AREA LOKAL

For many Manchester residents, life revolves around football, and with two of the Premier League's biggest teams on their doorstep, that's understandable. Old Trafford, where Manchester United play, and the Etihad Stadium, home to Manchester City, are both less than three miles away. Even if you don't have time to catch a game, guided stadium and museum tours are available.

The National Museum of Football at the Urbis Building, a mile from the hotel, holds a vast collection of exhibits, interactive games and memorabilia, including the original FA Cup and the ball from the 1966 World Cup Final. Exploring the history of football over generations, it has won admiration from legendary footballers Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson as well as legions of sports fans.

Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by the exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry, just 15 minutes' walk from the hotel. Housed in an 1830-built warehouse and railway terminus, the museum keeps Manchester's industrial history alive with demonstrations of machines like steam engines and fabric mills. The museum offers free entry to its many themed halls, and is open seven days a week.

A 10-minute walk from the hotel brings you to Manchester's vibrant Chinatown, a feast for the senses. Stop for some dim sum and to admire the recently restored archway on Faulkner Street. Then, for some peaceful downtime, you can wander the quiet aisles of Chetham's Library for a few hours. This is the UK's oldest public library, where Marx and Engels worked on The Communist Manifesto.

• Old Trafford Football Ground
• The Warehouse Project Manchester
• o2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester