Manchester is a city in England that was established in the 1st century and gained city status in 1853. It is also a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester. A 2007 census revealed that the population in Manchester was around 458,100. Nicknames for Manchester include "Capital of the North", "Cottonopollis", "Gunchester", "Warehouse City", and "Second City". The Manchester city center is being considered for a UNESCO World Heritage Sites status.

Today, the city is acknowledged as a center for the arts, higher education, the media, and commerce. In 2006, a poll determined that business leaders in the United Kingdom determined Manchester to be the best place in the country to locate a business. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK and was the host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The city is also home to two premier league football clubs: Manchester United and Manchester City.

Historically, Manchester is one of the world's first industrialized cities. It used to be a part of Lancashire with some of its regions belonging to Cheshire. The cotton industry found strong footing in Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, thus giving it the nickname cottonopollis. Today, economy in the city is driven by service based and financial industries. It was ranked the second best place to do business in the UK in 2007 and 2008.

Renowned landmarks in Manchester include the Beetham Tower on Deansgate and the B of the Bang sculpture in Sportcity. A large number of cotton mills, some left virtually untouched can be found just outside the city center.