Activities in Liverpool

Hello Mr D'Arcy! Visit the Best Country Homes in Manchester (Including That Famous Fountain!)

Manchester may be best known for its mills and industry (or shops and football, depending on your persuasion), but it is also remarkably rich in historic houses the most famous probably being Lyme Park. Here are three of our favourites – all within striking distance of Manchester city centre.Dunham MasseyFor 300 years the family home of the aristocratic Grey family (distantly related to that Lady Jane Grey), Dunham Massey is far more than a grand country house. While its interiors meticulously document the sometimes tumultuous lives of the various Earls of Stamford who once called it home – the last earl gave the house to the National Trust in 1976 – Dunham is as well known for its formal gardens, expansive parkland (whose herd of fallow deer can be traced back to Norman times) and winter gardens. These latter gardens feature over 25,000 early flowering bulbs - snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils – whose effusive blooms are a cheery sight during those months when all else is bare. Recent developments include a shiny new visitor centre while the house, meanwhile, has been transformed into the Stamford Hospital. This is a recreation of the military hospital Dunham became during WWI and is a humbling reminder, timed to commemorate its 100th anniversary, of just how much the “war to end all wars” affected lives both ordinary and aristocratic. Free entry to parkland; charges apply to house and gardens (free for National Trust members).Tatton ParkOne thing is for sure: you’ll not get bored at Tatton Park. Noble country house? Check. Formal gardens? Uh-huh. 1,000-acre deer park? Roger that. Petting farm, adventure playground, lakes, restaurant and shop? Tatton’s got the lot. Jointly owned by the local council and the National Trust, this place is nothing if not extensive, and it’s one of Cheshire’s most popular attractions as a result. On top of all that, Tatton also hosts some of the biggest flower shows, vintage car rallies and food fairs in the region – which makes it worth checking ahead before a visit, lest you get snarled up in the inevitable hobbyist traffic. Despite the seasonal crowds, though, Tatton’s size makes it easy to find a quiet corner - its Japanese garden or vast deer park offering a slice of tranquility that even the occasional overhead roar of planes coming in to land at nearby Manchester Airport do little to disrupt. Free entry to deer park (charges for cars, including NT members); charges apply to gardens (free for National Trust members). Lyme ParkJane Austen fans: this one is for you. The (in parts) Elizabethan house and formal gardens that form the centerpiece of this National Trust estate played a starring role in the BBC’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in 1995. It was this stately old dame that stood in for Pemberley, while its tranquil lake is the spot where Colin Firth set many a female heart a-fluttering (courtesy of a clandestine swim and resulting wet, white shirt). But the appeal of Lyme goes far beyond the period drama. Though the house had its heyday during the Edwardian period, its contents include 600 years’ worth of clocks, books and tapestries, most of which belong to a single family, the Leghs. Its formal gardens, meanwhile, feature neat rose and perennially planted beds, an exotic plant-friendly orangery and a “ravine garden”. But that’s not all. Those with small people in their lives will appreciate the epic Crows Wood adventure playground (close to the Timber Yard café; be warned - both get overrun at weekends and holidays), while those who wish to stretch their legs can amble over 1,300 acres of deer-grazed parkland. Free entry to parkland; charges apply to house and gardens (free for National Trust members).Image Credit: Mike Bean, Flickr , Image Credit, Janet Roberts, Flickr, Cover Image Credit: Duncan Hull, FlickrAgree with list? What are your top Manchester spots? Join the conversation @Groupon_UK #grouponguide #manchester____Check out all our deals for things to do in Manchester.

Manchester Attractions: 3 Great Views You Need to See

How long have you lived in the city without stopping to appreciate its best views? Step right this way, for our top three favourite views of the rainy city.Manchester has its share of sights and attractions, those places to which tourists inevitably beat a well-worn path. A medieval cathedral, the Marmite-like charms of Beetham Tower, or the football stadia of United or City: these are the sorts of places that the guidebooks inevitably mention.But, to a local, how does Manchester actually look? Well, three of our favourite views across the city can give you an altogether different insight into the place we call home.IWM NorthThe first is found at IWM North. This museum, created by the internationally respected architect, Daniel Libeskind, is designed to represent a globe shattered by war. It shimmers by the side of the Manchester Ship Canal, its three metal ‘shards’ set at awkward angles, the whole building devoid of a straight line or right angle. But forget the museum for now, and go straight up its 100 foot-high Air Shard. From here you’ll see the Ship Canal stretch out into the distance, connecting the two neighbouring cities of Salford and Manchester. You’ll see, opposite, The Lowry (good for theatre, exhibitions and live music) and, behind that, the new home of the BBC in the North, MediaCityUK. Just to the left are the new Granada Studios, where you might glimpse the Coronation Street set. There’s also a rather brilliant Booths supermarket tucked behind the BBC. You can’t actually see it from here, but it’s worth hunting down – it’s perfect for stocking up on locally made snacks.Manchester Town HallBack in Manchester, may we point you towards Manchester Town Hall? Designed by celebrated Victorian architect, Alfred Waterhouse, this neo-Gothic building is one of the most remarkable chunks of civic real estate in the north of England. But ignore its barrel-vaulted ceilings and mosaic floors, as you are heading up to the Town Hall Clock Tower. A narrow, spiral staircase leads up 281 feet to its top and here, alongside a 130 year-old clock, you can also get a 360-degree look at the city below. Clock Tower Tours run sporadically through the year – check here for details.San Carlo BottegaOur final view comes with the added benefit of food and drink – courtesy of San Carlo Bottega, the second floor restaurant at Selfridges. This is no ordinary department store cafeteria. Run by one of Manchester’s most successful restaurant chains, it offers up excellent Italian food and a wine list that’s worth the by-the-glass prices. Sit in its stylish leather booths, however, and you’ll also be afforded a view across Exchange Square. The historic Corn Exchange sits directly opposite (now a shopping centre), and you may just glimpse, beyond The Old Wellington and Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, the outline of Manchester’s medieval Cathedral. It is this area that was shattered by an IRA bomb in 1996. All around was completely rebuilt, including The Old Wellington, which was shifted, brick by brick, to its current location. Manchester didn’t let the small matter of the biggest bomb ever detonated on mainland Britain deter its fortunes, however - the city used it as an opportunity to remodel its centre. So it is, in some strange way, the bomb that you have to thank for the restaurant you sit in now, and the view it opens out onto.Cover Photo Credit: David McKelvey, FlickrWhat are you favourite Manchester attractions? Tweet us! @GrouponGuide_UKRelated ReadsSights With Bite: Alternative City ToursTop Three Art Galleries in ManchesterBoutique Bowling in Manchester____Check out our deals for things to do in Manchester.

