The Victoria Baths complex was designed by Manchester's first city architect, Henry Price, and opened in 1906. No expense was spared — the façade has multicoloured brickwork and terracotta decoration, the interior spaces are clad in glazed tiles and most of the windows have decorative stained glass. At the opening ceremony, the Lord Mayor described Victoria Baths as “a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester is proud”. For 86 years, the baths provided both essential and leisure facilities. Private baths and a laundry were housed there alongside three swimming pools and Turkish Baths. In 1952, the first public Aeratone (Jacuzzi) was installed. Even though the baths were closed in 1993, the Grade II listed building is remarkably intact, with most of the stained glass and original tiling remaining. Victoria Baths opens from March/April to October/November each year for weekly guided tours, public open days, and special events.

Known throughout the world as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has a proud history in science, politics, music, arts and sport. Discover the city’s heritage and how it has grown to be the progressive hub it is today with a 90-minute bus tour. The 15-stop hop-on hop-off tour has been carefully planned to take you round some of Manchester’s key sights, including Town Hall Manchester, National Football Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and Manchester United Football Club. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours from the time of purchase if on the bus or from the date chosen if online, and you can board any Sightseeing Manchester-branded bus during this time. There is one main tour route with recorded commentary in English. For other languages, there is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

The colourful Bo Kaap of today is a far cry from its tumultuous beginnings — in the 16th and 17th centuries, slaves brought from Malaysia and Indonesia by the Dutch were forced to reside here. Each house received a fresh coat of bright paint following the end of apartheid, as an act of defiance, expression of individualism and a celebration of freedom at long last.

Built on the mouth of the Colligan river in the 12th century, the Anglo-Norman Castle of King John is an important landmark in Irish history: it served as a barracks in the 18th century, and was at the forefront of battles during the Irish Civil War, when it was almost completely destroyed.