Manchester does things differently
A long-awaited concert finally brought us to Manchester for a weekend getaway. When The Killers announced their UK tour in 2021, I was lucky enough to receive tickets as a birthday surprise. Of course, thanks to Covid-19, the show was postponed until June 2022—so the anticipation just kept building!
If you’re a parent, you’ll know that finding childcare for a whole weekend isn’t always easy. After some gentle persuasion, Grandma agreed to have Raine for a few days, but that still left us with Cohen and Lexah to sort out. After weighing our options, we decided the best solution was to bring them along and make it a family adventure.
I usually buy tickets from Ticketmaster—they’re reliable and fairly priced—but The Killers had already sold out. After some careful research (because the internet is full of ticket scams), I found two extra tickets on StubHub, which is a legitimate resale platform owned by eBay. The best part? The tickets were even cheaper than the originals! We had no issues at all, and the kids got to experience their very first live concert.
Sneaking the Kids In (Sort Of)
Officially, you need to be 14 or older to enter the General Admission area or book a seat, but if you arrive early, you might just find some unclaimed seats without drawing too much attention. Let’s just say, with a bit of luck and timing, we all enjoyed the show together!
Free Manchester Walking Tours
To make the most of our visit, we joined one of Manchester’s free walking tours. These run every day at 11 am—no booking needed, just show up at the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens. The tours are tip-based (I’d recommend £5–10 per person if you can), and our guide Chris was fantastic: witty, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about Manchester’s story.
The tour lasted three hours, but the time flew by. Even the kids managed to stick it out, though there were a few moments of teenage eye-rolling. Chris brought Manchester’s history to life, telling tales of how the city rose from the ashes of war and industrial decline to become a hub for poets, musicians, footballers, and political trailblazers. I’ll admit, I arrived thinking Manchester was just another big city with a famous music scene, but by the end, I was genuinely tempted to move there!
You’ll hear about everything from the city’s legendary rave culture and its rivalry with Liverpool to hidden gems like the Royal Exchange Theatre, Chinatown, and the Gay Village. One spot that really stood out was the post box that survived the IRA bombing in 1996—a small but powerful symbol of the city’s resilience.
I must admit when I first landed in Manchester I thought it was another built up city without much character and its only real claim was music, but Chris really opened my eyes and mind to Manchester and by the end of the tour I was almost tempted to up and move there!
Mancunians, as they like to be called, have actually achieved much more than music careers, you’ll hear about Political trailblazers, the infamous Rave culture, the ongoing rivalry with Liverpool and discover historic gems such as the Royal Exchange Theatre, Chinatown Town and the Gay Village. One place that really stood out to me was the site of the IRA bombing carried out on June 15, 1996 and visiting the post box that still stands loud and proud.
Where We Stayed & How Much We Paid
We stayed at the Village Hotel Hyde, which I booked well in advance. For just £109, we got a Friday and Saturday night stay, buffet breakfast each morning, and £40 to spend on dinner the first night. With the two kids, we paid an extra £7 for dinner on the day, and all of us enjoyed a lovely meal with drinks, dessert, and even live music. Not bad for a weekend away!
Village Hotels feel a notch above your typical budget chain; you can really see the difference in room quality and the food. The only downside is the four-person room limit—so it was probably for the best that Raine stayed with Grandma, or she might have ended up sleeping in a drawer!
Final Thoughts
Manchester truly does things differently. From the thrill of a live concert to the stories shared on a walking tour, and the warm welcome at our hotel, the city surprised us at every turn. If you’re planning a family trip, don’t hesitate—Manchester’s got something for everyone.
