Let's hear it for Manchester.

Born and bred in Manchester! Met my late husband there in 1966 who was working in Manchester from London. He eventually persuaded me to move to London and I've lived here now since 1967!! But....I still feel like a Lancashire Lass and haven't lost my accent completely! I'm always trying to tell my Grandsons there is no 'r' in bath, grass, path etc! :-)

The "new" refurbed Whitworth should "vaut le voyage" as the Michelin Guide used to say. It sounds amazing!

I've only once been to Manchester - a stop onthey way home from a school trip_ got lost & ended up in Sale!! No2 son is getting married up there in the summers o hope to give it a proper go this time

I like this one as well, but when I last went to the Manchester Art gallery it was not on show as it had been loaned elsewhere. I was very annoyed.

www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/summer-in-cumberland-204899

Greyduster I like the pre-raphelites as well. I am planning myself a trip there and to the Whitworth Gallery when the weather picks up.

They have a fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings in Manchester City Art Gallery, which is why DD wanted to go (apart from the shopping!). I liked the early 19th century galleries, and the contemporary craft and design collection. A good place to spend an afternoon.

I got a print of that at the Van Gough Museum in Amsterdam. I fell in love with it too, Tegan. Loved that museum too.

It's in Amsterdam though. Mind you, I'm talking of 40 + years ago; perhaps it was on loan at the time [?].

Tegan - type 'Van Gogh peach tree in blossom' into a google image search and spot 'your' picture.

Well, blow me; questioning my own sanity [not for the first time]. Have a memory of being in Manchester and standing in front of a Van Gogh painting of a tree; looking through all the paintings he ever did it doesn't seem to exist . I can even picture it .

Isn't there a lovely Van Gogh painting of a tree with white blossom there?

For interested people The Whitworth Art Gallery opens on Saturday after two years and a £15 million restoration.The news reporters lucky enough to preview say it is superb and with a good restaurant for "Ladies who lunch".

Aye, lass! We do try!

Greyduster. I really like all of the North because of the friendly people.

crun, look at one of the Manchester guide sites, there are so many places to visit and you can identify the one's that appeal to you. It is a great city

Take a 192 bus down the A6, and you can visit the Stockport Hat Museum which is far more interesting than it sounds!

A big hit with sporty visitors is the National Football Museum - free of charge but you can buy tickets for the amazing virtual penalty shootout.

Jo1book, don't let anyone from Leeds hear you calling it the powerhouse of the North - there'll be a riot!

I've only been to Manchester once, which is surprising considering we are just the other side of the Pennines; had a day out with DD a couple of years ago. We loved it. Fantastic shopping, nice eating places and a lovely art gallery.

Canal Street area is brilliant for a night out.

I lived near Manchester (Blackley) when I moved in with my partner. We got married at Manchester Registry office. My step dd now lives in the house, her brother lives nearby and my son lives in Irlam. I miss the shopping in the city but I'm going there in 3 weeks when Dgc number 5 is due to arrive!!

I've cycled through Manchester several times, but I've never really been to Manchester. I thought I might go there this summer if I can manage it, where are the recommended places to visit?

I think if you haven't seen Manchester at all, or for many years you might be very suprised. I was in Salford a few weeks ago and it is looking very good. (Well Salford is more or less in Manchester.)

Many of our big cities have improved massively. DD went to uni in Sheffield in the late 90s. Since how I remember it was then, the city centre has changed beyond belief and is a very attractive place.

I really liked Manchester on my one and only visit there. I couldn't think why at first then I realised that, as a dyed in the wool Corrie fan, everyone sounded so familiar when they spoke. I felt among friends which I do completely realise was daft. My visit left me with an abiding happy memory of Manchester.

I live in the city and have done for most of my life. It's a great place to live, with a lively atmosphere and lots going on. In my retirement I can find loads of activities at a very low cost - I go Nordic walking (subsidised by the city council and so only £1 a time) - and in 3 weeks I will be singing Mozart's Requiem at the Royal Northern College of Music. I really appreciate our wonderful public transport system.

We have an airport just down the road and a good train system. I regularly go to London for babysitting duty and it's only a 2 hour train ride.

It does amuse me when people who are well travelled say they have never been to Manchester as if we living in some remote area hardly known to modern man! I have 5 friends who all live in the South east - these are people I met on a holiday to China four years ago and they are a case in point, as they had been all over the world but not to Manchester! They came to stay with me for a weekend in November to see the sights and 'do' the Christmas markets. They had a great time and loved it