Day 1: Centre
- 9am — Breakfast at Federal (Northern Quarter)
- 10:30am — Manchester Art Gallery (free) — Pre-Raphaelites, Lowry
- 12:30pm — Lunch at Mackie Mayor food hall
- 2pm — Northern Quarter street art walk + Affleck's indoor market
- 4pm — National Football Museum (free)
- 6pm — Pre-dinner cocktails at Cane & Grain
- 7:30pm — Dinner at Tattu (Asian fusion) or The Ivy Spinningfields
- 10pm — Live music at Soup Kitchen or Night & Day Café
Day 2: Football & Music
- 9am — Tram to Old Trafford (Manchester United Stadium Tour £30, 90 min)
- 11:30am — Or Etihad Stadium Tour (Man City, £28, 90 min)
- 1pm — Lunch at Hotel Football rooftop
- 3pm — Madchester walking tour or self-guided music sites (Hacienda site, Salford Lads Club)
- 5pm — Vinyl shopping at Vinyl Exchange (Northern Quarter)
- 7pm — Curry on the Curry Mile (Rusholme, 15 min taxi)
- 9pm — Live music at Band on the Wall or Gulliver's
Day 3: Salford & Day Trip
- 9am — Tram to MediaCityUK
- 9:30am — IWM North (free, dramatic Daniel Libeskind building)
- 11am — The Lowry gallery (free)
- 12:30pm — Coronation Street studio tour (£50)
- 2pm — Tram back to centre, lunch at Mackie Mayor or Sugo Pasta Kitchen
- 4pm — Castlefield walking tour (Roman fort + canals)
- 6pm — Science and Industry Museum (free) before close
- 7:30pm — Final dinner at Mana (Michelin) or Where The Light Gets In
Day 3 alternative: Day trip to Liverpool (45 min train) — Albert Dock + Beatles + cathedrals.
Where to Stay
- Northern Quarter: Hotel Brooklyn (£140), Native Manchester (£160)
- Deansgate: The Edwardian Manchester (£250), King Street Townhouse (£200)
- Budget: Premier Inn Deansgate (£100), YHA Manchester (£25 dorm)
Tips
- Manchester is rainy — pack waterproof
- Tram (Metrolink) covers all major sights — £1.40-4.80 single, £5 day cap
- Match day = full pubs + tense atmosphere; either join or avoid
- Don't hire car — walk or tram
- Northern Quarter best for foodies + music; Deansgate for upscale
⚽ Football pro tip: Pick ONE stadium tour — both are similar in length and structure. Old Trafford has more history; Etihad has Sky Lounge views. Allow half a day either way.