Consisting of a bustling city surrounded by several large satellite towns, Greater Manchester is the UK’s second most populous urban area after London. Naturally, this metropolis offers a host of interesting locations when it comes to potential date activities. So whether you have been going steady for some time, or have made an instant connection with someone you met via QuickFlirt, here are six of the best activities for your visit to MCR.
Romantic strolls
Manchester may be associated with much hustling and bustling, but there are plenty of locations where you can stretch your legs and enjoy the great outdoors, quickly becoming enveloped in the tranquility of nature. Covering 600-acres, Heaton Park is the largest public park in the whole of the northwest. There are romantic walkways, cafes, a boating lake, bowling greens, a golf course and you can try your hand at horse riding.
Soak up the city’s culture
Manchester is synonymous with culture. This is the city that has spawned so many influential bands, from Joy Division to New Order, The Smiths to the Stone Roses. It also boasts many art galleries, including the Manchester Art Gallery, renowned for its displays of masterpieces by 19th-century British artists, notably the Pre-Raphaelites. Take in the beautiful artwork, then share a snack in the museum cafeteria while you discuss your next romantic destination.
Unwind with a boozy brunch
When you feel like taking your partner for some refreshments with attitude, head over to Harvey Nichols for a delicious eggs benedict with champagne. There are numerous other locations offering fine Manchester brunches, such as Black Dog NQ, where you can sample fluffy pancakes and bacon with mimosas, or there’s Gaucho’s Electro Brunch, serving mouth-melting steak and eggs, washed down with Bloody Mary cocktails.
Cruising along the canal
Back in the days of the city’s industrial past, a 35-mile long Manchester Ship Canal was excavated through Lancashire’s countryside to connect Manchester with that other great northern city, Liverpool, lying on the coast. Today you can book trips along this scenic waterway on the Mersey Ferry. Your journey will take you through locks and beneath bridges which have hardly changed since the canal’s construction 100 years ago.
Chilled times
What better way to stoke a romantic mood than to spend a few hours being pampered in relaxing surroundings? At the Spa at the Midland, you’ll be cordially invited to enjoy the facilities with your partner. There is a heated relaxation pool, with an elegant swan neck fountain. When the time comes for some serious spa treatment, you can unwind in the salt infusion aromatherapy bath, while the hanging pods will accommodate two people. After experiencing these delights, you will be in the perfect frame of mind for moving on to a bar or restaurant.
Cocktails with a stunning view
When you take a look at this fine city’s modern skyline, your eye will inevitably be drawn to the Beetham Tower, Manchester’s highest building. At 171 meters tall and containing 48 floors, this structure offers amazing views across northwest England. The good news for romantic couples is that it contains a cocktail bar on its 23rd floor.
You and your partner can enter a lift which will transport you up to the aptly-named Cloud 23. Here you can take advantage of the plush and order a selection of mouth-watering cocktails from the menu. As you savor your drink, you can gaze out towards the distant Pennines – the hills separating Manchester and England’s northwest from Yorkshire and the northeast, or take in the cityscape’s myriad twinkling lights after sundown.
