by Dyana Hepburn

Created on: May 29, 2011   Last Updated: May 31, 2011

Manchester, UK in the summer offers a wide variety of entertainment and activities during the months of June, July and August.  The weather is at its warmest then ranging from a cool 57.2 F in the evening to a warm 85 F in the day, with a rare 95 F (14 - 30 C).  But when you pack for a stay in Manchester, always be prepared for an occasional rainy day and pack an umbrella and raincoat, along with a mixture of warm and light weight clothes.  Layered clothing is suggested as the temperature varies with the rain and sometimes breezy though sunny days.

Do you prefer culture?  Then you might like to begin by visiting the Victorian Gothic John Rylands Library, built in his memory in1890 by the widow of Manchester's first multimillionaire. The interior is built in the style of a medieval cathedral and home to an early Chaucer text as well as the oldest known partial page from the Bible.  Next on your list could be the Whitworth Art Gallery, and the Royal Northern College of Music.

The Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens is a green space with the Mersey River flowing on one side and the Stenner Woods on the other.  It is also a bird and wildlife sanctuary which holds health walks to encourage healthy enjoyment of the outdoors and appreciation of nature.  To the north of Manchester lies the Irk River and surrounding woodlands for exploring.  The Council of Manchester is engaged in redeveloping the area, sponsoring tree planting and horticultural projects involving school children in an attempt to restore the countryside to its previous beauty.

The warmer weather of summer beckons to outdoor concerts and activities.  Manchester hosts festivals and gatherings with bands in the parks.  For the third year in a row Manchester is hosting the Manchester International Festival with a lineup including Bjork Biophilia and Snoop Dogg and pop culture artists.  Opera and ballet performances are also part of the show, a multimedia mixture of pop and classic culture.

The visitor has a wide choice of accommodations, at reasonable prices, hostels for backpackers, rooms with private bath, and restaurants with tasty to gourmet food to satisfy the appetite.  Abode restaurant offers a three course meal for $18,  Gaucho, a South American restaurant with an extensive wine list and, if you crave a spicy meal, there is the Chilli Sichuan restaurant.

 Manchester is the regional capital in the heartland of northwest England, and is easily accessible by car or bus from the seaports or London airports.  Once an industrial center it is transforming itself into a financial, retail and commercial center.  Modern, yet with historic architecture, a city but surrounded by green countryside, Manchester is a nice choice for a summer visit to England.

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