Getting there Around 100 airlines fly into the UK's second-largest airport. Carriers include British Airways and Ryanair. Most major UK cities have direct trains to Manchester Piccadilly. Trains from the airport run every 15 minutes. A taxi costs around £18. Once in the centre, use the Metrolink tram system for most attractions and business hubs.

Business climate Almost three million people live or work in Greater Manchester and it's the fastest-growing economy outside London. The city pulled in around £2bn of private-sector investment in the four years after hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2002. The first phase of MediaCityUK at Salford Quays, a purpose-built home for creative and digital businesses, opens in 2011.

Don't miss The monuments of Manchester's industrial era, including the magnificent neo-Gothic Town Hall in Albert Square and the Royal Exchange on St Ann's Square, which houses the world's largest theatre-in-the-round. The Quays waterfront is home to The Lowry, Salford's architectural flagship, and Daniel Libeskind's Imperial War Museum North.

Culture The Manchester Art Gallery is worth a good hour of your time as is the Museum of Science and Industry and the Whitworth Art Gallery. A visit to Castlefield on the city's west side, with its Roman remains and stylish bars, is a must. Famous for its music pedigree (from Joy Division to Oasis), you can pick up a Manchester Music Map from the Tourist Information Centre.

Shopping The Farmers' and Producers' Market at Piccadilly Gardens and the Manchester Fashion Market on Tib Street should make your list. Splash your cash on designer labels in King Street, at Selfridges (Exchange Square) or Harvey Nichols (New Cathedral Street). The Arndale Centre houses most of the High Street brands as does the out-of-town Trafford Centre.

Where to stay For top-end hotels, the Radisson Edwardian, located in the former Free Trade Hall, oozes Zen-like style, as does the luxurious Malmaison. For those on a tighter budget, try The Grafton (just down the road from Curry Mile) or Thistle Manchester by Piccadilly Gardens.

Eat like a local For homemade cake and a cup of tea, visit the Nexus Art Café in the bohemian Northern Quarter. The cheese platter at Dukes 92 in Castlefield is legendary, while Michael Caines at ABode serves the city's best two- or three-course lunch.