The British city of Manchester is instantaneously synonymous with football and music though there's much more to Manchester than first meets the eye. A staggering array of art galleries, music venues and museums pave the way for a city rich in cultural heritage.

It would be foolish to ignore Manchester's link to football with two well respected clubs based in the city. Old Trafford is home to Manchester United and is a haven for fans, and a place where they can immerse themselves in the culture and history of one of Britain's most famous football clubs by touring the stadium and visiting the museum.

The City of Manchester Stadium is the home ground of Manchester City football club. This state-of-the-art venue played host to the UEFA Cup Final 2008, played between Zenit St.Petersburg of Russia and Glasgow Rangers of Scotland.

Sporting enthusiasts will also enjoy Manchester Velodrome, Britain's only indoor Olympic cycle track which is open to cyclists of all abilities.

Manchester is equally well known for its link to the music industry which is celebrated through the various musical events and festivals held each year. Music lovers may be interested in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester's £42 million international concert venue which was opened by the Queen of England in 1996.

A few other musical landmarks include Manchester's most famous live music venue, Band On The Wall and an annual Jazz festival.

Art lovers will feel at home in Manchester due to the plethora of first-rate galleries and exhibition venues offering everything from the old masters to modern moguls. The architecturally bemusing Urbis is an exhibition centre for city life which showcases contemporary art and design.

If you prefer the continental Old Masters head to Manchester Art Gallery, which has recently been named ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year' at the Manchester Tourism Awards 2008 and is housed in an impressive neo-classical building.

The most famous Mancunian artist is L.S Lowry whose works are exhibited at the Lowry gallery in Salford Quays, which is fast becoming one of the Britain's forefront arts venues. Heaton Hall is another unique space - a restored 18th century home nestled amongst 650 acres of green parkland.

Manchester's museums are equally varied; if you fancy a peek at the past the award-winning Museum of Science and Industry or War Museum North should be on your 'to see' list, while Manchester University's museum is another prime attraction which houses over six million specimens and objects, including the cast of ‘Stan', a fossilised Tyrannosaurus rex.

Finish off a perfect day with a theatre trip. Again, the choice is varied but most noteworthy is The Royal Exchange Theatre, a seven-sided, glass-walled capsule designed so audience members are never more than nine metres from the circular stage.

Manchester is centrally located at the heart of Great Britain, making it easy to get to by road, rail, sea and air from Europe and beyond. Accommodation is varied enough to suit the tightest or most extravagant of budgets and the choice of Manchester hotels is excellent, ranging from cheap and cheerful to designer boutique.

Disclaimer: Matthew Pressman writes for a wide variety of commercial clients. This article is intended for information purposes only and readers should seek additional information before taking any actions based on its content.