Moving to Manchester was without a doubt the biggest move I’ve ever done. Completely new city, with new places to explore. Even though I found this exciting, it was also daunting so I thought I’d share some of my favourite places and how discovering them has helped me find home away from home in Manchester.
Parklife
I’m used to walking in urban areas so walking around Fallowfield made for an easy transition – as did the parks. Platt Fields Park is a well-used student park, with a pond (!), which was exciting when I first went there. Birchfields Park is also particularly gorgeous in the sun. Didsbury Park has a few nice benches where you can sit and, if you’re feeling romantic, ‘watch the world pass by’. I guess the takeaway is, you can always find your ‘home away from home’ – even if you are just sat on a bench.
Food glorious food!
I’m a massive foodie, so I’ve loved trying to explore new food places in Manchester. I love Mackie Mayor, which is like a food court with several different vendors and a great vibe. Madre has delicious Mexican food and has a very cool and classy interior. For cheaper (ish) options, Haus in Fallowfield has a great brunch and pizza menu, which has helped me cure more than a few hangovers. My friends and I also have made a tradition of going to 256 for burgers on Mondays, as they do a 50% off deal on mains. The Curry Mile is also worth exploring, I’ve had a few delicious takeaways from Bardez and had a great meal In Chit ‘n’ Chaat with my friends to celebrate finishing exams!
I’ve always loved food and found that it can be a great way to connect with other people. Doing this made me feel more settled at uni, as it felt like I was bringing my likes and habits from home to uni, making it feel more like home. Also, going out to eat alone, or with friends, can be a great way to try something that’s new and exciting.
For the night owls
Now, onto one of Manchester’s greatest attractions – its nightlife. In all honesty, I’ve realised that I find clubbing quite overwhelming. The loud music, heaving crowds and flashing lights (even though that is the point) often makes me feel a bit on edge.
However, as I’ve tried to explain to my parents to justify my habit, going out allows me to have fun with my friends, and just let off a bit of steam. In fact, perhaps surprisingly, I’ve ended up making more friends, particularly on my course, from going out. In a very sociable environment, where groups often mix, and people tend to be drinking, it can be easier to talk to people and make friends. So, mum and dad, clubbing is actually beneficial, and a completely justifiable mid-week pastime, thank you very much!
Something for everyone.
Overall, my advice is to think about the activities you like to do at home, both with friends, but also, more importantly, alone, and then try to do them at uni. For me, this mainly included going on walks, going out for food, or going to the cinema / shopping by myself. So, here are my random bits and bobs recommendations, to help you come up with your own.
Charity shopping in Withington, and even Didsbury is fun, and I’ve found some gems. Printworks Vue is quite a handy cinema, and the tickets aren’t too expensive. I loved the Christmas markets last year, even though £10 was a lot to ask for a Yorkshire pudding wrap. Unfortunately for me, though, I would happily part with a tenner again for that particular delicacy!
To conclude, moving to and living in a big city is exciting, but it can be difficult to know where the best places are to go, or perhaps even more importantly, the places to avoid. The only way, of course, to learn all of this is simply to explore! Try new things, new places, a new route, or even just go with someone else.
Manchester is a big, lively city with so much to offer, and there truly is enough to cater to what you want. So, give it a go!