Jonathan Bailey

Country manager, Israel

The local

Although I’m now based in Israel, I’m still a proud Mancunian. Here’s a tour of my home city for the uninitiated.

Oxford Road, running along the south of the city, is where the universities are found, so it’s teeming with pubs, music venues and places to eat. You can count on a good vibe every night of the week.

The Northern Quarter is the hub for the city’s creatives. As well galleries, there are arty boutiques, tiki lounges and quirky food outlets.

For a pit stop, stretch out on the lawns of Piccadilly Gardens. Harvey Nichols and Selfridges are nearby, as is the Triangle, which has a range of restaurants in the former corn exchange. My pick would be Gino D’Acampo’s eponymous Italian restaurant.

Lisa Aslund

Account manager

The history buff

Manchester is the gateway to England’s northwest. One of my favourite day trips is Chester, which was founded as a Roman fortress in the first century AD.

A fun thing to do is to tour the city’s Roman heritage with your very own centurion, which takes in the extensive city walls and the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain.

Chester has also retained its town crier, a tradition which dating back to the Middle Ages, who makes a midday proclamation at the High Cross.

Chester Cathedral also does a wonderful tour called Cathedral at Height, which explores the belfry. It lets you peer down into the 14th century choir stall and take in panoramic views from the roof.

Paul Smith

Airport services manager

The sports fan

Football is a national obsession in Britain – and that’s especially the case in Manchester. Not only does the city boast two fiercely competitive Premier League teams, it’s also home to the National Football Museum. Test your penalty taking skills against a virtual goalkeeper, browse historic memorabilia (including trophies, kits and more) and exhibits charting the history of the beautiful game.

If golf is more your passion, there are three British Open courses within 90 minutes’ drive of the city (Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St Annes). The nearby Peak District is easily accessible by train and has stunning walking and mountain biking trails to conquer – and some lovely country pubs to unwind in.