My daughter will be attending the University of Manchester for a semester. We plan on visiting during late October or early November. Any suggestions for day trips, places to eat, etc. Is a week too long for Manchester? If so, what would you suggest we do to break it up, perhaps a side trip to Scotland, France, or Ireland? Any help would be appreciated.

No a week is not too long as Manchester is centrally located to many great sights. By train or car: York - one of finest towns in UK; Warwick Castle, Shakespeare' Stratford, Chester, the Lake District (you may want to overnight here with your daughter in one of the cool cottage B&Bs, and last, but not least Manchester's Beach - Blackpool and its trip the lights fantastic Illuminations - several miles of seaside Hoiliday Lights - aka the Lights - that is phenomenally popular with Manchester types as is Blackpool - on Coronation Street the low-life types are always heading off there. Flanner: don't tell me Manchester has its own beaches - i agree Liverpool does.

Hello cat444,

If you find yourself with just a few hours to spare some day, there's a neat museum in Manchester. Can't remember the name, but it's all about the cotton industry - lots of great displays, and you see cotton bales to the finished product, with lots of working machinery. Sounds hokey but it's really quite fascinating.

Also, depending on the weather, another couple hours easily could be spent at the Trafford Center, this huge shopping mall. We were there during a blizzard a couple years ago, and the mall was our evening walk out of the hotel since it was too cold to be outside.

Of course, all the things PalQ mentioned as well. But sometimes you might have just a very short bit of extra time, and these places would fill that slack.

Happy travels!

In Manchester itself: The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Castlefield, City Art Gallery. Northern Quarter for eating and drinking, Chinatown likewise, Canal Street for the gay scene, Rusholme for Indian restaurants, concerts of all kinds all over the place, I could go on.
Outside the city: Lake District is less than 2 hours, Peak District likewise, Chatsworth House, Lyme Hall (Pride n Prejudice past and future), beaches in North Wales, Blackpool, all the stuff that PalQ has said.
Lucky you.

I spent a semester at the University of Manchester a few years ago. In MHO, a week is WAY too long just for Manchester. But, as other Fodorites have mentioned, it is a great base to explore the North West.

Manchester has great pubs and a fun, ped friendly central shopping area. Take a taxi out to Rusholme for wonderful Indian food and check the schedule for Man United. (Even if tickets are officially sold out, you can find some on game day. If not, just walk around Old Trafford and soak up the energy). Old Trafford is actually a great tour - lots of great football history. Trafford Center is a bit further out on the same bus line - it is basically just a mall, but it is HUGE. An oddity for England I would say.

About that time of year Manchester has a (German?) holiday festival set up in the city centre - near the Cathedral I believe. (The name of the square is escaping me .. perhaps someone else can jump in). It has great mulled wine, lots of gifty items, and great food. Might be later in November though.

As for other nearby places - take the train down to Liverpool and spend the night. It's a cheap and easy ride from the University and Liverpool is a beautiful city. For a first time visitor, the Beatles Magic Mystery Tour is a must (although cheesy). The Lake District is also fabulous and easy to reach by BritRail if you do not want to rent a car. Some of the town offer a bit more paths and nightlife than others, but they are all good.

That's my suggestion for the week - Manchester and Liverpool. Depending on how rushed you want your holiday to be and how long your daughter can be away from Manchester, check out the Lake District as well.

York is definitely a great place to visit while up there. Lincoln is great, if you have a car. Another interesting spot would be north Wales. Portmerion if you were a Prisoner fan.

Well all in all the Illumiations in Blackpool - the Black Lights - is a totally bizarre and indelibly memorable experience - perhaps the single most popular tourist thing in England - attracts huge crowds. Lots of nice places within a dart's throw of Manchester but Blackpool is so different - a real trip - Coney Island at its heyday - a zillion of cheap B&Bs if you want to stay the night - has become a rage amongst the youth crowd from London to come up here for the weekend - lots of shows, etc. don't miss Blackpool if you at all like something out of the ordinary.

You could do a driving tour through Chester, see Conwy castle and town, then see Snowdonia.

I also second York and the Lake District as good options.

Is there a hotel right inside the terminal? We fly from Newark to Manchester then have a layoover of about 5 hours. We will be zonked and a nap for 2 or 3 hours and a shower would be most useful. Or is there a well equipped Fitness Center where we could do the same? Thanks

Check out: http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/