John Rylands Library

Manchester

Copyright: John Rylands Library
DESTINATIONS united kingdom manchester Do & See John Rylands Library

John Rylands Library

For those who set eyes on Deansgate's The John Rylands Library for the first time, 'library' might not be the first word that comes to mind. This masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture looks more like a castle or cathedral. When John Rylands died in 1888, he was one of Manchester's most successful industrialists with a personal fortune of £2.75million. The library was commissioned in 1890 by his wife Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her late husband. This world-class collection includes the oldest known piece of the New Testament, the St John Fragment. Other treasures of the vast, varied collection include magnificent illuminated medieval manuscripts and a 1476 William Caxton edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Do & See

Manchester is perhaps best known internationally for two things: music and football. Huge musical acts, including The Hollies, The Bee Gees, New Order, Oasis, Take That, Simply Red, and many more, have hailed from Manchester. And the yearly "In The City" music festival has launched many to international stardom. Football fans will want to visit the legendary Old Trafford stadium, museum and megastore. But Manchester has a lot more to offer than just music and sports. It is a young and creative city, with outstanding museums, food and nightlife, crisscrossed by canals, which give it a unique atmosphere. And one of the greatest pleasures about visiting Manchester is exploring the various districts on foot.