My American friend visited Manchester for the first time - this is how I showed off the city

While I was mulling over where to take him, it occurred to me that many of you might have a similar issue when you want to show people the city - so here is a whistle stop tour of where we went on his first day here. You can check out our trip in the video at the top of the page too.

Piccadilly Gardens

Now this one might be controversial - but it’s slap-bang in the centre of the city, and its the perfect place to sit down and relax while you figure out what your plan is for the day. It can be a real sun-trap when the weather is good and you’ll often find students playing volleyball or eating their lunches around the grass.

Classic Football Shirts

Now, my friend is a massive American football fan, but hasn’t quite made the transition to liking the real football yet. Classic Football Shirts is the perfect place to take them, particularly if you want to encourage them to pick a team. You will find that shirts can be found that are cheaper elsewhere, but nowhere in the city has the same range, and fashion can be a great way to force them to pick a team.

Afflecks Palace

Afflecks is a place that we’ve covered many times before, so I won’t go too in depth here, but this bizarre bazaar perfectly represents the community of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, with a range of stores and stalls selling everything from lighters to hemp socks to ridiculous shirts. It is absolutely a must-visit.

Northern Soul Grilled Cheese

There are endless opportunities for great food in Manchester, but Northern Soul has been around for years and never disappoints. The loaded toasties can be stuffed with anything from mac & cheese to Korean fried chicken, and the inside of the restaurant has such a nice atmosphere too.

Track Brewery

Finally, after a busy day of rushing around, a pint is the perfect way to take a break and, although Track is about a 20 minute walk from the Northern Quarter, it is worth every step. It is a local brewery that really knows how to serve a good pint in a wonderful environment, and with other local breweries located very close by, its definitely worth the walk.

Watch our tour of Manchester with the first-time visitor in the video at the top of the page.