From gin bars and art galleries to history museums and gay bars galore, Manchester is a great weekend getaway with a character all on its own. Head about 300km north of London and you’ll find the UK’s third largest city, a place that has had a tremendous impact on England’s history. Manchester has always been known as a working-class city ever since the start of the industrial revolution. While it certainly has its fair share of landmarks and sites of interest, the city doesn’t have the grandeur of London to the south nor the famous reputation as a tourist destination.