Manchester, My New Home
Meet Olivia and Sarah, first-year students at UA92. They both moved to Manchester for their studies and have spent the last 12 months discovering everything Manchester has to offer. Here’s their recommendations for anyone thinking of moving to Manchester.
KNOW THE CITY
Sarah’s recommendation: If you’re new to Manchester like me, I would highly recommend finding some good Instagram and TikTok pages. My two favourites are @mcrfinest for tips on finding the best food spots, and @lifeinmachester for general city guides, activities, and fun places to visit.
Olivia’s recommendation: I have been living in Manchester for almost a year now and I am still discovering new places in and around the city. There’s a good mix of independent cafes and recognisable chains. Personally, I prefer the more unique places that offer something a little bit different. When I first arrived, the staff and student ambassadors gave us a guided tour of the city, which really helped get my bearings.
FOR LIVE MUSIC
Sarah’s recommendation: Music is a big part of Manchester’s culture and there are so many venues across the city, you’ll be spoilt for choice. From big artists performing at arenas like the AO Arena, Co-op Live, Emirates Old Trafford and Castlefield Bowl, to independent venues like The Yard giving opportunities to smaller artists. No matter what kind of music or artists you like, there something for everyone in this city.
Olivia’s recommendation: I work part-time at O2 Victoria Warehouse, which is a unique music venue that hosts some incredible music acts like McFly, Black Pumas, Maddison Beer, and home to the famous Warehouse Project (there’s a lot of variety!). There’s also a new arena opening in Manchester called Co-op Live. Olivia Rodrigo and Niall Horan are set to perform there – I can’t wait to go.
FOR A NIGHT OUT
Sarah’s recommendation: Manchester is a great city for a night out. My personal favourite is Courtyard which is a student friendly bar with cheap drinks and great vibes. The music there is always great. For those that love a fun activity like me, Roxy Ballroom is for you. I went there in my first week and loved it. It has lots of activities to offer like ping pong, shuffleboard, and bowling.
Olivia’s recommendation: I like to start a night out at Brickhouse Social. They do great student deals, and you can play pool for free! My favourite karaoke bar is called Vina, it’s always lots of fun and you can request songs for you and your friends to sing. Factory is a good club and also a student favourite. If you like indie music, the second floor there is the place to go.
FOR SHOPPING
Sarah’s recommendation: Manchester city-centre is filled with options for a good shopping spree. The Arndale is the best for your favourite high street brands like Nike, H&M, Zara and many more. There are lots of independent shops in and around Manchester too. I love thrift stores, and if you do too, I would recommend Blue Rinse in the Northern Quarter for cheap clothing finds.
Olivia’s recommendation: The Trafford Centre is absolutely huge and has an enormous selection of shops. You could literally spend a full day there, shopping, eating and even watching a movie. There are lots of high street shops and big department stores like Selfridges, John Lewis, and M&S. If you like something a little more unique, Chorlton has some cute little independent shops.
IF THE SUN SHINES
Sarah’s recommendation: When the sun is shining, I often go to the park for a walk, run or even a picnic. My personal favourite is Chorlton water park, located a short distance from the city centre and easy to get to by tram. It has beautiful scenery surrounded by a lake, grasslands, and woodland areas.
Olivia’s recommendation: The Northern Quarter! It’s an area of Manchester that has so many funky bars with outside seating for all year-round alfresco dining. Another of my favourites is The Oast House in Spinningfields. When it’s sunny, I like to walk alongside the canals, from UA92’s Old Trafford campus to great pub called The Wharf. Also, not too far from the Old Trafford campus is Media City, with some great spots for soaking up the fine British weather. Seven Brothers on a summer evening is my favourite place to go with friends.
Heaton Park is a favourite of mine for a big walk or run and even has its own tram stop, it’s also where Park Life is hosted. The tram network in Manchester is really good and reasonably priced. Both campuses have tram stations close by so you can explore all areas of the city.
