Manchester
Gay Travel Manchester
Just two hours north of London and halfway between Liverpool and Leeds, Gay Manchester is one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan, friendly, and unique cities outside of London. Many former Londoners have taken up residence in this less-expensive doppelganger, creating a young, hip and cutting-edge vibe.
Manchester, a walking city, was founded around 100 AD by the Romans but grew dramatically in the 18th century as a result of its cotton-processing center and on the strength of steam-powered spinning machines. This heritage can be seen in the city’s present-day architecture. Numerous Victorian-era buildings in the neo-Gothic and faux-Tudor style still exist.
These buildings are the last vestiges of an Industrial Revolution mentality, as Manchester has developed into a contemporary home to a thriving LGBT community. Noted as the backdrop for the original Queer as Folk, Canal Street is the center of what is known locally as the (gay) Village. Three blocks of shops, bars and restaurants unfold with the old cotton warehouses packed full of well-dressed people that have clearly been influenced by the bohemian boutiques along King Street.
Manchester is much more manageable than London, with a straightforward public transportation system known simply as the tram. It will take you places that your feet don’t want to. Visit the champion Manchester FC’s gift shop at the largest concentration of sporting venues in Europe known as SportCity. Wander bustling Chinatown, or climb the medieval walls at Castlefield.
Manchester is widely derided as a rainy, industrial mess, but the city has a newfound energy that is hard to resist. And there are less rainy days than the UK average here – it’s just usually cloudy or gray in the winter and relatively more sunny and warm in the summer. So grab your brolly, and tally ho!