine to the Industrial Revolution to being the test-bed for sophisticated and contemporary urban art, Manchester has seen and done it all. Since 1750 when it was little more than a small village, Manchester has had a rapid growth and flowering industry.

Over the last two decades Manchester has gone from the gloomy days of the 1980s indie punk scene, to a city that includes a successful soccer team, Manchester United as the richest club in England; a thriving music scene and given birth to successful music band Oasis, as well as busy theatres and concert halls; and it also has large museums, fine dining and excellent shopping facilities. A big opportunity for Manchester was in 2002 when it was home to the Commonwealth Games.

A great part in Manchester’s history was in 1772 when the Duke of Bridgewater had a canal built to connect the city to the coal mines at Worsley. It is also the place where the world’s first passenger railway line was built, connecting Manchester with Liverpool and was opened in 1830. And in 1894 Manchester’s Ship Canal was completed to entice ocean vessels into the city from Liverpool, and played a crucial part in reviving Manchester’s competitiveness.