Manchester is a city located in the North-West of England is one of the most popular cities in the United Kingdom.
The city has become a cultural hub for the North of England and has a young and ambitious population that are constantly pushing the boundaries and redefining what it means to be a Mancunian.
The city is one of the most interesting places to live in the UK. Let’s explore 10 interesting facts about Manchester.
10 Interesting facts about Manchester
1. It is the third most populated city in the UK
There are various ways you can read into the population in the UK but in general, Manchester is considered to be the third most populated city in the country, a fact about Manchester.
The city itself has a popular of around 548,000, while the urban area has over 2 million, and finally, the larger metropolitan population is around 3.3 million. This makes it the third most populated city in the UK behind London and Birmingham.
2. Manchester and football
When it comes to Manchester, the first thing that most people think of is their football teams. Manchester is home to two of the biggest football clubs in the world in Manchester United and Manchester City.
The two teams both plow their trade in the Premier League, the top flight of English Football and they have both won multiple Premier League Trophies as well as various other trophies.
The two matches that take place between the teams, known as the Manchester derby, are two of the biggest football games in the world and both attract a global audience of millions. The two teams divide the city’s population, with fans of Manchester United being referred to as the red side of the city and fans of Manchester City as the blue.
3. Manchester and Music
Manchester is not just famous for its football. The city has produced some of the most iconic bands in modern music history and is seen by many as being the birthplace of indie music and Britpop.
Manchester’s most famous band is Oasis, while The Smiths, The Happy Mondays, and The Stone Roses are also famous sons of the city.
As a result of its rich musical heritage, the city still attracts millions of young music hopefuls year in and year out.
4. It is home to the world’s longest-running soap opera
Manchester is the home to plenty of weird and wonderful things but perhaps one of its best-known contributions to British culture is the soap opera Coronation Street, an interesting Manchester fact!
Coronation Street is based around the inhabitants of a street in Manchester and is the longest-running soap opera in the world, having aired its first episode in December 1960.
The show is one of the most beloved on British television and every year, thousands of tourists visit the set for a tour, which is located in Manchester City Center.
5. Worker Bees
If you visit Manchester, one image that you will see a lot is that of the worker bee. The worker bee is a symbol of all of the hard work that the residents of the city do. It also became a symbol of unity in the city following a terrorist attack that took place at a concert in 2017.
6. Manchester was the world’s first industrial city
Manchester was the world’s first industrial city, a fascinating fact about Manchester. Thanks to the fast growth of its cotton industry, Manchester was nicknamed Cottonopolis during the 19th century.
The city’s industry grew at a rapid rate thanks to its booming cotton industry and its excellent transport infrastructure and links to other English cities. It quickly became part of a global network of trade and manufacturing and established itself as one of England’s most important and biggest cities.
7. The World’s First Railway Station Opened in Manchester
The world’s first and oldest railway station is located in Manchester. Confusingly named as the Liverpool Road Railway Station, the station was built in 1830 and was used to connect Manchester to its neighboring city, Liverpool.
It only served passengers for a brief period though. In 1844, the train stopped being used for passengers and was solely used to transport goods, it was also extended to Leeds, a city located in nearby Yorkshire.
The station was totally put out of use in 1975 but still exists today. The warehouses and the station are kept in the Museum of Science and Industry which is located in Castlefield Urban Heritage Park.
8. Manchester is home to the UK’s first public library
Manchester is home to Chetham’s Library, which is the country’s oldest public library. The library was opened in 1653 and was the first one to be opened to the public completely for free.
The library is still open today and is actually the oldest public library in the English speaking world. It boasts an impressive collection of over 100,000 volumes of printed books, dating all the way back to the 17th century when it began its collection.
9. Manchester was where the first-ever atom was split
Manchester is home to a lot of firsts in British history but one first that is significant on a global scale is the first splitting of an atom. Ernest Rutherford was the man responsible for this in 1917 at Manchester University.
Ernest Rutherford would later go on to win a Nobel prize for all of his achievements and the University of Manchester has since named its physics building after him as well.
10. Manchester University and the Nobel Prize
The University of Manchester comes third to only Oxford and Cambridge in the UK when it comes to producing Nobel Prize winners, an interesting fact about Manchester!
The university can count 21 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, which also places it at 23rd in the world for producing Nobel Prize winners as well.
Among those who have won a Nobel Prize and attended the University include Ernest Rutherford, J.J Thomson, Sir John Hicks, Sir Robert Robinson and several others.
Conclusion
Manchester is a city that is constantly re-defining itself. It is forever producing talented and interesting people who continue to make it one of the most culturally relevant cities in the UK.
I hope that this article on Manchester City Facts was helpful! If you are interested, visit the City Facts Page!