The square was actually created for a tribute to Prince Albert (large memorial)…read more In addition to Albert's statue, there are a couple of others as well. The square is right at town hall. It's a lovely little garden of sorts with benches, room for strolling, etc. There are lots of little places to grab a drink or a bite along the area as well. To me this is a must see for tourists and locals alike. I never tire of the view.

Albert Square is a lively area in Central Manchester and the Square and surroundings are full of…read morenightlife, clubs, pubs eateries and more. During the day it is central to interesting shopping, theaters and restaurants. It was only our second visit to Manchester so we were a bit lost at times, but will be back in a week or so to have fun with one of our daughters and son in law. We went for the Christmas Market which was hyped as being as good as the better European Markets - in that regard disappointing - give me Vienna anytime! We enjoyed ourselves regardless thanks to our hotel (the Lowery) and a couple of eating experiences! Review #114 2019

I love Man's Chinatown so much. The beautiful Chinese architecture and arches are welcoming and…read moreinviting. The restaurants, markets, and shop are the very embodiment of Chinese culture and livelihood. It's an area I frequent with each visit to Manchester. Chinatown should be at the top of everyone's itinerary.

Never knew Manchester had a Chinatown but apparently it's the second biggest one outside of London…read more That being said, it encompasses only a few blocks (that we could see) but still it's fun to wander around and window shop - and have some dim sum or other more authentic dishes other than kung pao or general Tso chicken.

Call me Scrooge but when Manchester's Christmas Markets come to town, it really does make the city,…read morewhich I've always thought is one of the world's greatest, much worse as they are really poorly thought out across all locations on and off Deansgate, Kings Street, Exchange Square Piccadilly Gardens, St Ann's Square, Market Street and Albert Square, which tends to be the main and focal hub until the Town Hall's renovation. Firstly the layout is terrible - they are located on many narrow streets in and around the city which not only increases traffic (causing buses to divert), but it makes many areas of the city which previously are accessible, inaccessible to disabled people by making streets to narrow to get down with mobility equipment, to putting the stands over dropped curbs (ramps) designed to help disabled people get down without a step. It seems to be the same stalls every year, in a way it gets a little boring seeing the same brands selling the same overpriced products, even the stalls are exactly the same - prices here can cost 2-3x as much considering what you could get elsewhere in the city and the stalls I have visited I've had multiple quality issues where vendors even appeared rude and aggressive (hot food, german beer and cheese stalls especially) I really struggle to understand the popularity of the Christmas Markets and feel it is just one of those places one could look at and say "I'm going because it's in my city", rather than going because it actually offers something new and cool. I just can't help but join in with the indulgement of the floccinaucinihilipilification of the continuation of Manchester Christmas Markets in its current format which just brings strong feelings of frustration and ennui as it's just a mediocre attempt of the markets you'd see across Europe - poorly managed, poorly planned out... just poor. 1*

I was in Manchester for the weekend and lucky me, the Christmas market was open so I checked it…read moreout... I looovvveee Christmas markets! The Manchester Christmas market is everywhere and is sprinkled throughout the city centre. The main market is located in St. Albert square, town hall area. The market is pretty standard. It has many stalls that sell ornaments, winter plants, toys, and of course food! There's loads of stalls selling German sausages, carmelised nuts, sweets like chocolates, cakes, caramelised nuts, strudel, Italian biscuits, and many more. Of course a Christmas market would not be complete without the mulled wine and beer. The market was pretty crowded on Saturday, but that's no surprise cause it's the weekend. If you want to go when there's less people, come during the weekdays. The experience was dampened a bit cause it was raining and windy, but honestly, you can't not enjoy yourself in a Christmas market. The only negative thing Id say about this market is its all over the city centre and you have to walk everywhere if you want to see every stall, but truthfully you'll see the same thing no matter which part of the market you go to. If you want to have a "Chrismassy" time I'd say come here if you're in city centre. Be prepared to bring some cash cause you'll spend some money. For example, a a bratwurst cost £4.50, pretzel cost £2.50, mixed carmelised nuts cost £3.00-£3.50, mulled wine £3-5.

