24 Reasons Why Manchester Is The True Capital Of The North

Because it is, isn't it?

1. In 2015, Manchester was voted the best UK city to live in.

Flickr: wojtekgurak / Creative Commons

You can't argue with the Economist Intelligence Unit's global liveability survey!

2. Manchester has the tallest UK skyline outside of London.

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The Manchester skyline combines 1800s architecture, historic factories and warehouses, and hyper-modern structures like the 47-storey Hilton Hotel.

3. We’re a proudly multicultural city.

Via manchesterrestaurants.com

Manchester has a thriving Chinatown and the distinctive Curry Mile, where you can find Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian restaurants, shisha lounges, traditional sweetshops, and jewellers.

4. Our gay village attracts visitors from all over the world.

Harriet Williamson / BuzzFeed

5. Manchester has a rich musical history and artists from Greater Manchester have forever altered the cultural landscape of the UK.

Pete Cronin / Redferns / Getty Images

And no, we're not just talking about Oasis.

6. And it's home to some of the best independent music venues.

Via designmynight.com

Even Manchester Cathedral puts on gigs and serves beer!

7. Since the hazy days of Madchester and The Hacienda, Manchester has always been renowned for its nightlife.

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8. Urban festivals are made for Manchester.

dottodotfestival.co.uk

9. For fans of theatre and the arts, Manchester is the place to be.

Check out the Royal Exchange Theatre, the £25m HOME arts centre, or The Whitworth, which was named museum of the year in 2015.

10. The "Oxford Road Corridor" is the busiest bus route in Europe.

en.wikipedia.org

This might sound like a nightmare, but it means that you're rarely waiting for a bus.

11. Our distinctive Northern Quarter is filled with vintage shops, indie bars, retro cafes, and unique street art.

Flickr: manchesterstreetsnaps / Creative Commons

12. Vegan? Gluten-free? Lactose intolerant? You'll be catered for in Manchester.

13. And our chip barms are second to none.

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14. In Manchester, no one judges you for drowning your dinner in gravy.

In fact, it’s expected.

15. Manchester has two world-class universities.

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Even if you’re not a student, you can still take advantage of the cheap drinks and £1 buses.

16. And it's the birthplace of numerous scientific discoveries.

SSPL / Getty Images

Including the steam-powered mill, the splitting of the atom, the electronic programmable computer, the world's first passenger railway, and the development of the thinnest material in the world, Graphene.

17. Manchester is the sporting capital of the UK.

Gary M. Prior / Getty Images

We were named Sporting Capital in 2015 in research from ESPN. The Commonwealth Games has blessed Manchester with the Aquatics Centre, National Squash Centre, Velodrome, and Regional Athletics Area.

18. Manchester is heaven for shopaholics.

Flickr: boblinsdell / Creative Commons

Whether you want to search for vintage gems or spend serious cash on designer purchases, Manchester has you covered. Our Trafford Centre is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and we're also home to the biggest Lush store in the North.

19. Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the suffragette movement, was born in Manchester's Moss Side.

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

She was instrumental in women achieving the right to vote, and will be the first woman to have a statue in Manchester in more than 100 years.

20. There are plenty of diverse districts across the city.

From the middle-class heaven of Didsbury and Chorlton, to the student enclaves of Fallowfield and Withington, and the up-and-coming areas of Levenshulme and Walley Range – there really is somewhere for everyone.

21. If you need a break from city life, the Peak District is right on Manchester's doorstep.

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22. Manchester's first cat cafe is opening this summer.

Facebook: catcafemanchester

For feline fans only.

23. Your money goes further in Manchester.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

House prices are four times higher in London than in Manchester, meaning that you can live in a major city filled with culture and opportunities for a quarter of the price if you move to Manchester.

24. Manchester folks are funny, friendly, and know how to have a good time.

Elizabeth Kerrigan @Elizigan

modern renaissance art

01:29 PM - 01 Jan 2016

And most importantly, in Manchester you can have a couple of pints, find a traffic cone crown, and your mates will be already chanting "King in the North, King in the North".