Raised on lofty ambition and not afraid to declare its considerable bona fides, Manchester is – by dint of geography and history – England’s second city (apologies to Birmingham), although if you were to ask a Mancunian what it’s like to be second they might reply, ‘Don’t know, ask a Londoner’.

Even accounting for northern bluster, the uncrowned capital of the north is well deserving of the title. It has a rich history and culture, easily explored in its myriad museums and galleries. And while history and heritage make the city interesting, its distractions of pure pleasure make Manchester fun: you can dine, drink and dance yourself into happy oblivion in the swirl of hedonism that is one of Manchester’s most cherished characteristics.

Read more from Lonely Planet

Now what? You’ve gone through all that information to help prepare you for Manchester, and so what’s next?

KEEP EXPLORING! The more you read-up on the cities you will be visiting, the more you will get out of your time abroad! Remember to bounce back to Module 1 and Module 2 of this online pre-departure information any time.

Here are a few more helpful resources for the city you will be visiting soon!

Read more about Manchester here:

• Visit Manchester
• Timeout Events Calendar
• Mancunian Phrases!