Visited Bramall Hall on a trip to Manchester and loved it. We took a picnic and sat in the grounds…read moreto eat, then took a tour of the house. Beautiful old fire places and artefacts. Really helpful staff to answer questions. Signs and video screens around to read or not read as you choose. The gardens were spectacular and we bought duck food to feed the ducks and geese. Parking was a problem - the "large car park" was not large an probably had 30 spaces. This with another smaller car park was not enough. We did a trip with a multisite pass for Bramall Hall, Stockport Hat Works and the Air Raid Shelters in Stockport - highly recommend this day out!

A large park / small estate with an impressive timber-framed hall, ponds, playparks, Bramall Hall…read morewas once the seat of the Davenport family and is now owned by the local council. It is a great place to take visitors and children alike; the hall itself is very impressive.

Towering 160m above both what was once the old-money village of Alderly Edge (now a mecca for…read morePremiership footballers and Wags) and the Cheshire Plain in general, the edge has some of the best views of anywhere in the area thanks to the dramatic edge - a steep cliff-like drop. The edge has historic associations with, somewhat incongruously, mining and wizardry, but these days it's a great place to go for a walk with either the kids, the dog, visitors or even a solitary stroll. There are car parks at both the foot of the edge and the top (the latter is the main one) giving the option of a quick trip to the edge itself and back or a longer, more demanding up-and-down walk.

If you have any interest at all in the history of early industry and its impact on society as a…read morewhole, this is a must-see. The learning opportunity is tremendous in scope. The displays are fabulous and the chance to see working vintage machinery, as well as live demonstrations of various pieces of equipment, provides a unique experience. The £12 price of admission includes a guided tour of the Apprentice House and a self-guided walk through the Mill. You also can wander the grounds independent of admission and these are impressive themselves. Touring the Apprentice House is definitely worthwhile. The guides are excellent and provide multiple tidbits of captivating information. Walking through the Mill is equally fascinating. The quality of the restoration of the facility is impressive and provides a great atmosphere in which to enjoy the tour. The real highlight, however, is the display of working machinery. The Mill was skillfully restored to its mid-1800s condition and the live exhibitions of working equipment give a real sense of how the factory must have operated. Overall, this is without question a worthwhile place to visit if you have any interest in 19th century history, particularly the impact of industrialization on English life. The staff are wonderfully helpful and interactive. It is a great choice for a day out as there are many enjoyable dimensions to the visit. It is a don't-miss attraction if you are in the area.

There's nothing more I love than a Sunday walk in an atmospheric, cold and misty National Trust…read morepark. There's nothing quite like getting the blood pumping by walking through the muddy trails, enjoying the soothing sound of the rivers and taking a break from the city. With this in mind, we went to the Quarry Bank Mill which is situated just outside Wilmslow and close to Alderley Edge (just in case you're after potential lunch options after walking). Being an old cotton mill from the 1830's, it's incredibly striking upon arrival and it's amazingly well set in woodland of the highest order. We actually didn't make it into the house as we really just wanted to stretch our legs and get a bit of fresh air but we did go on one of the trails which took maybe half an hour of moderate walking, while we also had the option to go on a much longer harder walk but thought we'd leave that for another day. It was £4.50 to park the car and this gives you full access to all of the grounds. There's 2 cafes on site which serve everything from main meals to cakes, snacks and of course tea and coffee. This place probably isn't one for hardcore walkers but it is a nice little option to nip to for a couple of hours if you've been stuck inside for a while or want to see lots of nice greenery.

The Alan Turing Building is the location where the School of Mathematics of The University of…read moreManchester is based; it also houses the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. As everyone can imagine, it's named after the famous British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing. It's quite a new building, completed only a few years ago, in 2007. Many facilities are provided: spacious and well-lit lecture theatres, a cafe on the ground floor, a small library, computer rooms and even showers. The bridge across the atrium is the common room for mathematics academics and graduate students, where morning coffee is served.

