There are over 30 places called Manchester in the United States, as well as places called Manchester in Australia, Canada, Jamaica and South America.

But we are talking about “our” Manchester the second most visited city in the UK after London. It is notable for its architecture, culture, musical exports, media links, scientific and engineering output, social impact and sports clubs.

Manchester is a city of notable firsts: Manchester Liverpool Road railway station was the world’s first inter-city passenger railway station and the oldest remaining railway station. The city has also excelled in scientific advancement, as it was at The University of Manchester, in 1917, that scientist Ernest Rutherford first split the atom. The university’s further achievements include the development of the world’s first stored-programme computer in 1948; and, in 2004, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov successfully isolated and characterised the first graphene.

Bands that have emerged from the Manchester music scene include Van der Graaf Generator, Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division and its successor group New Order, Buzzcocks, The Stone Roses, The Fall, The Durutti Column, 10cc, Godley & Creme, The Verve, Elbow, Doves, The Charlatans, M People, The 1975, Simply Red and Take That.

Previously, notable Manchester acts of the 1960s include The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits and Davy Jones of the Monkees as well as the Bee Gees who grew up in Chorlton.

So it’s no wonder that the website of Out In The City, based in Manchester – a small social and support group catering for members of the LGBT communities over 50 – should attract visitors from many countries around the world!

Since the website started in July 2017 there have been visitors from 54 countries, and since lockdown in March 2020 we have had 172 visitors from 23 countries: Australia 14; Bangladesh 1; Brazil 2; Canada 5; China 18; Finland 1; France 4; Greece 2; India 7; Indonesia 1; Isle of Man 1; Moldova 2; Netherlands 2; New Zealand 1; Philippines 2; Poland 2; Russia 1; Slovenia    2; Spain 7; Switzerland 4; Uganda 4; US 88; and Vietnam 1.

Manchester is a friendly place, and we wish a HUGE “Thank You” greeting to all our international readers, as well as those who have adopted the city as their home.