Facts about Manchester always attract people who are interested in this old city. Manchester of England is part of a large metropolitan city called Greater Manchester. Located west of the Pennine Hills, Manchester is the industrial hub of the United Kingdom. Manchester of England has been home to a powerful industrial spirit and culture aided by favorable natural resources, climate and geographical location. It is little wonder that the Manchester of England continues to provide more than half of Britain’s manufactured goods and consumable articles. In this blog, we have covered 25 the most surprising and most interesting facts about Manchester.
Facts About Manchester: Culture
1. Manchester United: one of the most famous and successful football clubs in the world
One of facts about Manchester England is that Manchester United Football Club, commonly known as Man United or simply United, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the world. Based in Manchester, England, the club was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club and later became Manchester United in 1902. With a rich history spanning over a century, United has garnered a global fanbase and a reputation for its distinctive red jerseys, legendary players, and historic rivalries.
2. Manchester has some of the biggest bands in the music industry
One of facts about manchester of UK is that Manchester is abound of artistic and creative people. Music scene is a significant component of this city’s recognizable culture and history. There are undoubtedly a lot of taverns and clubs with live performances in this area. Oasis, The Smiths, and 1975 are a few of Manchester’s most well-known bands.
3. Home to the annual World Pie Eating Championships
The World Pie Eating Championships is an annual event held in Wigan, England and is one of the best facts about Manchester of UK, where contestants compete to eat a meat and potato pie as quickly as possible without using their hands. Started in 1992, the championships have gained international attention and draw participants from around the globe. It is one of fun facts about Manchester.
4. Rolls Royce was founded at The Midland Hotel
Rolls-Royce is a renowned British luxury automobile and aerospace engineering company. Established in 1906 by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce in the Midland Hotel, Manchester of England, the company has a prestigious reputation for producing high-end vehicles characterized by their exquisite craftsmanship, luxury, and performance. It is one of interesting facts about Manchester.
5. J K Rowling thought of Harry Potter parts in Manchester
J K Rowling spent formative years living and studying in Manchester of UK during her early adulthood. It may interest all the Potterheads out there that J K Rowling came up with the idea for Harry Potter on a train from Manchester to London. Additionally, she also invented the game of Quidditch in Manchester. It is one of funny facts about Manchester.
6. Manchester has the largest city centre shopping area - Manchester Arndale
Manchester Arndale, originally opened in 1975, is one of the largest shopping centers in Manchester of England, and a prominent retail destination in the city. Located in the heart of Manchester’s bustling city center, the Arndale offers a wide array of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options spread across its expansive indoor complex. It is one of Manchester visitor attractions.
7. “Peaky Blinders”was filmed in Manchester
Peaky Blinders is a British television series that follows the Shelby crime family in Birmingham, England, during the aftermath of World War I. While the show is meant to be set in Birmingham, a lot of scenes of the series were filmed in Manchester of UK which has an industrial background and serves as the perfect spot for filming. It is one of representative Manchester England images.
8. Manchester is where the atom was first split
The first time the atom was split happened at Manchester University by Ernest Rutherford. He was a teacher at the university and also the winner of a Nobel Prize in the field of Chemistry back in 1908. That is what is Manchester famous for and one of interesting facts about Manchester UK.
9. UK’s first public library opened in Manchester
Chetham’s Library was first opened in Manchester of England in 1653. The library is one of the oldest public libraries in the English-speaking world and has a collection of over 100,000 books. It is one of facts about Manchester City and what is Manchester known for.
10. Manchester started the Industrial Revolution
The opening of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761 led to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester. Due to this, the city played an important role in the manufacturing of cotton and textile industries. It is one of fun facts about Manchester.
11. The Commonwealth Games in 2002 were held in Manchester
Before the 2012 Olympics took place in London, the Commonwealth Games was the biggest multi-sports the UK ever hosted. Thanks to this event, the city saw loads of investments and regeneration, providing people with jobs and a boost to the economy as well. The City of Manchester Stadium was built for the Commonwealth Games, in which England won a total of 165 medals. That is also one of interesting facts about Manchester.
Facts About Manchester: History
12. Workers Bees are symbolic of Manchester
Other facts about Manchester England also attract people. During the industrial revolution, the worker bee gained notoriety in Manchester as a symbol of the perseverance of those employed in the city’s bustling industries and cotton mills. The bee became especially prominent as a symbol of strength and anti-terrorism after the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017.
13. The Suffragette Movement started in Manchester
Facts about Manchester of England are mostly about culture and movements. The Suffragette Movement was a pivotal social and political campaign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in manchester of England, the United Kingdom. It aimed to secure voting rights for women and promote gender equality. To provide context, the Suffragettes were part of the ‘Votes for Women’ campaign that had long fought for the right of women to vote in the UK. Subsequently, Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903, in manchester of England.
14. No statue of a woman except Queen Victoria until 2019
Shockingly, the only statue of a woman in city of Manchester England was of Queen Victoria. That changed when Manchester built a statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the Suffragette Movement. It is one of interesting facts about Manchester England.
15. The vegetarian movement was founded in Manchester
The first vegetarian movement was founded in 1847 by William Cowherd in city of Manchester England, which advocated for abstaining from the consumption of meat and other animal products, based on ethical, environmental, and health considerations. The vegetarian movement encouraged followers to follow a meat-free diet and lifestyle. Tat is one of facts about Manchester City which has an international influence.
