Early morning
Arrive at Manchester Airport and transfer to city centre hotel either by taxi, coach or train (approx. 20-30 minutes) 

Morning
Check-in and freshen up, before enjoying some free time to relax and explore the city. 

Blue or Green Badge Guided Walking Tour One of the best ways to discover Manchester is on foot. Book a guided walking tour of the city centre.  Informative tour that will encompass the contrast of the splendid Victorian architecture with the emergence of modern buildings, such as Urbis – a fascinating attraction exploring life in the modern city and all the main attractions and districts.

Lunch
Enjoy lunch at Sam’s Chop House

Sam’s Chop House is the best for classic and contemporary British cuisine in the city. Dishes such as Roast Beef, Fish & Chips, and homemade steak and kidney puddings will tickle the taste buds whilst the interior is warm and welcoming.  Make sure you sample some of their own ale. 

Late afternoon
Castlefield
Visit the MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)  

Free of charge and located on the site of the oldest-surviving passenger railway station. One of the best cultural attractions in the region, discover the history, science and industry in Manchester in many colourful galleries packed full of fascinating facts and amazing artefacts. Live demonstrations, costumed historical characters and guided tours ensure you make the most of your visit. 

Evening
Head back to the hotel to freshen up and relax before heading out to dinner in one of the city’s many fantastic restaurants

Yang Sing  One of Europe's leading Cantonese restaurants. Set on 4 floors and established in 1977, this famous Cantonese restaurant has set the standard, both within Manchester and beyond, as a high quality establishment.

Other options:

• Akbars – Authentic India cuisine.
• Eastzeast -  a stunning contemporary decor complemented by the finest Asian cuisine.
• Room Restaurant – Contemporary restaurant with classic ‘retro’ dishes – Great cocktails.
• Albert’s Shed – Stylish Castlefield restaurant serving modern Italian cuisine.
• Grill on the Alley – Quality steaks, burgers & seafood. Wide range of cocktails.

Morning
Breakfast in the hotel before heading across to spend the day at The Quays. The Quays is a unique waterfront destination situated just 15 minutes by Metrolink from Manchester city centre (from St Peter’s Square to Old Trafford or Harbour City) and an ideal destination for a day out.

Choose from the following attractions:

The Lowry
The Lowry is renowned as much for its stunning steel and glass architecture as for the wealth of attractions within it: two theatres, a range of galleries, an interactive family attraction, plus cafés, bars, a restaurant and gift shops. 

Imperial War Museum North
Imperial War Museum North is a spectacular aluminium-clad building, based around the idea of the world shattered into pieces by war. Inside the museum’s dramatic exhibition galleries you can explore how war shapes lives with the aid of an audio-visual presentation.

Manchester United Old Trafford Museum and Stadium Tour
The Quays is home to one of the most renowned venues in British sport – Manchester United’s Old Trafford football ground. Take a tour of the stadium to discover what happens behind the scenes and explore the club’s fascinating history in the Manchester United museum.

Lowry Outlet Mall
The Lowry Outlet Mall open seven days a week offers top quality British high street names at up to 50% off. Whether you’re looking for designer fashion or a high street bargain, shoes or unusual accessories – the mall has it all under one roof.

Late Afternoon
Head back to the hotel to freshen up before heading out for an early dinner

Choose from many city centre restaurants including:

Sapporo Teppanyaki – Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant

Rusholme (Wilmslow Road) – Over a mile of Asian restaurants and take away establishments, a perfect place for authentic Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi cuisine and Halal food.  Al Bilal and Lal Qila are favourites.

There is a huge choice of cuisines available within the city centre and just outside. Choose from Cantonese, Korean and Thai in the Chinatown district.Whatever your taste-buds desire, be it Italian, Greek, Mexican, Spanish, Thai or Japanese, you can be sure to find it in Manchester. 

Evening
Take your seats for one of the hottest shows in town! Manchester enjoys a packed programme of performances all year round. Famous faces, West-End favourites, world class performers, musicians and conductors, all on stage at one of Manchester’s many theatres.

• Palace Theatre and Opera House 
• The Lowry     
• Royal Exchange Theatre   
• Library Theatre    
• Contact Theatre   
• Bridgewater Hall   
• Manchester Evening News Arena 
• Manchester Apollo   

Late evening
Depending on your stamina choose whether to hit the city’s legendary nightlife or just head back to the hotel for a well deserved rest. Areas to explore include:

The Printworks  A number of bars, restaurants and clubs all under one roof look out for Pure and Opus.  Popular nightspot.    

