How to make the most of Manchester in spring

If you are heading to our Manchester hotel this season, read our ultimate checklist for ways to make the most of the city during your stay….

Being the birthplace of so many successful bands, a hub of of the nation’s favourite sport and home to the most eclectic and vibrant nightlife in the UK, it’s no surprise Manchester was named one of the top ten cities by Lonely Planet in 2016.

We bring you the top events to look out for to make the most of this award-winning city during your stay at Waterside hotel this spring.

Andy Warhol at the Whitworth

Andy Warhol’s work will be showing at the Whitworth as part of their ‘Artists Room’ exhibitions which will show the sharp critical opinions of an artist known to many primarily as art salesman, purveyor of product and celebrant of capitalism. The Whitworth museum is a must-see whilst in Manchester this spring. Not only is it winner of the UK’s museum of the year but it has also won Visit England’s gold prize for large visitor attraction of the year 2016 and the Art Fund’s museum of the year award in 2015. The museum itself contains approximately 55,000 items in its collection, with exhibitions of new work by some of the world’s leading artists alongside eclectic exhibitions drawn from its internationally rated collection of British watercolours, textiles, wallpapers and fine art.

The Museum of Science and Industry

On the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station and in the heart of the world’s first industrial city, The Museum of Science and Industry is a truly inspirational place to visit in Manchester. The building itself is a is a globally important heritage site, comprising 5 listed buildings, two of them listed Grade 1, and it is worth a visit for the building alone. The site was the original terminus of the world’s first inter-city railway and key objects in the museum’s collection include; the models used by John Dalton to demonstrate his atomic theory, laying the foundations of modern chemistry; parts from the world’s first commercially available computer, the Ferranti Mark 1; one of the world’s largest collections of working steam mill engines, which you can see in action in the Power Hall and daily demonstrations from spinning to weaving on original machines in their Textiles Gallery. Voted number 2 in Tripadvisor’s list of things to do whilst in the city, the Museum is an excellent choice for families and kids.

Heaton Park

Heaton Park is great way to spend a spring day outdoors enjoying Manchester’s greenery. The park has a huge variety of activities, such as a public golf course, a small farm for young children, fishing, boating, donkey rides, star-gazing and a land train that runs in the spring and travels around the grounds. It’s even home to Manchester’s biggest music festival Park Life. The park has been voted one of Manchester’s top parks and is open from 8am to dusk every day.

Bloom at Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is a great day out, whether you are looking for a relaxing stroll or an action packed animal adventure. This season, Chester Zoo are holding a series of special events and activities held in and around their 125 acres of beautiful gardens. Join in with garden and bird trails around the zoo, meet the experts and get involved with a new series of art and craft events inspired by nature. With warmer, longer and sunnier days approaching this spring, what better time to see over 20,000 endangered and exotic animals from 500 different species.

The John Rylands Library

‘Library’ might not be the first word that comes to mind when looking at this architectural masterpiece as many agree it looks more like a castle or cathedral. Voted the number one attraction in all of Manchester, the John Rylands Library has one of the world’s finest collections of rare books and manuscripts. The library has been acclaimed as the best example of neo-Gothic architecture in Europe and is indisputably one of the finest libraries in the world. It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her late husband, John Rylands. In 1889, the architect Basil Champneys designed the striking gothic building and it took ten years to build and complete the library. It is the third largest academic library in the United Kingdom, and is home to over 250,000 printed volumes, and over a million manuscripts and archives. A definite must see when in town.

If you are heading to our hotel near Manchester this Spring, you will never be short of things to do during your stay.

View our availability at Waterside and book today.