Exchange Square in Manchester is one of the cities coolest, more modern areas, located at the back…read moreof the Manchester Arndale, here there is the entrance to the Printworks, and even The Corn Exchange, which has also been revitalised recently, with so many more eateries being added there such as Pho and a new restaurant from Gino, the chef from This Morning. Exchange Square was one of the areas hit by the 1996 bombing of Manchester from the IRA, and since then they seem to have done a great job bringing it back to life again. There is a new metrolink station from Exchange Square, providing travel across Greater Manchester, and it is a short walk to Victoria Station, Manchester's 2nd largest station. In Exchange Square, there also is a Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, which adds a higher-end feel to the area, but still it is a nice place to shop and look around, and defiantly worth paying a visit when in Manchester, as it is really central, just being outside one of the exits to the Arndale. There also is a lot of coffee shops here with Café Nero and Starbucks all having stores, Second Cup also opened their first ever store in the UK here since expanding into the nation and now have 3 stores, including stores in London and Birmingham. The Wheel of Manchester was also located here before it was taken down as the owners were not paying their rent. There isn't much else to say about Exchange Square but it is quite a nice, cool area of Manchester which has been greatly improved and they have worked hard since the IRA bombing of Manchester in 1996 strongly affecting it.

Exchange Square is a lovely part of Manchester, and clever too. Cleverly reconstructed after the…read moreinfamous IRA bombing of 1996, this area is a perfect sun trap in Manchester. Well fitted with rows of seating and a large screen autotuned to the BBC, this area is very rarely empty. It's sad that the wheel has left this area as many people knew where they were due to the landmark and now many people (including me!) can be found wondering why we've taken it down and replaced it with a pop up bar which has missed the nicest weather Manchester has seen in a while? Something to do with the new metrolink city crossing I'm sure. I often walk through this area on my way to guide at the Cathedral but have also been known to watch the ballet here when it was beamed and screened from London. Lovely area but the 3 stars reflects some of the eateries and general lack of atmosphere in the area. Great when the beeb is screening something engaging or when the sun is out but otherwise a bit neglected by the masses.

Manchester is one of the best market towns in the country. If it isn't the weekly farmer's markets…read moreor the Sunday carboot and flea markets, it's the specialist markets that take place around the calendar. Apart from the now very famous Christmas market, my next favourite annual event has to be the Fine Food Market, usually held between September and October every year in St Ann's Square. This is one event that no epicurean in their right mind would miss. Bringing together some of the biggest talents and producers in the North, expect to be fed by the best restaurants in town and offered some of the best home grown produce in the country. According to the government website, 'speciality meats, smoked foods (fish, cheese, meats and poultry) cheeses, chutneys, pickles, black puddings, ice cream, specialist ales and sloe gin' are just a very few items on sale here.

If you're a fan of hog roasts, paella, wood-fired pizza and vintage-style tea shops, head to the…read moreManchester Markets on St Anne's Square before it disappears again. A mooch around the market is the perfect way to liven up an otherwise dull day at the office (or living room, if you work from home, like me), so as soon as the clock strikes 1pm, get yourself there. You're going to spend, on average, about a fiver for takeaway food from one of the stalls but portions are good - especially at the Hog Roast stall, where they'll ram your baguette so full of pork and apple sauce you won't know where to start. As well as food, you'll find a number of stalls selling art and hand-crafted decor for the home, plus vintage furniture and clothing in the market's main indoor area; The Orangery, where you can also see/hear live music at certain times throughout the day (check the signage outside for more details). I'm really impressed with this little market. It's brought a much-needed injection of 'quaint' to the city centre. I wish it was here all the time!

This year i find the markets really quiet. I have walked past a few time since they have been open…read moreand there normally packed out but you could easily see what the stalls had to offer. On this occasion we stopped for a hot chocolate. I love the little log cabin in st annes square near French connection. They do a variety of flavoured hot chocolate. I love the way you pick you chocolate stick stirrer then they fill the cup with hot milk then add whipped cream. I chose the mint one and my friends daughter chose cinnamon. I have to say hers was the best. We easily found a seat inside. It felt very cosy and very christmasy

