Manchester is a relatively new city. Its development began with the Industrial Revolution in the end of 18th and the beginning of 19th century. The leading position in world textile manufacture was held by Manchester up to the 1960s. It is a vibrant dynamic city, one of the largest UK metropolitan conurbations, proud of its history and heritage, its culture and its business spirit. It is a highly inhabited city that attracts the third number of tourists. In 1993, over 13 million people passed through the airport terminal, and that number is soon expected to exceed 22 million.
Manchester in extremely rich in tourist attractions - there are 170 of them, including some 34 historic houses, country parks, moors, plains, hills and 8 theme parks all within an hour's drive away.
Manchester has a lot to offer for the cultural buffs. The history of Manchester development can be told as well as shown in the Museum of Science and History. Of course, it is only one of great number of Manchester museums. The city can boasts several good art galleries and exhibition spaces, excellent libraries, an enormous university complex, nice squares and parks. But the real highlights are Manchester Cathedral and Manchester Town Hall.
Manchester Cathedral (official name is the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester) is a Medieval church located on Victoria Street in central Manchester. Constructed during 600 years period this huge and awe inspired Manchester Cathedral is built primarily in Perpendicular Gothic style. The building is replete with typical Perpendicular Gothic tall windows and flat fan-vaulted ceilings. The first stone was found in 923, but originally this was not the Cathedral and even the intentions were a bit others, but still - the founded church was recorded in the Doomsday book as St. Mary's.
The actual work on the current building started in 1215. The border neighbor of the building was Manor House. At that time Manor House was occupied by the Grisley family and their coat of arms is still associated with Manchester Cathedral to this day. It was the Grisley family that built and contributed into the first chancery, the St. Nicholas Chancery.
Between 1330 and 1360, the ornately cut entrance to the Lady Chapel and its former tower were constructed. Close ties with education were established by King Henry V who chartered the church as a collegiate foundation in 1421. Since that time the church was greatly expanded by Edward VI in 1550 and then pillaged several times (especially during the English Civil War in 1649). The Eparchy of Manchester was created in 1847 and the church was named Manchester Cathedral. The Cathedral was severely damaged during the Second World War - it took nearly twenty years to repair all of the destruction.
Manchester Town Hall houses the city's government and administrative functions. The former civic administration was situated in the Old Town Hall designed by Francis Goodwin and constructed during 1822-1825, much of it by David Bellhouse. With the growth of the city's wealth and outstripping of the existing facilities, it proposed to build a new building.
Completed by architect Alfred Waterhouse in 1877, New Manchester Town Hall exemplifies the Victorian Gothic architecture style with the elements from 13th century Early English. Despite its medieval styling, the building was designed to support the technologies of the 19th century such as a warm-air heating system.
Manchester Town Hall is the most impressive neo-Gothic building cost a million pounds and is avowed as a masterpiece in its own right. This monument to the civic pride of the city fathers reaches 286 feet above Albert Square below. Inside it is richly decorated with mosaic floors and has wall murals by Ford Madox Brown.
The Albert Square now regularly serves as a place for local events, celebrations, street fairs, Christmas funfairs, etc.
For the Manchester inhabitants, this city is a place to live and to do business - for a Tourist it is a place to visit. Everyone can find something for himself in Manchester.