Deansgate Locks  Here you will find bars, nightclubs and a comedy club.  Look out for Baa Baa, Revolution, Sugar Lounge and more.  Popular night spot.    

Castlefield  The city’s canal-side leisure area, particularly good at spring and summer.  Look out for Dukes 92, The Ox (traditional British gastro pub), Cloud 23 at Hilton Hotel, Deansgate (sophisticated bar on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Hotel at Beetham Tower).  

Morning
Breakfast in the hotel   Spend the day exploring Manchester city centre and surrounding area.

Shopping
Visit the funky boutiques within the elegant surroundings of The Triangle or take a stroll around the designer stores on King Street, New Cathedral Street and Exchange Square, many of which are open until 8pm. 

Trafford Centre      
For the complete shopping experience, take a 250 bus from Piccadilly Gardens, visit the Trafford Centre, at Trafford Quays Leisure Village - where 230 shops will cater for your every need.  Also find restaurants, bars, cinema and amusement arcade. Open 7 days a week, until 10pm on week days.
Alternatively wander into any one of the plethora of museums and art galleries dotted around the city centre, the majority of which, are free of charge. Make sure you don’t miss Manchester Art Gallery or John Rylands Library.     Alternatively head out to one of the region’s impressive stately homes and gardens. 

Tatton Park
Tatton Park is an impressive historic estate with a 1000-acre deer park, and several attractions to visit, including the Georgian Mansion, Tudor Old Hall and award winning Gardens.

Bramall Hall
One of England’s finest treasures! A superb example of a ‘Cheshire Black and White’ timber-framed manor house, with origins dating back to medieval times.

Lyme Park
This Tudor house was transformed into a huge Italianate palace in the 18th century. Visit the tranquil Victorian garden and explore the vast medieval deer park, moorland and woodland estate. Famous scenes from Pride and Prejudice (1995) were filmed here.  

Morning
Depart from Piccadilly Train Station to Chester, duration approx. 1 hour.

Take a Roman soldier escorted tour of Chester to learn about the early history, with its ancient winding streets and Britain’s largest Roman amphitheatre.    Chester’s impressive Norman cathedral founded in 1092 offers an insight into the life of Benedictine monks and holds regular recitals and special events.  Visit a reminder of thriving Victorian Chester - the city centre Eastgate Clock, which was erected to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. 

Chester Grosvenor and Spa 
One of Chester’s exclusive, world-renowned hotels offers luxury spa experience and award-winning dining.   

Afternoon
Depart Chester to Liverpool, duration of journey approx. 45 minutes.  Liverpool, which was European Capital of Culture 2008 has old architectural and maritime history, and a pedigree of sporting and artistic achievement.

Tate Liverpool  
Modern and contemporary art from 1900 and 2006, including video, photography and installations as well as painting and sculpture.  There are events, family activities, a shop and café.

The Beatles Story   
The world-famous museum devoted to John, Paul, George and Ringo.  Experience the four’s rise to fame through the living history audio guide, available in 7 languages.   
Depart Liverpool to return to Manchester, duration approx. 1 hour.   

Morning
 Check out of hotel and depart for The Lake District, duration of journey is just over one hour by train (Manchester Piccadilly to Oxenholme).    The Lake District is probably the most famous National Park in England. With its inspiring landscapes of mountains and lakes, pretty villages, waterfalls - the perfect place to tour or enjoy fell or mountain walking.  This beautiful scenery has been inspiration to writers such as Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.    

Windermere Lake Cruises  The cruises have a large fleet of modern and traditional launches and ‘steamers’ Sailings everyday from Bowness, Lakeside and Ambleside.   

World of Beatrix Potter      
Discover the real Miss Potter, subject of the must-see movie, and take a journey with Peter Rabbit and all of his friends in a magical indoor recreation of Beatrix Potter’s tales. 

The Wordsworth Trust    
The inspirational home of William Wordsworth between 1799 and 1808.  Visit his beautiful Lakeland cottage, glimpse important artworks and experience a wide range of special events and exhibitions that run throughout the year.