21 Things Manchester Has That London Should Get Immediately

London is great, but it could certainly learn a few things from the capital of the North.

1. Reasonably priced flats.

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House prices in London are beyond ridiculous. And although they're rising in Manchester too, it's still much more affordable to live up north.

2. Chip butties.

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It must be possible to track down a chip butty in London. But they're certainly not widely available, which is a great shame because they're probably the world's greatest food.

3. Chips and gravy.

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When you're drunk and on your way home from a night out, Chicken Cottage chips will just about do. But they've got nothing on proper chip-shop chips covered in gravy.

4. Magic Buses.

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In Manchester, you can get a weekly Magic Bus pass – which takes students everywhere they need – for £7.50. Just imagine how much money you'd save in London implemented the same system.

5. Shopping centres that look like this.

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That's the Trafford Centre. Its food court, Europe's largest, is decorated like a steam ship in honour of the nearby Manchester Ship Canal.

6. Universities that look like this.

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Manchester University is the 58th best university in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings table.

7. Libraries that look like this.

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That's Manchester Central Library, the architecture of which is based on the Pantheon in Rome. Morrissey is said to have studied for his A-level exams there.

8. Urbis.

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Formally an urban museum and exhibition centre, Urbis is now the National Football Museum, home to over 140,000 football items.

9. Pints for under £4.

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Pub culture in London is incredible, but drinking out is so expensive. In Manchester, on the other hand, it's totally affordable.

10. More trams.

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Manchester's tram system has got its problems. But Manchester has many, many more trams than London. And they're such a pleasant, non-stuffy way to travel.

11. Poundbakery.

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Where you can buy any two of most items for a pound. Genius.

12. The Northern Quarter.

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A hub of gorgeous pubs, restaurants, and shops.

13. People's History Museum.

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Located in a Grade II-listed former hydraulic-pumping station, the museum tells the story of Britain's working people.

14. Hot Vimto.

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That's warmed-up Vimto. Heavenly.

15. More green space.

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That's Heaton Park, just a short journey from the city centre.

16. More curry.

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London may have Brick Lane, but it's got nothing on Rusholme, which houses over 70 Asian restaurants.

17. Proper Christmas markets.

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Nowhere does Christmas markets quite like Manchester. Last year, there were 300 stalls across eight different places in the city.

18. The Lowry.

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This theatre and art gallery is in Salford, just a short tram ride from Manchester's city centre.

19. Pub and club singers.

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You just don't get singers in London's pubs and clubs.

20. A better Chinatown.

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Manchester's Chinatown isn't as big as London's, and it's much less commercial. Instead, you'll find incredible restaurants and authentic food shops.

21. Proper cuppas.

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'Nuff said.