I’m really excited to share this post with you as Manchester is one of my favorite cities in the UK! This post is a bit overdue as my trip was in May, but I was away traveling for most of June (hopefully I’ll share some of that trip soon!) and my day job has been wiping me out ever since I got back so to be honest I’ve been struggling to face a screen at home. Sometimes life has to come first, right?
Anyway, without further ado, here’s my guide to 48 hours in Manchester, with a vegan-friendly twist of course!
In collaboration with Roomzzz.
Manchester is one of those cities that can draw you back time and time again; there’s always a new corner to be discovered and something exciting happening. Its reputation as the music capital of the UK is entirely justified and the vegan scene is growing by the minute.
DAY ONE
11am – Kick things off with a walking tour
A walking tour is my favorite way to learn more about a place. It’s also a great way to get your bearings in a new city and make a mental note of where you want to revisit in your own time. The excellent Free Manchester Walking Tours start at 11am every day (no need to book) and will take you on a whistle-stop tour of both the big sights and the quirkier ones. By the end of the 3 hours, you’ll have developed a real flavor of what makes Manchester so special and so fascinating!
2:30pm – Grab a late lunch at V-Rev
V-Rev is a vegan Mecca and the spiritual home of vegan food in Manchester. Don’t quote me on that, but if it sounds far-fetched, I can confess to having traveling over to Manchester before just to pay them a visit. V-Rev’s menu is packed full of extravagant junk food, all made from 100% plants that makes just about anyone cry “you’d never guess it was vegan”.
It packs out quickly so book ahead if you can. Don’t forget to order the loaded fries and check out the awesome artwork that adorns their walls.
4pm: Pop back to the hotel to freshen up
After spending most of the day on your feet, take advantage of staying in the city center by retreating to your hotel to relax and spruce up before venturing back out for the evening. Roomzzz serviced apartments in Manchester Corn Exchange make an ideal base, conveniently placed within walking distance of the Northern Quarter, Arndale Centre, Deansgate… you name it!
Roomzzz only opened in Manchester Corn Exchange earlier this year and the tastefully refurbished corridors are full of original features (and photogenic backdrops!); you can even pick up some travel tips from the modern elements!
My apartment at Roomzzz had basically everything you could ever need; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I could happily live there full time! A serviced apartment is so good for a weekend away, since you get all the benefits of a hotel like freshly made beds and bathroom toiletries (FYI these ones were cruelty-free, yay!) alongside a fully functioning kitchen, dining table and lounge area.
6:30pm Grab a cocktail or two in the Corn Exchange
Roomzzz leads you right into the Corn Exchange, where you’ll find a bar right in the center – the perfect spot for people watching and admiring the beautifully refurbished building. If you’re not still full from V-Rev, there are plenty of food options around to choose from too.
8pm Take your pick of live music
Although relatively new, The Live Guide Manchester is a comprehensive guide to gigs going on across Manchester. On my visit, I headed to the Apollo to see Blossoms but smaller venues like Matt & Phreds and The Deaf Institute are almost always worth a visit.
DAY TWO
10am – Explore the Northern Quarter
Any good trip to Manchester has to include a thorough exploration of the Northern Quarter, just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Train Station. Though a bit rough around the edges, the Northern Quarter is where you’ll find the best vintage, charity and independent shops, as well as tonnes of cafés, bars and venues.
This might be my teenage nostalgia talking, but getting lost in the emporium of Afflecks (formerly Afflecks Palace) is an essential part of the experience. If you’re in town on the second Sunday of the month, be sure to head along to The Makers Market that pops up in the heart of the NQ.
Keep your eyes open for street art, both big and small, as you wander around; you’re bound to spot the ubiquitous bee (the symbol of Manchester) dotted around too.
12pm Brunch at Common
I’m going to show my age again here, but Common has been a favorite of mine in Manchester ever since I first went there around the time they opened in 2004. Now more than twice its original size, Common has always served up a reliable selection of vegan dishes. They have plenty of classic brunch dishes, but this tofu bahn mi was too good to resist.
1pm Time for cake at Teatime Collective
Tucked away inside the rockabilly clothing shop Rockers on Oldham Street is vegan bakery Teatime Collective. I would never have known they were there if I hadn’t spotted one of their cakes on Instagram that morning – and immediately put it on my hit list for the day!
Teatime Collective have an incredible array of vegan cakes, brownies, doughnuts, tarts, and more. Grab a seat or get some to go since they even use biodegradable packaging. What’s not to love!?
2pm Get lost in the John Rylands Library and Spinningfields
This might sound a bit out of place on this list, but this gorgeous 118-year-old Victorian neo-Gothic building is truly a hidden gem. At times more akin to a grand cathedral than a typical library, the John Rylands Library is full of nooks and crannies to get lost in and a huge collection of rare books. It’s open 7 days a week and is well worth an hour of your time.
Since the library is located on Deansgate, it leaves you in the perfect location – Spinningfields – where you can choose to either explore the city’s shopping for the rest of the afternoon or make a beeline for the People’s History Museum just a five-minute walk away.
7:30pm Pizza and laughs at The Comedy Store
Round up your 48 hours in Manchester with the perfect duo: pizza and comedy! From my experience, The Comedy Store on Deansgate Locks is basically guaranteed to keep you in stitches all evening. They offer a pizza package where you can choose to have either an interval or a post-show pizza in the bar as part of your ticket; give them a heads up and they’ll be happy to create a vegan pizza for you.
These are of course, just my favorite things to do in 48 hours in Manchester. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear what you would add to the list!
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Thank you to Roomzzz for providing a complimentary stay. All thoughts, words and photos are my own and no other compensation was received. Please see my disclaimer for more details.