Life.Culture.Discovery.

3 unique Manchester attractions for visitors: Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, Europe’s 3rd-largest Chinatown and a world-class music festival in a huge park

Enjoy a tour or match-day hospitality package at Manchester United’s stadium, or embark on a diverse culinary tour in Chinatown, Europe’s third largest

The Parklife music festival, with top acts annually hosted in a vast green space, also helps make the English city that produced Morrissey well worth a visit

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Manchester is known for football and culture, and has some great tourist attractions, from United’s home, to a diverse Chinatown and a world-class music festival. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:15pm, 20 Mar 2023Updated: 4:40pm, 20 Mar 2023

Resilience is an attribute Manchester has shown on many occasions since its establishment during Roman times. The northern English city has weathered the rise and fall of textile manufacturing, second world war aerial assaults and the 2017 Ariana Grande concert bombing, all the while proving that “There is a light that never goes out”, to borrow from the singer Morrissey, a celebrated son of the city.

Nowadays, it is vying for the attention of tourists with more prestigious European rivals. What these rivals don’t have, however, are the newly revamped Manchester Museum and the following three attractions, which make Manchester unique:

Old Trafford is the iconic home of Manchester United, one of the world’s most successful football teams. A mind-boggling 120,000 people are on the waiting list for season tickets, which could mean a 20-year wait, by some estimates.

For impatient fans after a speedier look inside, there are stadium tours and, on match days, a number of hospitality packages that include a meal in a private suite, access to exclusive lounge areas and premium seats. A former player is on hand to reminisce, pose for photos and give his match day predictions.

Old Trafford, the iconic home of Manchester United. Photo: AFP

Prices range from a few hundred pounds to several thousand, but if you’re happy to forgo the pampering, it’s sometimes possible to buy tickets minus the VIP experience. Keep an eye on the Manchester United website; tickets are usually released a few weeks before games.

Manchester’s other big team, City, play 6.5km (4 miles) away, at The Etihad.