Shopping in Manchester
Shopping in Manchester is easy, fun and expensive. Easy, because you have
most of it within walking distance of downtown. Funny, because the selection is
huge and varied, although not quite on the same level as in London it is not far
away. And expensive, because most of the items you find here can be found at the
same or lower prices at home in Norway. But the Visa card, as you always know,
is a bit looser in your wallet when traveling.
Arndale and Marks & Spencer in Manchester
Manchester is a paradise for any “shopping enthusiast” because here are two
of Europe's largest shopping centers. Arndale was severely damaged in the
bombing in 1996, but is now over 130,000 square meters and has around 200
stores.
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Across the street, connected to Arndale with a footbridge, is the world's
largest Marks & Spencer store. You can find more information about the
individual shops, offers and opening hours on the website.
The Trafford Center
Just south of the city center you will find The Trafford Center, which is
almost as large as Arndale, and with even more stores, all 280, among them the
first Selfridge store outside London. There are also over 40 different
restaurants and bars.
Affleck's Palace
Affleck's Palace is a large and youthful shopping center on Church Street
with stores that gladly have the words Extreme, Space, American, Fashion, Street
or Vampire in their name, while the music is pounding out of the speakers
everywhere.
In here you will find half the district's teens, everything from fashion
clothing, skateboarding, arcades, CDs, data and DVDs, discos, hairdressing
salons and large stores filled with supporter gear such as t-shirts and hoodies
for all bands from Westlife to Marilyn Manson.
Open daily from 2 pm 1000 to 1800. The address is 52 Church Street.
Other shopping tips in Manchester
If you find this too difficult, there are plenty of smaller centers in town,
such as Debenhams, The Triangle and the Royal Exchange Center. Otherwise, the
Market Street pedestrian street is nice to stroll randomly in, with many shops,
restaurants and cafes.
You will also find many shops, pubs and restaurants in Deansgate, the busy
main street that runs north-south in the center west. Here is also the
department store House of Fraser. Also, try the areas between Deansgate and
Arndale. There are several exclusive fashion boutiques around St Ann's Square
and Kings Street pedestrian street.
Souvenirs from Manchester
The classic Manchester souvenir that many tourists come home with is various
Manchester United effects such as shirts, scarves, posters and mouse pads. If
you are concerned about clothes and fashion, you will certainly not come home
empty-handed from Manchester.
Eating in Manchester
England may not be primarily known for its contributions to international
haute cuisine. The most famous English dishes are probably Yorkshire pudding,
fish & chips or meat with vegetables, but today you will find almost no
restaurants in Manchester that only serve English food.
Ethnic eateries have flourished everywhere, with the bulk of Chinese or
Indian food. Manchester has England's largest Chinatown, and in these quarters
southwest of Piccadilly Gardens you will find hundreds of Chinese eateries.
Great prices for food in Manchester
Despite razor-sharp competition, prices are not particularly low, accounting
for around NOK 120-150 for a full dinner. Pearl City at 33 George Street and
Yang Sing at 34 Princess Street are considered the top two restaurants.
In the eastern part of the city center, the Indian and Pakistani restaurants
are packed together on the so-called Curry Mile in Rusholme, and here
fierce competition has led to a pleasing quality increase, with several very
good tandoori restaurants. A taxi from downtown to Rusholme should normally cost
no more than around 60-70 kroner.
Out of Western dining, the fashionable and newly opened 110
Restaurant in Circus Casino on Portland Street has received excellent
reviews, and Le Mont in the Urbis building is also considered one of the city's
best, and at the same time, most expensive, restaurants.
Drink in Manchester
As for beverages, Manchester, like the rest of the UK, has a lively pub
culture where the beer stands in a special class. Admittedly, you will find
occasional wine bars, and all pubs also have some wine types to offer, but in
general Manchester's local beers are Boddington, Hydes and John Willie Lees.
Try an exceptionally cheap pint at Old Wellington or Sinclair's Oyster Bar,
located next to each other in Shambles Square, right by the cathedral, in the
city's oldest buildings of the 1550s.
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