24 Hours in Manchester

Last month (which seems like a lifetime ago) I took a trip to Manchester to see Magnum. I hadn’t been on a plane on my own since 2019, and I wasn’t sure how I would be. It was all good, and I was pleased with how well I did. It’s so handy having Ireland West Airport just down the road, it’s a small airport and very relaxed and laid back, it took about five minutes from the time I parked the car to sitting in the departure lounge with a coffee.

I had to fly to Liverpool and get a bus and train to Manchester, just because the Liverpool flight is daily, and the Manchester one isn’t. It’s all very doable and easy though, the bus to the station is just outside the airport, and they run every ten minutes or so. The flight is short too, just around 50 minutes, and it’s as cheap as chips if you book early.

I had a packed schedule, I wanted to fit in as many things as I could, and there’s so much to see and do in Manchester, it’s a great place for a city break, and well worth a visit. I went with Lucy in May, and I’ve written about that here – and we did a podcast too, so you can listen to our adventures.

My first port of call was the Museum of Illusions, I love anything a bit different, so this was right up my street. I didn’t book online, although it’s advisable if you go during the school holidays or at the weekend (and they recently got a mention on Coronation Street), so that will make it busier too. I must admit I did feel slightly miffed when I checked my ticket and saw that it was for 65+, they added 9 years onto my age! I had been feeling OK about myself until that point, mind you it meant I saved a few bob on the ticket price!

I had my bag with me, but there are free lockers that you can use, which was very handy. I’d recommend visiting the museum with someone, as there are quite a few photo opportunities and it’s quite impossible when you are on your own.

Towards the end of my visit, I found a staff member and asked them to take some photos, which was great.

My next stop was The Simpsons Café, this is in Primark (Penneys, Hun), every few months the café changes to a different theme. It was Hello Kitty when we were there last. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s something a bit different, the food and drinks are Simpsons themed, and there are songs and soundbites playing from the show.

I visited a couple of shops in the Arndale Centre, shopping really isn’t my thing, but I love shops that are a bit different. I went to Oseyo, this is the largest Asian retailer in UK, I mainly went for the Squid Game themed food, but there were so many other interesting foods too, and a selection of houseware, stationery, toys, etc. Just a heads up, they don’t take cash.

Kenji was my next shop to visit. They sell all kind of gorgeous things, Asian culture with a British twist. I got a few gifts here, including socks (and a pair for me), pens, and more. It’s a great shop, and they do take cash! Phew – read on to find out about my card issue later during my trip.

Afflecks was next. No visit to Manchester is complete with a visit to Afflecks – not just a shopping centre but a shopping emporium. A one-stop shop for anything unusual and quirky and full of wonderful characters too. I got my cards read just for the craic, I enjoyed meeting Maxine, the card reader, we had a lovely chat.

Lunch was next, and this place was on my list since I started planning my trip to Manchester. It’s WakuWaku, a wonderful 2D restaurant/café. It really has the wow factor, and that was what I was looking for. I felt like I was in the ‘Take on Me’ video by AHA.

It was even better because there were two dogs in prams there! I just had vegetable rice for lunch, I didn’t really want anything too heavy with the concert being that night and flying home the next day. It was grand, but the best bit was the 3D coffee and the little egg pancakes – just adorable! It’s not cheap, but it is fabulous, and something very different.

After lunch I checked in at the hotel (Premier Inn), my hotel of choice after our last stay in a ‘hotel’ that wasn’t a Premier Inn last time). You know what you’re going to get with a Premier Inn, cheap and comfortable.

Off again, to The Factory International. This was a last-minute addition to my trip, a blog reader told me about the David Hockney exhibition, and it look amazing online. I think I was expecting something like the Van Gogh Immersive Experience, but it wasn’t like that, and it was the most expensive part of my trip. In hindsight I would have been better not to go, but that’s my opinion. If you are a fan of David Hockney, you would have enjoyed it. With the Van Gogh experience people were walking around, but with the Hockney one everyone was sitting in one place, so you missed things on some of the screens.

The Factory International is a great facility though, it’s hard to believe that it’s on the grounds of the old Granada TV studios – where Coronation Street was filmed.

I got an Uber back to the hotel and happened to bump into some of the Magnum band members, which was a bonus 😊 I had plenty of time to get ready before the gig, I was hoping to have a long bath, but alas my room only had a shower. I’ve written all about the concert here.  

The only downside to the gig was getting a text from my bank asking me to phone them urgently. I had all kinds of things going through my head, like my account had been hacked etc. but I wasn’t going to miss the gig of a lifetime to call them, so I waited until the end of the concert. It turned out me using an Uber had caused the bank to put a stop on my card, this meant I was hanging around the Manchester Academy waiting to get through to the bank and get my card unblocked before I could get an Uber back to the hotel – I didn’t fancy walking back on my own.

I enjoyed a drink in the hotel bar – another place that wasn’t keen to take cash, but after the hassle of the bank card I wasn’t going to change it. I chatted with some other Magnum fans, it’s great how friendly they are, especially as I was travelling on my own.

I was up and out bright and early the next morning and took the train to Liverpool, I’d booked a visit to the Cat Café, the one in Manchester has been closed (but it’s reopening this Spring).

Anyway, the cat café was lovely, you don’t have to prebook, but it is advisable. You can just call in for 15 minutes if you want too. I’d booked an hour, and with the entrance fee you get unlimited coffee and soft drinks, and you get to play with the cats. I had a little Sphynx kitten on my lap for a while, they are like naked cats – no fur, so it had a little jumper on to keep it warm.

The staff in the Cat Café were lovely, all so friendly and welcoming, and happy to take photos. The café is gorgeous too, it’s on three floors, so you can move around during your visit, and each floor has a coffee machine and a fridge. The cats do their own thing, (as cats do) and you aren’t allowed to pick them up, but you can stroke them and play with them.

I didn’t stay for the full hour because I was conscious of my flight. I had plenty of time though, including enough time for a visit to Greggs (a must if you are in the UK), and guess what? My bloody card got blocked again because I used it in Greggs! Another phone call having to explain that I was away. This time I was told that I need to tell the bank whenever I go away, I wouldn’t mind but it was the UK – not some far flung exotic place!

Anyway, all was good again. I got held up in security in Liverpool airport, along with about twenty other people, so leave plenty of time if you are travelling from there. I was waiting for around half an hour to have my bag checked. My toothpaste flagged the system.

The flight was on time and got me home hours before the storm started. I have to say I had an absolute ball, it felt like I’d had a proper holiday, and I loved almost every minute of it (except the bank issue). I’d really recommend a visit to Manchester, or any short trip from Ireland West, we’re so lucky to have such a great facility in our area.

This isn’t a sponsored post – just in case anyone thinks it is. I paid for everything I did.