Manchester

Manchester is 30 mi/50 km east of Liverpool. New construction and redevelopment is the name of the game now: The main attraction is the the new Lowry Centre, home to galleries and eateries. Another is the futuristic building on the banks of the ship canal that houses the Imperial War Museum North. For architecture buffs, the city's Victorian buildings are unrivaled. Other sights to see include the Museum of Science and Industry, the Manchester Art Gallery, the Whitworth Art Gallery and the John Rylands Library. Dont miss shopping especially along King Street, and perhaps the best theater outside London. The Manchester Urbis, a glass-clad museum filled with interactive displays that show what it's like to live in various cities around the world.