The Alan Turing is the place where I spend most of my mathematical life. It's a great building!!…read moreThe worst thing about the building is that some of the offices (including mine) have no windows. However it's not hard to pop out into the main foyer, which with a glass roof certainly does not lack for natural light. There are plenty of top quality teaching rooms with particularly nice blackboards. My favorite thing about the ATB is the atrium bridge area. It a place where staff and postgrads can relax, chat and get away from maths (although you may struggle to avoid mathematical conversation). It location makes in easy to see from the upper level so you can quickly check who's about from your office (and then decided if you want to sit with them)

Review 500! Wowzers…read more I'm chuffed that it's this local landmark, as we walked up to Peel Monument on what was probably the loveliest, sunniest first day of Spring that I can remember. Occupying a prominent position on Holcome Hill, you can see the monument from miles around and it serves as a beacon for walkers or those of us that just enjoying getting up to it "because it's there". It's a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, born in Bury, who twice served as Prime Minister and is regarded as the father of the modern British police. On a clear day, which we were lucky coincided with our visit, you can look out across the Greater Manchester landscape to the towns, villages and moorlands beyond. Sit down on the grass and take it all in. There are public footpaths leading up to it from Ramsbottom; we didn't need a map as you could see it above you most of the time. Alternatively, there are lanes you can park on further up the hill as it's a bit of a climb, but definitely worth visiting.

Anyone who visits Northern Quarter, or walks past Affleck's Palace or down Tib Street, will be…read moreamused by this creation. How would one describe it? To paraphrase the famous surrealist line, it is beautiful like a fortuitous encounter of a caterpillar and a saxophone within the remains of a red brick warehouse. As if this was not enough, there is a Freudian twist to it in the form of something that suggests the sculpture is of hermaphrodite nature, in that it has something female and male to it at the same time. Considering the status of Northern Quarter as the place for all things peculiar, the composition is a perfect fit.

A trip back in time that is attempted to be restored. Next time I go should try and do some…read moreswimming.

A real architectural gem, this Grade II* listed Edwardian swimming pool and Turkish Baths has…read moreserious kerb appeal, though to be honest it's not in the greatest of surroundings - demolition and urbanisation over the years has seen to that. The repair and restoration of the building, inside and out, is still a work in progress but there are lots of stunning original features throughout, not to mention its layout of corridors and random doorways means you uncover its character bit-by-bit. To aid the on-going fund raising, the Baths have regular events held within the walls - one of the biggest in recent years is Indy Man Beer Con (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/indy-man-beer-con-manchester) which utilises much of the space brilliantly (where else can you sup a large range of beers whilst sat in large, empty swimming pools?). For the first time this year I also went to The Vintage Home Show which saw the building crammed full of retro furniture, home ware and clothing. They regularly hold 'Getting to Know VB' tours and participate in heritage open days, so check out their website for upcoming events, it's a beautiful place and needs every penny to bring it back to its full splendour.

The fact that the Mancunian powers-that-be woke up one day and decided to commemorate Vimto…read more(arguably the king of all 'mixed fruit' cordials) with its very own monument fills me with boundless joy. So much so, I've even got a photograph of myself doing a thumbs up by this statue. Seriously, the only way this monument could be any better is if it actually dispensed Vimto (Hot Vimto for the Winter months, Fizzy Vimto for the Summer months). If the person with the ability to make this happen is reading this, come on then, hop to it!

As an alternative to beer, the 'temperance drink' under the odd name of Vimto was first mixed by…read moreJohn Nichols in Granby Row in 1908. The sculpture by Kerry Morrison (1992) is now popular with students, children, and photographers.

On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

Went here for a gala dinner to celebrate the launch of Cathay Pacific's flights from Manchester to…read moreHong Kong. The venue is stunning for functions. At the entrance the stairs were lit up with hundreds of candles and my eyes were instantly drawn up to the ceiling. We all gathered outside the main room for drinks and canapés then we were ushered in to take our seats at very beautifully decorated tables. I had never been inside the town hall before but I know you can take a tour of the building and I'd heard great things. It's really beautiful inside and it looked fab lit up in coloured lights. The food was the town hall's own catering and it was superb.The chef cooked up a fusion of Asian and British cuisine. Starter was steamed fillet of bream, rice and seaweed crackers, crab salad edame, miso and hazelnut. Main was coal roasted sirloin of kings valley beef, roasted broccoli and sesame emulsion, lightly picked mouli, fermented bean reduction, shin dumpling & aromatic mini fondants. Dessert was coconut milk pannacotta, mancha green tea sponge, papaya & lychee.

Town Hall, Albert Square in city centre has been renovated over the years but it still boasts its…read moreglorious 1800s Victorian architecture with stellar beauty. Many events are held here from weddings, concerts, special events, holiday markets, and more. It's easy to see why. It makes for a beautiful backdrop for any occasion. I do like stopping by when I'm in Man to take in anything that may have changed and its infinite gothic presence.