Today Manchester is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in Britain. 2.6 million people live within its actual boundaries, and over 7 million others live in the wider region, making it second only to London in size. For people in the locality, Manchester is a place to live - for some it is a place to do business - and for others it is increasingly becoming a place to visit as a tourist.

• Manchester is an ancient city - it has been inhabited for more than 2000 years, starting when the future Roman Emperor Agricola built a fort just north of the site of present day Manchester. In the 18th century, Manchester sprang into the forefront of world attention by being at the heart of the Industrial Revolution.

• The city’s attractions include the Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, a living testament to Manchester's industrial heyday. When the Bridgewater Canal opened in the 1760s it heralded a new era for the city, as Manchester became central to Britain's main transportation network. The first passenger railway station in the world opened in Castlefield in the 1830s, and today it is home to the acclaimed Museum of Science and Industry. During the 20th century the district went into decline and so Castlefield gained an unenviable reputation for poverty and squalor. By 1980, however, the area underwent a renaissance, and today Castlefield is more about canal-side cafes and bistros than abandoned warehouses.

• The excellent Pumphouse People's History Museum traces the lives and culture of Manchester workers over the last two centuries and includes personal accounts and memorabilia from the ages. It also covers the history of working class dissent, with information on subjects such as the Peterloo massacre, the suffragette movement, trade unionism, and the fight for fair pay and working conditions.
  
• Today, Manchester is cosmopolitan - it offers more than 30 styles of foreign cuisine, with distinctive Chinese and Asian areas of specialty. It has more theatres than any other city outside London, two Premier League football teams, two major television companies, three Universities with around 46,000 students, two symphony orchestras, and many small chamber ensembles. Manchester is a leader the field in music. Since the mid-1980s, Manchester’s popular music has dominated music charts. 

• Manchester United Football Club is probably the single thing for which the city of Manchester is most famous. One of the top football (soccer) clubs in the UK, there are "Man U" fans the world over, and each year thousands of them come here to visit their favorite club. You can visit the club's museum, or alternatively you can take a full tour round the grounds, going everywhere from the trophy room to the changing rooms and the tunnel that leads to the hallowed pitch.

• Within the greater region are 170 tourist attractions including some 34 historic houses, country parks, moors, plains, hills and eight theme parks all within an hour's drive away.

• Manchester is ideally placed as a base for any tour of the northwest of England and within one hour's drive are three major National Parks, the Lake District, the Peak District, and the Snowdonia National Park. Each is a Mecca for climbers, ramblers and walkers and those who love beautiful countryside. One hour's drive would also take you to the great cities of Liverpool, Chester and Lancaster, and a little longer to the City of York. All of these places can also be reached by road and rail on regular scheduled timetables, directly from the city’s rail or bus stations.

As you can see, Manchester presents an exciting base for our conference and it is well worth extending your stay in the area to explore. It has lots to offer families if you wish to make it into a vacation. To find out more about Manchester and its surroundings, check out www.manchester.com and www.manchester2002-uk.com.

UMIST, the conference venue, is right at the heart of the city within 5 minutes walk of the main railway station and walking distance of the bus station. To learn more about UMIST and the Conference Centre, visit www.UMIST.ac.uk or www.meeting.co.uk. We will be using the Weston and Reynold Buildings.

Conference participants traveling with family may choose to stay in a nearby hotel. There are a number of budget hotels within walking distance that offer family rooms for around 40-50 GB Pounds. Check out the IBIS, Travel Inn and Travel Lodge, as well as the 3, 4, and 5, star hotels close by. You can book online or by phone through the Manchester City Council’s accommodation booking service. You will find them at www.manchester.gov.uk/visitorcentre/stay