London and Manchester are two of the largest and most iconic cities in the United Kingdom. Both cities are full of historic architecture from centuries of wealth, as well as an impressive mix of contemporary architecture. If you are debating between London or Manchester, this is the ultimate guide for you.
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London or Manchester Overview
London
London is the largest city in the United Kingdom with close to 9 million people and a metro area of over 14 million. London has been one of the most famous cities in the world for many centuries being the home to the historic British Empire. Founded by the Romans, London has an ancient history dating back nearly a thousand years.
Today, London is known for its historical architecture mixing into the cityscape with modern skyscrapers, making up one of Europe’s most iconic skylines. London remains one of the most influential cities in the world along with cities like Hong Kong and New York City. London is also the most visited city in Europe with nearly 20 million visitors each year.
Manchester
Manchester is a city of over 550,000 people. During the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, Manchester boomed as a hub for manufacturing which resulted in the city becoming known as the world’s first industrialized city. Because of the city’s massive wealth from the industrial revolution, Manchester has many grand buildings from the 19th century. (They also wanted to be better than London)
During the last few decades, Manchester has transformed from an industry-prioritized city into a place of modern tastes because of its youthful and progressive residents. Manchester is also known for its music scene, museums, galleries, and its lively nightlife. It is also home to two of the most famous football clubs in the world, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Things to See
London
Big Ben is the iconic clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the most iconic structures in London.
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the monarchy of the United Kingdom.
Westminster Abbey is a Gothic abbey church that is known for being the burial site of English and British monarchs.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous symbols of London. It is the most well-known bridge in the city and is often confused with the London Bridge.
St. Paul’s Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral that was built in 1675. It was the tallest building in London until 1967.
Manchester
Manchester Town Hall is a building of Victorian, Neo-gothic architecture where the city council meets.
Piccadilly Gardens is one of the main public areas in Manchester.
The Quays is an area around the old dockyards that was modernized for residential and leisure uses.
The Manchester Cathedral is an impressive church in the heart of Manchester.
The Imperial War Museum is a museum devoted to telling about modern wars and acts of violence.
Food
London
London is the perfect place to try some of England’s most traditional dishes. English breakfast is one of the most traditional dishes in England and continues to be a local favorite today. It is a dish typically consisting of bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, baked beans, and tomatoes. Another world-renown dish that is famous in London is fish and chips. You can find a nice plate of fish and chips just about anywhere in London. Sunday Roast is exactly what it sounds like, a roasted meat dish served typically made on Sunday’s. The dish is oftentimes served with gravy, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and vegetables. Click here for more note-worthy cuisines in London.
Manchester
One of Manchester’s most famous dishes is Lancashire hotpot, a delicious dinner entre that brings home the hearty flavors of England. This dish originated during the Industrial Era when families didn’t have time to cook dinners that were especially involved. Lancashire hotpot was a simple way to cook a hot meal that didn’t require a whole lot of time or dedication.
Lamb or mutton is cooked with onion and broth, then topped off with thinly sliced potatoes. The pot is then cooked on low for a long time until the potato topping becomes nice and crispy. Fish and Chips are, of course, also popular in Manchester.
Getting Around
London
As you would expect, the system of public transportation is massive here. London uses a pay as you go card called the Oyster Card to pay for public transportation. You can take the tube (subway), lite rail, or you can hop on the expansive network of double-decker buses. One thing to note about public transport in London is that is rather expensive compared to many European cities. a Tube journey in central London costs £2.40 with Oyster or £4.90 with cash and a bus ride costs £1.50 with the Oyster Card. Riding on the passenger boats down the Thames is a fun way to get around as well.
A popular way to explore the city, if you don’t want to mess with public transportation, is investing in a multi-day hop-on hop-off bus tour (this worked well when I tried it). These are double-decker buses that have tour guides telling you about each area you are riding through which is extremely informative. You can buy 1, 2, and 3-day tickets. The best hop-on hop-off bus tours are the Original Tour, Big Bus, and Golden Tours. Each service has dozens of buses around the city so don’t stress about missing one.
Manchester
The areas around the city center and The Quays are excellent places to explore on foot. In order to get from the center of the city to The Quays, you will want to take some form of public transportation, unless you want to spend a large part of your day walking there.
Public transportation in Manchester consists of buses, trams, and trains. In recent years, the metro has been extended so don’t be afraid to utilize it when you’re here. The Metrolink 24 hour pass is an excellent deal to invest in. Taxis, Karhoo, and Uber are also very viable options for getting around the city. You also might want to consider renting a bike and riding along the city’s waterways.
Nightlife
London
London is known around the world for having one of the best nightlife scenes in the world. London is home to over 3000 bars and pubs so you don’t have to worry about running out of options. Though there are incredible nightclubs in London, the nightlife scene still revolves around bars and pubs.
Soho is considered to be the biggest party area in the city. Pretty much any district of London has its own unique atmosphere for you to experience. If you want to go clubbing, some of the best clubs in the city are Fabric, XOYO, Cargo, and Egg London. Ministry of Sound and Studio 338 are probably two of the biggest nightclubs.
Manchester
Manchester has an excellent nightlife scene, almost to the caliber of the nightlife found in London. The city center is where you can find the highest concentration of bars and pubs. The area around the intersection of High Street and Thomas Street is one of the best parts of the city to explore for a great night out.
There are some incredible incredible nightclubs in Manchester but if you want to find a club that will stay open until the sun rises, you aren’t going to find it. (The White Hotel stays open the latest) Just like any city, be sure to do a little research if you plan on going clubbing.
Day Trips
London
Oxford is a city less than an hour to the west of London. It is known for the world-renown University of Oxford.
Bath is known for being one of the most beautiful cities in England. It has incredible architecture and more than 2000 years of history.
Brighton is a seaside city just to the south of London. It is a popular day-trip destination, drawing in over 7 million day visitors each year.
Manchester
Liverpool is less than an hour away from Manchester. It would be perfect if you are a fan of the Beetles.
Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the most scenic places in the United Kingdom.
In between London and Manchester is Birmingham which would be a great place to explore if you are planning on visiting both London and Manchester. If you are heading north of Manchester, you will want to visit Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Overall
London and Manchester are arguably Britain’s two most iconic cities. Most cities feature incredibly historic buildings along with more contemporary architecture. The simple answer to this debate is that you will kick yourself if you’ve never been to London and decide to skip over it.
If you have two or more days to spend in a city, London is the choice for you just because of the many sights there are to see. If you are heading north to Scotland and only have a day or two to spend somewhere, you might want to visit Manchester instead.