Manchester gives couples starred dining, high rooms with views and a busy evening scene. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP). Dinner mana, Ancoats: one Michelin star, tasting menus. Skof, NOMA district: one Michelin star. Adam Reid at The French, Midland Hotel, 16 Peter Street: a Michelin recommended restaurant, open Wednesday to Saturday evenings only. Albert’s Shed, 20 Castle Street: a relaxed dinner by the Castlefield canal basin, open daily. Reserve starred restaurants well ahead, and look at the menu price on the restaurant’s page.

Most of Manchester’s landmarks are free to see, and several have limited opening days. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP). Buildings John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate. Free. Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00. A neo-Gothic reading room built in the 1890s. The research room is by appointment. Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street. Free, with a suggested GBP 5 donation. Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 16:00, Sunday 12:00 to 16:00. Central Library, St Peter’s Square.

These walks need no booking. The centre is flat, and routes join up easily. Pack a waterproof. Castlefield loop Begin at Deansgate-Castlefield on the Metrolink. See the Roman fort gateway, walk down to the canal basin and cross Merchants Bridge, then climb to Castlefield Viaduct (free, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00). Keep to the towpath. The radical route Peterloo Memorial, Peter Street, marking 16 August 1819. People’s History Museum at Spinningfields (free, closed Tuesday).

Five good escapes start from Manchester’s stations. Times are approximate from timetable listings, so confirm on National Rail or Northern. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP). At a glance Destination Rough train time Best for Edale about 40 minutes Walking on Kinder Scout Liverpool about 35 to 55 minutes Waterfront and music history Chester about 1 hour Roman walls and the Rows Hebden Bridge roughly 35 to 40 minutes Pennine town and woodland Styal (Quarry Bank) short ride plus a 12 minute walk Cotton mill Edale and Kinder Scout Hope Valley line trains run about hourly from Piccadilly.

Choosing what to do in Manchester is mostly about cost, weather and which day of the week it is. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP). Free and indoors Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road: free, daily 10:00 to 17:00. Power Hall steam engines, textiles, the hands-on Experiment gallery. Parts of the 1830 railway buildings are under conservation work. Manchester Museum, Oxford Road: free, closed Monday, late opening to 21:00 on Wednesday.

Families can spend several days in Manchester and pay very little. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP). Free picks Science and Industry Museum. Free, open daily 10:00 to 17:00. Children under 12 will like the Experiment gallery, and the Power Hall has working steam engines. A separate Power Up gallery runs at weekends and in holidays with its own ticket. Parts of the historic site are under conservation work. Manchester Museum.

Manchester suits a long weekend in the city, with a few days more if you add trips out. Opening days drive the order here. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP). Three days in the city Day 1, Wednesday to Saturday. Because the John Rylands Library on Deansgate opens only then, put the library and Castlefield Viaduct (Wednesday to Sunday) on this day. Add the Science and Industry Museum and the People’s History Museum, which is closed on Tuesdays.