In the current circumstances, concerns about health and wellbeing are understandably paramount. But temporary confinement might also find you in contemplative mood, with much more time to chew over life’s big questions, take stock of where you are in terms of your personal journey, reassess priorities and decide whether some of the things you previously presumed were set in stone can actually be changed for the better.
Where to go once conditions revert to a ‘new normal’ might be one question you’re mulling over – if you’ve been considering moving cities for a while or simply in search for some new experiences, the current climate could be a catalyst for making serious plans for an exodus.
If this rings true, rather than heading for the bright lights of London, why not opt for the world-famous culture and ambience of Manchester?
Need some convincing? Here are three reasons Manchester’s magic.
Football
If you love the beautiful game, you’re spoiled for choice in Manchester.
Watch Manchester United at their Old Trafford theatre of dreams and you’re tapping into a soccer heritage that includes legendary figures like George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson.
But in terms of recent form, rivals Manchester City are on top, and their current Etihad Stadium side is blessed by an embarrassment of footballing talent that includes the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne.
Music
Liverpool has its huge Mersey Beat bands like the Beatles and swinging London produced stylish warblers like the Small Faces, but Manchester is a musical mecca which, at least for a golden moment in the late 80s and early 90s, eclipsed every other tuneful town and city the length and breadth of Britain.
If you’re visiting for a factfinding trip before making a permanent move here, make time for a Manchester Music Tour where you’ll learn all about the seminal Factory Records and the Hacienda club, as well as wonderful bands from the city and its environs like The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses. These groups influenced sounds and fashions across the nation and beyond, which is why they still attract so much attention years after most of them stopped touring and recording.
Airport
When you switch your home base, good transport connections are even more important – it’s reassuring to know you can easily reach friends and family based locally and internationally, and take your family for weekends away once the novelty of exploring your new city subsides.
Luckily, Manchester Airport is one of Britain’s best-connected, with destinations from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, convenient parking from Looking4.com and awesome amenities including faith and worship spaces, strong Wi-Fi and shopping from retailers like Bobbi Brown, Clarins, Pandora, Hamley’s and Dune London.
So there you have them – three solid reasons why you should probably move to Manchester.
When things settle down a little in the world outside, perhaps it’s time to take a bold step that will let you live your best life somewhere that feels fresh and funky, what do you think?
