Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +44 (0)161 436 2200. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Train: Trains depart every 10 minutes. Tickets: £2.90-£3.60 single; £3-£7.20 return.

Taxi: A journey to the centre of town costs about £18-£20 and takes 20 minutes.

Barburrito
( 1 Piccadilly Gardens. Tel. 0161 228 6479 )
Known as one of the only authentic Mexican restaurants in the region, Barburrito does a searing trade in burritos, wraps and salads with pizzazz. Queue, choose your ingredients and eat-in or away you go.

Felicini
( 60 Oxford Street. Tel. 0161 228 6633 )
Part of a small chain, this modern Italian place serves up stuffed pizza, gnocchi and excellent crab cakes, alongside an above-average selection of wines by the glass.

Greens
( 43 Lapwing Lane. Tel. 0161 434 4259 )
Celebrity chef Simon Rimmer is the man behind this south Manchester stalwart where he’s been dishing up generous vegetarian creations for nearly 20 years. The signature dish of bangers and mash is almost unconquerable, although you’ll want to try.

The French
( The Midland Hotel, 16 Peter Street. Tel. 0161 236 3333 )
Dating from 1898, The Midland’s French restaurant is the discerning diner’s venue of choice. A menu of modern classics has secured two AA rosettes, and both the chateaubriand and Goosnargh duck are recommended, while the wine list is the best in town—with prices to match.

Lammars
( Fourways House, 57 Hilton Street, Northern Quarter. Tel. 0161 237 9054 )
Named after the late drag queen Foo Foo Lammar, this multi-chambered drinking den has more nooks, crannies and quirky furniture than Camden Town. A welcome retreat from the real world.

Moho Live
( 21-31 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter. Tel. 0161 834 8188 )
Band nights abound in this central pub-come-club space, but a highlight is The Aftershow, a monthly live line-up hosted by former Embrace singer Danny McNamara.

Spektrum
( Beehive Mill, Radium Street, Ancoats. Tel. 0161 236 5444 )
New club from the team behind Sankeys, this well-equipped new venue plays regular host to international DJs such as Theo Parrish and Matthias Tanzmann.

Pop Boutique is part-shop, part-café and all unique. Own-brand jeans, bags and frocks are complimented by vintage leather coats and boots to perfect that retro look (www.pop-boutique.com).

Manchester’s soggy streets hide a wealth of seldom-seen treasures. Long-buried rivers, nuclear bunkers, even canal docks lie just metres beneath the surface and an exhibition at Urbis this month promises to reveal much more (www.urbis.org.uk).

East Manchester is not a fashionable part of the city, but between the housing estates and pubs lies Britain's finest indoor Olympic cycle track at the National Cycling Centre. Check out the website for details of their regular trial nights (www.manchestervelodrome.com).

Manchester’s cobbled squares are given over to Christmas markets from 18 November. Beneath fairy lights and inflatable Santas, the locally reared beef burgers are a must, accompanied by a glass of mulled wine (until 21 December. www.manchester.gov.uk).

Liverpool – As European Capital Of Culture 2008, Liverpool is home to arty events aplenty this year. Look out for the modern drawing show at the Tate, while Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral hosts retrospective of the work of architect Le Corbusier (www.liverpool08.com).

The UK's vegetarian movement started in a church in Salford in 1809 by the Reverend Cowherd!

Compiled by Ruth Allan