Manchester

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Arts & Leisure

Manchester is emerging from a decade's worth of cultural construction. The magnificent Bridgewater Hall was among the first of the new-builds, followed by Salford's Lowry centre and the museum of urban culture, Urbis

Other already-standing centres have meanwhile been undergoing renovation - Manchester Art Gallery recently benefitted from a £35million spit-and-polish - while the increasing numbers of luxury hotels and spas are an indication of the city's renewed fortunes. But building and rebuilding is only half the story. Alongside the shiny new arts complexes, Manchester has shored up its cultural confidence, and nowhere is this more evident than in the city's burgeoning festivals scene. Autumn has now become the unofficial start of the festival season, although there are now so many events that activity is pretty much year-round. Leading the pack is the new and ambitious Manchester International Festival, followed up by food and drink, comedy and literature festivals. Music festivals now abound in Manchester, with Dpercussion, In The City and Futuresonic all regular fixtures.

Venues have also upped the ante, with many now offering so much under one roof that it's easy to lose whole days sampling their individual cultural wares. Add-ons include the Royal Exchange's book and craft shops and Cornerhouse's café-bar (one of the best coffee spots in the city for quality beverages and atmosphere).

But it's the unmistakable infusion of Mancunian flavour that makes downtime here so good. Whether it's the laid-back vibe of the King's Arms, with its theatre space, Studio Salford, upstairs, or the edginess of Contact Theatre, you'll never forget where you are. The industrial heritage settings - the neo-classical grandeur of the Portico, the glass-roofed atrium of the Craft & Design Centre - are unique. If it sometimes feels you can't move for exposed brick and restored ironwork, that's no bad thing, for while the city may have its feet firmly planted in historical soil, its face is definitely turned to a bright future.

Sport & leisure
This city of sporting prowess seamlessly produces world-class athletes and puts on international events. The two football clubs, City and United, ignite passionate debate wherever you go, and the city boasts four rugby league clubs, one of rugby union's top teams (Sale Sharks, currently Champions of England) and Lancashire Cricket Club, based at Old Trafford.

But there's also room for more specialist events. Manchester Velodrome houses a 3,500-seater track for what might be considered a minority sport (track cycling) – and yet the venue's winter season events regularly pull in 3,000 punters. The World Track Cycling Championships to be held here in Easter 2008 are sure to sell out – and these are not the only international championships the city is hosting in the near future. Look out for the Paralympic World Cup, Salford Triathlon World Cup and the EHF European Hockey Championships in 2007.

Another draw for Manchester is the ease with which visitors can indulge in healthy pursuits. The ten-year-old Buddhist Centre offers drop-in meditation and yoga classes, and has recently added pain management classes and Alexander Technique sessions to its list of services. And if trekking through the urban landscape leaves you yearning for space and fresh air, then head out to Heaton Hall. This 18th-century house, with its impressive grounds, is coming towards the end of a decade-long restoration project.

Film
There’s great enthusiasm for film in this city, with independent festivals including Kino's biennial Manchester International Film Festival and the Family Friendly Film Festival (set up in 2006). The only one of its kind in the UK, the latter is a rare chance to expand the young uns' experience of film through workshops, interesting venues and a film choice that hits higher than the usual kiddies cartoon fare.

When it comes to venues, Cornerhouse is king. Its refurbished screens show the widest selection of arthouse, independent and foreign language films in town, while visits from international directors add an extra dimension for cinephiles. Regular festivals – Spanish & Latin American, Exposures – are a chance to get under the skin of cinematic developments.

Also check out the Manchester International Festival. The 2007 commissions include a new film by British film director Greg Hall called Kapital, which was shot on the streets of Manchester.

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