Salford’s Cultural Renaissance - Where Art and Culture Thrive in Unexpected Places

The name Salford might not be synonymous with art and culture, but things are changing in Manchester’s sister city. As the bold name suggests, MediaCityUK is Salford’s new, purpose-built ‘media village’ of production studios, offices and supporting facilities where some of the country’s biggest players have relocated. They join a network of landmark museums like the Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry as well as smaller artists’ studios like Islington Mill and Hot Bed Press, making it Greater Manchester’s largest hub of culture and creativity.BBC North HQ - Even the Blue Peter Garden!Starting with the big boys, the BBC opened their northern HQ on the shores of the old ship canal in 2011, bringing hundreds of staff from the capital. Departments like Children’s TV and Sport came too, and they even went as far as to rebuild, piece for piece, the Blue Peter garden from the kids’ TV show of the same name. Keep an eye out for loads of people having their picture taken with former Blue Peter dog’s paw prints and inspiring (even to grown ups) projects, like ‘bug hotels’, that are being featured on the show.Piling on the pizzazz, ITV’s £10 million new Coronation Street set opened across the water from the BBC in 2013. Tours of Coronation Street started in 2014, and the BBC's tours are also very popular. You’ll need to book up to six months in advance though.Photo Credit: The Lowry Arts CentreThe Magnificent Lowry Arts CentreIn the same complex, the award-laden Lowry Arts Centre has a permanent display by Salfordite L.S. “matchstick man” Lowry, best known for his remarkably affective depictions of pre-wartime and industrial-era life in the city. Fun and creative changing shows are another reason to visit. A recent exhibition was curated by singer Alison Goldfrapp and revolved around her gothic inspirations, while The Imperial War Museum North is something of a hub for contemporary photo reportage. Recipient of many awards from ‘best large UK attraction’ to architecture prizes, look out for off-beat exhibitions in the museum’s smaller galleries and corridors.(Read more about The Imperial War Museum North in Get in the Know With Our Insiders Guide to Manchester’s Best Big Sights.)The QuaysThe Quays (taking in MediaCity, the various museums, canals, industrial buildings and the Lowry Outlet Shopping Mall) is occasionally transformed into a living gallery, thanks to a programme of free spectacles under the auspices of Quays Culture. It’s a remarkably relaxed part of the city, with a kind of bonus, holiday feeling to it as a result of all the water – and the reflective capacities of the canals make it ideal for light shows. Two for 2014 include a two mile laser beam artwork lighting up the night skies called 'Alan Turing Thank You' by Craig Morrison, and winter’s “Lightwaves” festival - keep an eye on their website for exact dates.Independent GalleriesLess well known are the network of small independent galleries and studio spaces taking advantage of cheaper rates in Salford. Look out for Islington Mill which hosts artists’ residencies throughout the year, as well as one-off shows in the atmospheric loft space of the historic cotton mill (pictured). Art fans could also consider booking a visit to MASA (Manchester Artists Studio Association), or Hot Bed Press studios (strictly advance booking only). The University of Salford is home to the Birth Rites collection about women and childbirth, and there are occasional shows in the Regent Road Industrial Estate – ask at Islington Mill for details.Photo credit: Man Alive!, flickrWhat’s interesting is that many of these galleries and studios are closer to the city centre than, for example, student hubs like Fallowfield, or upmarket West Didsbury. MediaCity really has had an impact on the whole ‘feel’ of the area, giving it a kind of sheen that was previously missing, and - as mentioned, there are loads of hidden gems if you know what you’re looking for. Just a few reasons to give Salford a go.Do you love Salford? Let us know! @GrouponGuide_UK #grouponguide Related ReadsManchester's Best Museum and Gallery ShopsCreative Sighting: Manchester's Packed With Original, Modern Artwork for Sale - If You Know Where to LookA Star-Spotters Guide to Manchester Theatre____Click to see our deals for art galleries in Manchester.

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PGA Pro at Pennant Park Golf Club

Two Golf Lessons With PGA Pro for £24 at Pennant Park Golf Club

Hello Mr D'Arcy! Visit the Best Country Homes in Manchester (Including That Famous Fountain!)

Manchester Attractions: 3 Great Views You Need to See

Salford’s Cultural Renaissance - Where Art and Culture Thrive in Unexpected Places

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