Close By. City Centre

Manchester City Centre is, we admit, good for more than just art, culture and cinema. Close to the main shopping district you’ll find the edgy shops and boutiques of the Northern Quarter, whose mix of vintage, vinyl and curry houses will be appreciated by independent teens as much as their parents. The Northern Quarter is Manchester’s self-styled creative district and it’s here that many design agencies, events producers, artists and musicians reside. Defiantly chain-free, part of the Northern Quarter’s charm comes from its architecture, a slightly ramshackle collection of 18^th and 19^th Century warehouses. Some have been beautifully restored (such as the Buddhist Centre), while others are sagging into dilapidation.

At its heart is the impressive Romanesque façade of the former Smithfield Market – now surrounded by rather ugly flats – which fronts onto a small public square. In the same block sits the Chinese Arts Centre (good for contemporary shows and a dinky cafe), while the Market’s sister building can be found on Oak Street, now converted into the Craft & Design Centre. This little gem is home to an array of artist-run studios offering the best in local design, jewellery, bags and accessories (there’s also a café that serves sandwiches and hearty cakes, plus baby changing facilities). Rags to Bitches is our tip for vintage threads, while kitsch emporium-cum-cafe, Oaklahoma offers a bizarrely endearing mix of toys, gifts and homeware.

Nearby, Dough is a pizzeria that actively welcomes children (it has menus that kids can colour in). We also rate Teacup on Thomas Street – its menu of big cakes, hearty soups, salads and blinding coffee attracts local creatives as well as yummy mummies merrily feeding their infants without so much as a raised eyebrow. Which is just as it should be. Check out their own blend of tea and the specially imported organic infusions that come with an egg timer to guarantee the perfect brew. It’s worth noting that many of the cafes, shops and restaurants in the Northern Quarter are tiny (and very popular) so it can sometimes be a squeeze if you happen to have a buggy. Be prepared!

If you prefer your shopping to be high-end, head to Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, or if the high street is more your thing, check out the Arndale. This vast covered shopping centre offers everything under one roof and is also good for fuss-free family dining, though there’s nothing unexpected on offer here. We like the quiet café in Waterstone’s (with highchairs and play area for younger children). Just behind Manchester Art Gallery, on Faulkner Street, you’ll find the imposing Imperial Chinese Archway, and there’s an array of Chinese restaurants to choose from nearby that provide a more interesting eating experience. Best among them, with a huge dining area that welcomes walk-in trade, is the Little Yang Sing. Traditionalists, meanwhile, should head to Sam’s Chophouse, an atmospheric pub described by The Guardian as ‘a Victorian fantasy meets Hogwarts’. It’s also a great place to take the family, as children get the pick of its fabulous British menu (kids just have smaller servings of adult portions). It gets busy here over weekends and holidays, so you’d be advised to book.

> Get the most out of your visit. Download our free guide to the Northern Quarter or read it online here. For more free downloads, special offers and competitions, visit our download page.

Manchester Buddhist Centre, 16-20 Turner Street M4 1DZ (0161 834 9232). Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak Street M4 5JD (0161 832 4274). Rags to Bitches, 60 Tib Street M4 1LG (0161 835 9265). Oaklahoma, 74 High Street M4 1ES (0161 834 1136). Dough, 75 High Street M4 1FS (0161 834 9411). Teacup on Thomas Street, 53-55 Thomas Street M4 1NA. Manchester Arndale, M4 3AQ (0161 833 9851). Little Yang Sing, 17 George Street M1 4HE (0161 228 7722). Sam’s Chop House, Chapel Walks M2 1HN (0161 834 3210). Images courtesy Susie Stubbs and Sam’s Chophouse.

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