16. Over 200 languages are spoken in Manchester
With a population of 510,000+ people, Manchester of UK is considered to be one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. There are over 200 languages spoken in Manchester every day. The Curry Mile is famous for its delicious Indian food, as well as a variety of other cuisines such as Lebanese, Arabic, Turkish and Persian. Half the adult population in Manchester are believed to be multilingual. Four out of every 10 young people in the city speak at least one language. It is Manchester points of interest and what is manchester known for.
Facts About Manchester: Life
17. Largest factory of Kellog’s’ is in Manchester
Kellogg’s largest headquarters is in Trafford, Greater Manchester, where it also has its main UK headquarters. This Kellog’s plant was first founded in 1938 and has been producing most of the cereals that are consumed across the world. That is one of fun facts about Manchester.
18. Manchester University boasts 25 Noble Laureates
One of interesting facts about Manchester of UK is that The University of Manchester is the 3rd best university in the UK after Oxford and Cambridge. Manchester University has 25 Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, staff and students. The list goes from James Chadwick to Ernest Rutherford to Joseph John Thomson.
19. Textile Departments in Australia are known as Manchester Departments
If you visit Australia and are shopping for textiles such as bed linens or similar things, you will be sent to the store’s “Manchester department”. This is because the textile would reach Australia by ship, and all of the containers and crates would have “Manchester” inscribed on them. As a result, the word Manchester has become synonymous with produced cotton. It is one of interesting facts in the UK and what is manchester famous for.
20. It is the home to one of the earliest LGBT-friendly spots.
One of the most funny facts about Manchester of England is that The New Union Pub is located in Manchester’s Gay Village district on Canal Street. This has been known to hold drag shows as early as Second World War. Until today, the manchester of UK is one of the safest and most welcoming places for LGBT people.
21. Manchester Overlook the Canal Mania
Canal Mania was the period of intense canal building in England and Wales between the 1790s and 1810s, and the speculative frenzy that ensued in the early 1790s within Manchester of England. That is Manchester history and one of facts about Manchester of England that attracts people.
22. First passenger railway was built in Manchester
Another interesting fact about Manchester of UK is that The Duke of Wellington opened the world’s first passenger railway in 1830. The success of this Manchester to Liverpool railway started the railway revolution. This globally significant railway site is now the home of the Science and Industry Museum.
23. Coronation Street was made in Manchester
Manchester is home to the world’s longest running TV soap opera – Coronation Street. Starting on December 9th 1960, it has been on screens every week, ever since.
24. Manchester Town Hall is a famous building
Manchester Town Hall is a stunning Victorian Gothic building. The tower clock is known as the “Big Ben of the North”.
25. Wilmslow Road has numberous foreign restaurants
Manchester’s Wilmslow Road in the Rusholme area is known as the “Curry Mile” because it’s home to numerous Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern restaurants.
List of 25 Facts About Manchester
Manchester United: one of the most famous and successful football clubs in the world
Manchester has some of the biggest bands in the music industry
Home to the annual World Pie Eating Championships
Rolls Royce was founded at The Midland Hotel
J K Rowling and Harry Potter
- Manchester has the largest city centre shopping area – Manchester Arndale
“Peaky Blinders”was filmed in Manchester
Manchester is where the atom was first split
UK’s first public library opened in Manchester
- Manchester started the Industrial Revolution
The Commonwealth Games in 2002 were held in Manchester
Workers Bees are symbolic of Manchester
The Suffragette Movement started in Manchester
No statue of a woman except Queen Victoria until 2019
The vegetarian movement was founded in Manchester
- Over 200 languages are spoken in Manchester
Largest factory of Kellog’s’ is in Manchester
- Manchester University boasts 25 Noble Laureates
- Textile Departments in Australia are known as Manchester Departments
It is the home to one of the earliest LGBT-friendly spots.
- Manchester Overlook the Canal Mania
- First passenger railway was built in Manchester
- Coronation Street was made in Manchester
Manchester Town Hall is a famous building
Wilmslow Road has numberous foreign restaurants
Conclusion
In summary, these are 25 interesting and surprising facts about Manchester. They are about culture, history and life in Manchester of England. Not only can you feel Manchester’s unique cultural charm, but you can also feel the pace of Manchester’s development.
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FAQ
Manchester was at the heart of the Revolution and became Britain’s leading cotton and textile manufacturer. Manchester is widely regarded as the first industrialised city in the world. The first railway line in Britain was built in Manchester in the early 19th century and the first canal in Britain in 1761.
The name was changed in 1086 by the English, who took over the settlement from the Romans. The name is derived from Old English, meaning “ceaster”, meaning “town or city of Rome”.
The worker bee symbolises Manchester’s industrious spirit and sense of community. It became a symbol of resilience during the Industrial Revolution. Today, bee motifs can be found throughout the city, representing unity and hard work.
Manchester earned the nickname “Rainy City” due to its frequent rainfall.
Manchester was right at the heart of the Revolution, becoming the UK’s leading producer of cotton and textiles. Manchester is also famous for being the first industrialised city in the world. Manchester was responsible for the country’s first ever working canal in 1761 and the world’s first ever railway line in 1830.
Parched peas (or black peas) are called black badgers or Carlin peas in other parts of Northern England. Eccles cakes aren’t really cakes in the usual sense. Instead, they are a deliciously flaky puff pastry chock full of currants and topped with a generous sprinkle of sugar. Rag pudding is a throwback to North West England’s industrial heritage. Working long hours through cold winters created a need for meals that would provide energy.
