Here are some facts about Manchester.
- Manchester was founded in 79 AD and is located in North West England. The city is the UK’s second largest after London, with a population of about 2,550,000 (2014).
- It was the world’s first industrialized city, and was nicknamed ‘Cottonopolis’ during the 19th century.
- The Manchester Ship Canal was opened in 1891, stretching almost 60 km to Liverpool.
- The world’s first railway station was built at Manchester in 1830. The world’s first scheduled passenger railway ran between the city and Liverpool, a distance of 56 km.
- Some well-known Manchester landmarks include: the Gothic style town hall, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Imperial War Museum North.
- England’s tallest building outside of London is here too, the 168 metre Beetham Tower.
- The University of Manchester is one of the largest in the UK. The city is home to over 100,000 students.
- Manchester’s Arndale Centre, located in the heart of the city, is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. It has over 200 stores and attracts over 40 million visitors each year.
- Two of the world’s most famous football clubs call Manchester their home – Manchester United and Manchester City. Manchester United’s nickname of the Red Devils was taken from a local rugby team who wore red shirts.
- Manchester airport is the UK’s busiest, outside London. There are nonstop flights to over 200 cities around the world and the airport handles over 20 million passengers every year.
- The soap opera Coronation Street has been on TV continuously since 1960. It is set in the fictional Manchester suburb of Weatherfield, and is filmed in the city.
- Manchester is well known for its music scene, both classical and rock. It is the home of the world famous Halle Orchestra, and many rock groups, including Herman’s Hermits, Joy Division, and Oasis.
