Manchester's 24-hour party people

"Manchester's got everything except a beach", former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown once said. From football to food, architecture to alcohol - Manchester has the lot in abundance.

A city of change, Manchester is enduring something of a renaissance. Out of the dust of an IRA bomb has climbed a stunning metropolis, where old meets new - the Victorian against the contemporary.

Once upon a time a historian described Manchester of having "everything but good looks", now it even has that. The towering 47-storey all-glass Beetham Tower, contrasts with the converted railway warehouse next to it, while the Urbis, Arndale Centre and Piccadilly Gardens glisten in the sun.

Daytime adventures in Manchester can contrast as much as the architecture. To stimulate the mind, there is much to do - from the intriguing exhibitions at the Urbis to the Cornerhouse cinema and café next to Oxford Road train station.

Sports lovers have Manchester United and Lancashire Cricket Club based in Old Trafford - approximately ten minutes drive from the city centre - while the City of Manchester Stadium, home to Manchester City, is within walking distance of Piccadilly train station.

Shoppers have plenty to stimulate their minds in Manchester. The Arndale Centre has undergone a huge revamp since the bomb and now is home to Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Ted Baker. The nearby Triangle is a usual celebrity haunt, while the bohemian Affleck's Palace in the Northern Quarter offers something a bit leftfield.

For food, visitors have as wider choice as possible in Manchester. Amid the usual high street chains are restaurants providing Armenian, Brazilian and Australian food - along with a number of high quality Chinese restaurants in China Town. The new £4.5 million Vermilion has to be tried to be believed.

As day turns into night, the city turns it up a gear. The renaissance has extended to the nighteries, with hundreds of Manchester bars and clubs to choose from.

Deansgate - home to The Living Room, where Posh and Becks, Justin Timberlake and Deansgate Locks are usually frequented by those with a fat wallet. It can, however be enjoyed by anyone. Cloud 23 - located on the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower - is not one for those averse to heights but the views - and the drink selection - are stunning.

The gay village - on Canal Street - offers a continental style, with drinking and partying taking place on the old cobbled street.

In contrast, the indie scene is located towards the Northern Quarter, with numerous old-style pubs intertwining with trendy bars. Trof - a three-storey arty pub - is famous for its laid back, early evening atmosphere and a good selection of foreign beers and unique cocktails.

As the night kicks on, visitors to Manchester have an abundance of choices to continue the fun. Clubbers often travel to Sankeys or Area 51 - handily located in amongst Deansgate train station - while the Manchester Warehouse Project is growing in popularity every autumn.

Indie lovers can end the night in 42nd Street or 5th Avenue, while those with a more sophisticated taste may end up in Manchester 235, or the upmarket Panacea.

Luckily, at the end of it all, the majority of hotels in Manchester are close to the city centre and offer great value for money. The newly refurbished Ramada Piccadilly Gardens is as central as it gets, while the grand Midland Hotel, on Peter Street, offers the chance to stay in the same place that has intrigued the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Tony Blair, Mike Tyson and Jennifer Lopez.

As the great philosopher Noel Gallagher once said, "the thing about Manchester is it all comes from here," pointing to his heart. In modern Manchester, you'll get the great northern welcome in a new cosmopolitan city that might just surprise you.