Plan your trip to Manchester , United Kingdom

Manchester is a city of busy bees—indeed, artwork mosaics of the industrious insect decorate the floor of Manchester’s Town Hall to signify Manchester’s productive history. A city born out of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century, “Cottonopolis” was a leader in textile manufacturing, as well as a center for science and technology. It remains one of Europe’s largest financial markets. The city is located in northwestern England on the bank of the River Irwell, and is bisected and bordered by several other major rivers; Manchester’s water sources were key to the city’s early development.

Next to its fame for enterprise, its popular 1980s music scene, and a booming nightlife industry, Manchester is a name near and dear to soccer fans across the globe. Two soccer clubs reside in the city: Manchester City, and one of the most famous—and arguably one of the best clubs in the world—Manchester United, whose Old Trafford field has a capacity of 76,000.