AREA LOKAL

Manchester's John Rylands Library, 20 minutes' walk away, has an impressive collection of 250,000 publications and a million manuscripts. Among its treasures are an extract from the oldest existing New Testament and illustrated 13th-century Persian manuscripts. Book a guided tour around the ornate Neo-Gothic building for a fascinating glimpse into the conservation team's work.

Though it was restored during Victorian times, the Gothic-style Manchester Cathedral actually dates back to the Middle Ages. Look out for the carved Angel Stone in the South Porch wall, which dates back to around 700AD, and the remains of a 15th-century Hanging Bridge in the contemporary Visitor Centre. The cheery Proper Tea Tearoom serves toasted pastrami sandwiches and elaborate afternoon teas.

Manchester United's Old Trafford and Manchester City's Etihad Stadium are both less than 15 minutes' drive from the hotel. Even if you can't get a match ticket, both offer daily tours of their grounds. You'll get the chance to see the players' dressing rooms, sit in the manager's dugout, or experience the rush in the player's tunnel as you wait to walk out onto the hallowed turf.

Manchester is known for high-end fashion, and Harvey Nichols and Selfridges & Co. are just two of the designer stores within a 15-minute walk of the hotel. Shoppers on a budget can head to Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre, just a five-minute walk away. Once you've checked out its high-street fashion brands, tech stores and toy shops, you can grab a coffee and bagel in the stylish food court.