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FIND OUT MOREThe Daniel Libeskind-designed Imperial War Museum North has been named one of the top ten buildings in England of the last century in the latest Rough Guide to England.
Rising from the ship canal frontage of Trafford Park, about two miles from Manchester city centre, the striking building has been blitzed with visitors since it opened in July 2002. Based on the concept of a shattered globe, it stands jagged, steely and cold - a stark reminder of the human cost of war.
The £28.5 million museum, which has recently been crowned one of the top three large visitor attractions in England, already has a bulging trophy cabinet. It now sits on the Rough Guide's top ten list alongside some of the country's other architectural treasures, including the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool; the Senate House in Bloomsbury, London; and the Coventry Cathedral.
This latest accolade is a great boost for Manchester, which gets a special mention in the new Rough Guide to England: "From engine of the industrial revolution to test-bed of contemporary urban design, the city has no realistic rival outside of London."
Mancunian hospitality will also come in an oriental flavour when the city's first Yang Sing hotel opens next month.
The Yang Sing Oriental is the first hospitality venture by local entrepreneurs Gerry and Harry Yeung - the brothers behind the renowned Yang Sing restaurant.
The Yeungs have transformed a Grade II listed cotton warehouse in Chinatown into a stylish hotel offering 48 individually designed rooms and suites; a champagne bar; a lounge that will host live music from local talent; and spa facilities.
Designed by Manchester's award-winning Roberta Fulford, the hotel oozes oriental chic. The bedrooms feature traditional Chinese screens, dark wood floors and bespoke, brightly coloured lacquer furniture. They also boast modern conveniences, including air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi and hard-wired internet, and a state-of-the-art in-room entertainment system.
The Yang Sing Oriental, which opens this July, will even have its own specially commissioned music and aromatherapy scent, making the oriental experience all the more genuine.
It will join a large list of new hotels in Manchester, including the recently launched Ramada Manchester, Salford Quays, and the Crowne Plaza Manchester, which opens in September.
Vicky Binns, Molly Crompton from Coronation Street, is one of the celebrities confirmed to take part in this year's 24:7 Theatre Festival.
Binns, who is a keen supporter and ambassador for the festival, is said to be thrilled at having won a role in the play 'Dave & Jeff Versus the Crazed Corpse-Loving Consultant from Cardiothoracics'.
24:7, which showcases new work by local talent in a variety of non-theatre venues, will run from July 21 - 27. For more information visit www.247theatrefestival.co.uk.
If you missed the recent Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, Salford will offer you another chance to see some of the British cycling stars in action this summer.
The Salford Festival of Cycling will take place in Salford Quays on this August bank holiday weekend (Aug 30 & 31). Supported by Salford City Council, it will be a celebration of cycling in all its forms and an opportunity to welcome home some of our medal winners after the Beijing Olympics.
The action will start on Aug 30 with an evening of competitive racing, featuring top British and international cyclists. Closing the festival on Aug 31 will be a mass participation event, with cycling fans of all levels taking part. Around the cycling events will be a host of attractions and activities, including beer tents, food stalls and exhibitions.
For more information visit www.salfordfestivalofcycling.com.
Manchester's 48-storey Beetham Tower has beaten off fierce competition from across the region to scoop the coveted Project of the Year title in the 2008 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North West Awards.
The Ian Simpson-designed development, which houses the 23-storey Hilton hotel as well as private apartments, also secured the North West category award for Design and Innovation.
Andrew Kellaway, chairman of the North West Awards judging panel, described Beetham Tower as 'a truly iconic building' and added: "This project has not only achieved local, national and international recognition but has also realised significant economic success."
The annual RICS awards this year attracted a record 99 entries from across the North West region. The winners were announced at a glittering gala dinner in Liverpool last month.
Other Manchester winners included Abito, which won the Residential award, and the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, which was highly commended in the Tourism & Leisure category.