The Good Family Abroad: London & Manchester, UK - Part I
Let's say your husband is obsessed with football. Not the bone-crushing, muscle maniac American variety, but the globally-played, chant-your-heart-out sport: futbol, footy — ok fine, soccer. More specifically, he's a diehard, blood-runs-sky-blue fan of Manchester City, and has supported them long before they won the Premier League title in 2012 and 2014. You want to make your husband's dreams come true, and create some epic father-son moments to boot? There is only one answer — hop across the pond, and see the match live.
Turns out, even in midwinter, Manchester and London make for an exciting family vacation, and at 4, our boy is at the perfect age for walking and exploring. (No more stroller! Although we did bring a rather cumbersome carseat with us.) My husband did most of the travel planning, as this was his 41st birthday extravaganza, and having lived in London for three years, he knew the region far better than I did. The only time I had traveled to London was for a spirited gin adventure courtesy of Beefeater and Plymouth Gin. Being a parent changes some things! I was excited to see more of the UK, and as always, capture some of the magic that comes from witnessing your child experience the world in a new way.
We landed in Manchester and found ourselves in an incredibly charming and historic city. Aside from football, Manchester is known for being the birthplace of the industrial era and for being the home of Morrissey, Boddingtons Beer, and the Gallagher brothers from Oasis. Oh, and rain — lots and lots of rain. It never felt cold enough to snow, but we bundled up in wool coats, hats, and gloves, and I kept a small umbrella with me at all times. We stayed at the beautiful, centrally-located Midlands Hotel, allowing us to explore most of the city's attractions on foot. The city's tram system was also very easy to navigate.
This trip was planned around two consecutive home games for Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, so the day after we landed, we shook off our jetlag and gussied up for our first match. Why did we dress up for a football game, you ask? Well, Mr. Good happens to have a particularly fruitful connection that got us box seats for our first match. Let's just say being a genuinely nice person can get you places. The experience of having a cushy view at our first English Premier League game of the team that we had been watching faithfully for years from our TV screen, all while being treated with impeccable hospitality — it was surreal, to say the least. Unfortunately, Man City lost to Leicester City, the team currently making headlines for going from the bottom to the top of the league this season. Mr. Good's sour grapes were quickly squashed when he and the boy were invited to meet some of the players following the game. (Don't worry, I got to enjoy some kid-free moments sipping champagne.) Let's just say, bucket list = checked! I don't think my son will realize for a while just how amazing that opportunity was.
For our second day in Manchester, we explored more of the city's impressive Victorian-era architecture and ended up spending most of the day at the Museum of Science and Industry (free entry, donations suggested), a must-see if your little one likes trains, planes, and heavy machinery. Set within the world's oldest train station, the museum is chock-full of interactive exhibits on steam-powered mills, textile making, locomotive engines, and lots of other fascinating STEM-focused sights.
For food and drink in Manchester, some of our favorite spots included Grindsmith, a micro-cafe across the river from the breathtaking Manchester Cathedral; Pot Kettle Black, a cozy spot for coffee and toasties in the Barton Arcade; Home Sweet Home in the Northern Quarter serves up American diner-style brunch in the most adorably eclectic setting; Bourbon & Black lived up to its name with a decadent array of barbecue and classic and rare bourbon (not easy to find in these parts); and we were pleasantly surprised with Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italian on King Street, set inside an old Art Deco bank and serving solid, although pricey, fare. Virtually everywhere we went was kid-friendly, even most of the pubs.
The next day, we headed to Piccadilly Station for the Virgin train to London. Stay tuned for Part II: London!
What to Pack for Manchester
