Manchester's 'hidden gem' tourist destination has been tipped as one of the best in the world.
Out of all the worldwide locations, Manchester’s St Mary’s church has been crowned the world’s best ‘hidden gem’ location - with 49% of its reviews coining it as a local wonder, according to tour operator firm Bókun. Part of the reason why so many visitors have judged it to be worthy of the status is likely because of the cathedral's nickname - 'the Hidden Gem'.
The tall, red brick building sits on Mulberry Street in the city and was the second Catholic church to welcome parishioners in Manchester when it was built back in the 1790s. It has long been rumoured that the place of worship was constructed in secret during the post-Reformation period. In fact, an ad was placed in the local paper when its doors swung open for the first time. Regardless, its nickname has stuck.
St Mary's had to be moved several decades after it was first finished when a large crack appeared in the ceiling, much to the alarm of the worshippers below. Its splendour was not diminished during the move however, with the fine sculpture work on the saints which flank the altar remaining intact to impress visitors to this day.
The church may not be too eye catching from the outside (Shutterstock / Marmalade Photos)
The alter is quite impressive (Facebook)"A place of prayer and quiet in a bustling noisy city centre where peace, and focus on the eternal, are to be found," a recent reviewer wrote on Tripadvisor, where the church has 4.5/5 stars.
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Another gushed: "I always make a point of visiting when in Manchester. The mundane exterior does not prepare you for the beauty within. The high altar is adorned with sculptures of angels and saints. The sculptures are amazing and so beautiful."
A third wrote: "A beautiful church with a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere. I can certainly understand why they call St Mary's the 'Hidden Gem'. The altar on its own is worth seeing, but do look up for the oriel which has recently been restored. A haven of tranquillity in a busy city."
The church is open to the public at several points during the week. Regular masses are also held, with details available on its website.
If you fancy visiting some of the lesser known tourist hotspots across the UK but you're not heading to Manchester soon, then you're in luck. Bókun has examined over 1,000 local destinations using Tripadvisor reviews containing the phrase ‘hidden gem’ to highlight some of the best.
One notable mention is the Time Trap Museum in Grimsby, where visitors are taken on a time travel journey to uncover the town’s history. The old Police cells and prisoner exercise area have been transformed to map the development of the town into the largest fishing port in the world. A quarter of reviewers judged it to be a hidden gem.
London and Birmingham are the best cities to find hidden gems, according to the research. A total of 29 attractions made the list in the English capital, with some of the most notable hidden gems in London include Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, Crossrail Place Roof Garden and God’s Own Junkyard. Birmingham had seven entries including the iconic Pen Museum.
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