As people grow up, they find themselves becoming less enthusiastic about Christmas. I'm in my…read moretwenties, and I do have to try hard now each year to get that 'festive feeling' which used to come to me so naturally. The 'festive feeling' I describe is something that used to hit me, a tingly and comforting little rush, round about November/December time during my childhood and teens, where the ground frost would speckle the pavements like icing sugar and the grass would grow crunchy. I did live in the countryside though, and we got proper Christmas weather. I find Manchester doesn't get half as much of a 'Christmassy' climate. So, if you're jaded like me, the best way to capture that little festive rush is to head on down to the Christmas Markets in St Ann's Square as well as various other locations. Now that Manchester has its illuminated twinklies and sparklies all in place, everything feels very seasonal. And the markets are something to behold. I was lucky enough to go on an evening when the air was cold and crisp (I can't think of anything more depressing than gluhwein in the rain... then again, it might make one feel better about said rain), it was a Friday too which meant it was packed to the rafters. I've never seen such an eclectic array of people. Scenester teens, suited and booted office workers, those dressed up for a night out, cosy middle-aged folk in cagoules and of course social media so-and-sos like me in Converse/Uggs and denim alongside countless students and young city dwellers. I decided to immerse ourselves in the experience. A bag of roast chestnuts at St Ann's Square set me back £2.50 as I looked at hand-carved Nutcrackers and cute teddies, and on we trundled to eat the delicious morsels on a bench outside Mr Thomas' Chop House. But food-wise there's plenty on offer of a more substantial nature, such as cookies, waffles, even steak rolls, hog roasts and sausages. St Ann's Square focuses a lot more on crafts and gifts, and there's much to be had in terms of handmade handbags and scarves as well as jewellery, even homeware such as cushions and condiment holders. Doubtless you'll find that unique gift here for the ever irritating person-who-has-everything. With Christmassy music from a nearby busking brass band floating through the air, I have to say, even this cynical twenty-something felt that age-old festive rush.

This Christmas will be my first proper one in the UK for over eight years, so you can imagine how…read moregiddy I was when the Christmas markets opened last Friday! You just don't get this sort of thing in Spain / Gibraltar. In fact, you're lucky if you see a Christmas tree over there - muy deprimente (very depressing). As soon as I'd wrapped up work for the week, I practically ran to St Anne's Square to see what festive European wonders awaited me. I was greeted by drool-inducing scents of German bratwurst and schnitzel cooked over hot coals and a hog roast, followed by sugary-sweet wafts of donuts and foreign confectionery passing gently through the air. Mmmmm... The bar areas were packed full of shoppers and the just-finished-work crowd, enjoying German wheat beers, egg-nog and mulled wine and although I longed to join them, I decided to save myself for the day after, when hopefully it wouldn't be quite as busy. It was even busier the next day. But the great thing about living in town is I have all this wonderful food, drink and gift shopping on my doorstep and can take advantage of it whenever I want. Schön!

Manchester Christmas markets are (If you're a Mancunian) a fairly recent phenomenon. As a teenager…read moreI remember coming to the very first one and revelling in the atmosphere that's become its trademark over the years. Even the scroogiest of Christmas scrooges would be hard pressed to deny the 'tis the season to be jolly' factor associated with the ever expanding markets. Granted there's a large range of stalls selling weird and wonderful things that you would never buy but that's precisely its charm. Stall owners come from all over Europe and there's some sensational authentic German/French/Spanish et al foodie treats to be had. The price range at the market reflects this fact and over the years they've got fairly steep. So don't be deluded into thinking they'll be street food prices on offer. Keep an eye out for updates and pictures to this review of arguably the best Christmas markets in the UK.

Went to the Manchester Christmas market is on the first day of them opening. The weather wasn't…read moreall that good but it's in Manchester! The market is spread out over the city. There are 10 different areas. In St Annes Square, there are some local people selling their products as well as French and German stall holders all selling their products. If you are in Manchester, this is the place to go. You can go to the Bailey where there is a ice skating rink. I will be going to the Christmas markets a few more times and you will see my cheek-ins. Love this time of the year

This massive glass building that houses a shopping mall sits in the middle of city centre just a…read morestone's throw from Manchester Victoria. It's modern, clean, and easy to navigate even with large crowds. They've got all the typical mall shops like NEXT, Sephora, etc. I've only been here one other time and that was a couple of years ago. My main purpose for visiting was to see an art installation that will only be on display until October. It's called MCR Made by Stanley Chow. The art is inflatable likenesses of Manchester icons such as the Gallagher brothers, Aitch, Ellen Wilkinson, Maxine Peake, Alan Turing, and others for a total of 13 figures. I was on the visit purely for the Gallagher boys. Fantastic pieces of work. In addition, while I was there, a Pride event was going on. It was great getting to watch the amazing performers. All-in-all this is a pretty decent mall for all your needs and wants.

Over priced £1 for pva glue what on earth caused such money…read moregreed not to mention is maze like structure and the so called reusable bags that I'm sure are recycled condoms