'I went to Manchester, spent £28, and had one of the strangest days I've had for a long time'

The craze of 'extreme daytripping' has been taking off on social media.

Creators bag bargain basement flights to a different country, before returning home on the very same day - after a whistle-stop tour of their destination. And it seems Manchester is not exempt from the trend.

While many might think it's impossible to take in even a hint of everything the city has to offer in just a few hours, BelfastLive's James Martin McCarthy gave it a go.

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He took the trip over to the Irish Sea to find out, spending just £28 on his flight. And says he had one of the strangest days he's had for a long time...

Read an account of his experiences below:

I'd heard about the concept of extreme daytripping, but the cost of flying somewhere for just a few hours has always put me off.

However, when I saw that return flights from Belfast to Manchester were going for just £28, it was cheaper than getting a taxi from my house to Belfast City Centre which ranges anywhere from £27 to £35 each way. How could I say no? £28? I’d probably spend more on lunch. So I roped in my cousin, booked the flights, and the plan was set.

We were on the 7:05 a.m. flight, bleary-eyed but buzzing with energy. The new security arrangements at Belfast International meant that getting through the airport was a breeze. From parking my car in the long-stay car park to sitting in the departure lounge, it took just under 10 minutes, which was a pleasant surprise.

While our flight to Manchester was delayed due to a welfare issue with the first officer, when we were wheels up, it was quick, taking less than an hour, and before we knew it, we were touching down and trying to fit as much into our day before our 8pm flight home.

Getting from the airport to the city centre was quick, easy and also surprisingly cheap at £5.90 for a return ticket on the train and getting around the city itself was also quite simple as the trams operate a tap on and off system which saw us spend £3.50 taking multiple trips throughout the day.

Our first stop was one of those quirky destinations you don’t typically see in travel guides, but for anyone like myself who grew up watching Blue Peter, the garden is a nostalgic must.

Tucked away in Media City, the Blue Peter Garden felt strangely peaceful for being in the heart of a major city centre hub. There it was, the sunken classic pond, the statue of Petra the dog, and of course, the iconic Blue Peter ship. I half-expected to see a presenter jump out and give me another badge to add to the six I collected growing up. It was a weirdly calming start to the day as we wandered through the small garden, laughing at childhood memories of time capsules and DIY projects gone wrong.

Just a short walk away from Media City is the set of Coronation Street. Fans of the show can book a trip to their visitor experience where you can wonder through replica sets and on weekends you can book tours of the backlot where you will walk down the cobbles and have a photograph taken outside the iconic Rovers Return.

Given that we had visited on a Tuesday, we chose not to do the experience as filming was ongoing, and you wouldn't have the opportunity to see the actual set. However, we did wander around the perimeter, where we caught a glimpse of the Weatherfield Police Station, the community centre, and a Freshco delivery van, which is often seen in the background of shots on the show.

Next on the list, we dandered over to Old Trafford. Even for someone like me who wouldn't be a big fan of football, stepping into the Theatre of Dreams was a pretty surreal experience. We didn’t have time for a full tour, but just standing outside the massive stadium, with its towering statues of legends like Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby, gave us that sense of history, and we could imagine how great the atmosphere would be on a match day as you walk with the crowds towards the stadium.

There were a few tourists milling around, snapping selfies, and grabbing overpriced merch. We resisted the urge to buy anything, knowing we had more stops ahead, but it was tempting to grab a scarf to show we’d been there. Maybe next time. After all, we still had Manchester to conquer.

By now, it was nearing lunchtime, and Manchester’s Chinatown was calling. It’s the second-largest in the UK, and the unmistakable red archway welcomed us as we strolled through the streets, filled with restaurants, bakeries, and shops selling everything from dim sum to bubble tea. We nipped into an Asian supermarket and grabbed some snacks to stick on our backpacks before wandering around the area and taking some photos.

No trip to a city is complete without a bit of shopping, and Manchester’s Arndale Centre is massive. We walked through the entrance, and I was immediately taken aback by the number of stores stretching as far as the eye could see, from high street favourites to more niche spots and even a market that reminded me of the iconic Inn Shops. We wandered around for a while longer, but with limited time, we didn’t linger too long in any one shop. We still had more ground to cover.

Our last major stop was Canal Street, Manchester’s famous LGBTQ+ district. By now, the day was shifting into late afternoon, and Canal Street was alive with its usual vibrant energy. Rainbow flags hung from buildings, and there was a buzz of people enjoying drinks at outdoor tables by the water. Rather than stopping for a drink, we decided to wander around for a bit before wandering back to the city centre towards the iconic Afflecks, an emporium of the weird and wonderful.

With the evening closing in, it was time to head back to the airport. We made it through security, exhausted but buzzing from the day. As we settled into our seats on the plane, I couldn’t believe how much we’d packed in. All of that, and still home before 9pm.

For £28, it was one of the best and strangest days I’ve had in a long time. There's something ridiculous about flying to another city, cramming a full day of exploration in, and flying back the same night. But sometimes, the absurdity makes it all the more memorable.