Introduction

Altrincham and Sale: Located in the south west outskirts of the city, Altrincham is a pleasant suburb of leafy avenues and fashionable shops including Rackhams. To the east neighbouring Sale offers many attractions of its own, particularly of a sporting persuasion, with Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club and Sale Water Park nearby.

Bolton and Bury: On the northern limits of the city, Bolton and Bury are traditional Lancashire towns with their own independent and distinctive personalities. Bolton has a vibrant town centre with excellent places for shopping, culture and entertainment such as the Bolton Octagon Theatre. For the tourist there is the quaint Last Drop Village and the Pennine moors nearby. Bury has one of the most renowned weekly open air markets in the north of England and a proud sense of its past reflected in the East Lancashire Railway and the many other historical attractions in the area.

Castlefield and Deansgate: The regeneration of the Castlefield Basin has added an extra dimension to the already highly popular shopping and entertainment area of Deansgate (with King Street & St Ann's Square). In Castlefield, you can enjoy a meal a premier gastro-pub such as Ox (The) or drink at one of the ultra-fashionable waterfront bars like Dukes 92. For family entertainment, there are always plenty of events going on and the Museum of Science & Industry is close by. Deansgate itself is home to some of the best shopping in Manchester including the famous Kendals department store, while King Street and St Ann's Square have in Hugo Boss and Emporio Armani some of the most exclusive names in fashion.

Chinatown: Manchester has one of the largest ethnic Chinese populations in the country and Chinatown — located off Portland Street — is an expression of their place within the cultural diversity of the city. There are some superb restaurants, you could try the nationally renowned Yang Sing for example, while the Chinese New Year Street Celebrations are considered a major annual event in the city's social calendar.

City Centre: The IRA bombing in 1996 has had a fundamental effect on the city centre. The subsequent re-development has created a major shopping area to rival anywhere in the country. Showcase stores such as the largest Marks & Spencer in Europe and the wide-open spaces of Exchange Square help to create a perfect environment for the avid shopper. To the west, the administrative hub of the city is located in the area around Albert Square where you can find the imposing Victorian gothic architecture of the Town Hall. Culturally the G-Mex Centre and Bridgewater Hall are the places to enjoy all kinds of events from rock concerts to classical recitals.

Didsbury, Chorlton and Withington: Just a few miles south of the city centre are some of the most fashionable and highly sought after residential areas in Manchester, the verdant environment and superb eating, drinking and shopping creating this demand. Didsbury is home to some of the city's best restaurants such as the Lime Tree and pubs like the Metropolitan. Chorlton has an equally cosmopolitan if slightly more bohemian character and you can enjoy urban cafe bar society on Wilbraham Road, with the Polar Bar, The Bar and Saints all in close proximity. Withington is a slightly more student-orientated area with a vibrant main street that includes some excellent shops and bars including the popular Solomon Grundy.

Fallowfield, Rusholme and Whalley Range: Close to the southern edge of the city centre this area of Manchester is one of the most culturally diverse and home to a large percentage of the city's massive student population, these factors obviously shaping the unique character of the area. Fallowfield contains a number of University Halls of Residence and the many lively pubs and bars such as the Orange Grove reflect this, while Platt Park is an enjoyable focal point for local residents. Rusholme is famous for its large Asian community and the "Curry Mile" with top-class restaurants including the Sangam and Tandoori Kitchen. Whalley Range is a place in transition, shaking off its previously tarnished image with excellent new restaurants and bars opening up and an influx of more affluent new residents.

Gay Village: Located west of Piccadilly and centred on the pedestrianised Canal Street. Although obviously orientated towards - and originally created for — the gay community, the Gay Village has an excellent range of mixed bars, restaurants and clubs — try the exclusive Sarasota eatery for superb food or Manchester's first multi-million pound super-club Essential.

Northern Quarter: This fashionable part of the city centre is bounded by Piccadilly to the south and Ancoats to the north and contains some of the trendiest shops and live music bars like Fat City Records and Dry Bar along with many fine old Victorian buildings housing small media businesses and alternative shopping centres including Afflecks Palace and the Coliseum with their jewellery stalls and second-hand clothes shops.

Old Trafford and Salford: Home of the region's most famous sporting institutions like Lancashire County Cricket Club and of course Manchester United. This whole area has been the subject of huge investment and re-development over the last few years with the most obvious example being the imposing Trafford Centre, a 600 million pound shopping complex, including the only Selfridges & Co store outside London. Across the Manchester Ship Canal in Salford, Lowry (The) and Quays have brought a whole new sense of purpose to an area previously in decline.

Oxford Road: This is a busy thoroughfare into the heart of Manchester and most importantly, the city's three main universities are located here. As well as the expected plethora of student friendly bars including Revolution, more traditional cultural pursuits are offered at the recently renovated Manchester Museum and the Cornerhouse art house cinema and gallery.

Rochdale, Oldham & Ashton: The north eastern sector of Manchester has, until recently, been less touched by the overall economic and commercial regeneration of the city but still contains many places of interest, Portland Basin Museum and Rochdale Pioneers Museum being good examples. The area also has the good fortune to be located close to the scenic foothills of the Pennines and northern Peak District, a place highly popular with tourists.

Stockport, Cheadle & Wilmslow: South east Manchester is renowned for its prosperity. Outlying affluent suburbs such as Bramhall and Prestbury being home to professional footballers and captains of industry attracted by the surrounding countryside, good transportation links and locations conveniently close to Manchester International Airport. Stockport itself is a busy town with a large central shopping centre and plenty of places to eat, drink and stay including the Britannia Hotel. Cheadle still has a very distinct village feel with a bustling main street still attracting many independent shops, while Wilmslow is home to the "Cheshire Set", Stratstone of Wilmslow Porsche and Ferrari car showrooms and many other superlative shops.