Sightseeing

April 2013
Explore designs and engravings by the poet, painter and printmaker William Blake at the spooky John Rylands Library. Images of angels and the afterlife offer a glimpse into another world. Until 23 June (150 Deansgate, tel: 0161 306 0555).

March 2013
Future Everything, the festival of digital innovation, returns with Tri Angle Records' Holy Other (Islington Mill, 21 March) and a free event featuring LED-clad runners lighting up Salford Quays (8pm, 21-23 March). Visit futureeverything.org for the full line-up.

Key Areas

February 2013
The Cathedral quarter around New Cathedral Street and St Mary's Gate is home to medieval relics, cobbled streets and the remarkable Harry Potter-esque halls of Chetham's Library dating from 1653. Sup a pint in the Sinclair's Oyster bar and take in the sights (chethams.org.uk).

January 2013
Dating back to the mid 1800s, the cobbled plaza of Albert Square has hosted protests, commemorations and newly weds for as long as anyone can recall. Take a tour of the gothic Town Hall, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, before tucking into Asian fare at Tampopo and a pint at the Chop House.

Day Trips

April 2013
A train from Manchester Piccadilly will whisk you to York's tangle of cobbled streets and spectacular castle walls in under two hours. After exploring the vibrant city, head to Bettys York for the quintessential English afternoon tea. Choose from 18 of the world's finest teas to sip while munching on the daintiest - and perfectly constructed - batch of sandwiches, scones and miniature cakes. For a more substantial lunch, pop to the cafe downstairs, though be prepared to queue - this family-run institute has unsurprisingly built up quite a reputation (6-8 St Helen's Square, tel: 01904 659 142).

March 2013
Fans of Wuthering Heights will love the village of Haworth in Yorkshire, where the Bronte sisters lived. Reached in less than 90 minutes from Manchester, visitors can explore their home at the Parsonage Museum before taking a stroll to Bronte Falls (haworth.yorks.com).