Manchester - A rainy day among libraries, museums and red-brick halls

Manchester has a reputation for changeable weather, and a shower is almost part of the visit. That is no drawback, because the city is full of places where you stay dry and still see a great deal. Many of them are grand buildings from the days when this city spun and wove cotton for the world.

This rainy-day plan takes you from libraries to museums and covered lanes. Everything lies close together, so you spend very little time under an umbrella. And if the sun breaks through, you are already outside and can simply keep walking.

Libraries like cathedrals

• John Rylands Library: This neo-Gothic building with tall reading rooms and stained glass looks like a church for books.
• Chetham's Library: It is said to be the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, set in a medieval building.
• Central Library: The round building on St Peter's Square is a bright, quiet place to warm up.

The city centre is so compact that you hardly get wet between stops. Many buildings date from the nineteenth century, when Manchester grew rich on the textile trade, and red brick still shapes the view. Look closely and you will spot ornaments, crests and inscriptions on the facades that speak of pride and prosperity. The warm interiors, wood panelling and quiet reading rooms make you forget the grey sky outside. Take your time and simply sit down for a while, because that is part of a good rainy day.

Art and history under one roof

Manchester Art Gallery shows paintings, design and crafts, from Pre-Raphaelite pictures to the present day. The People's History Museum tells how ordinary people fought for the vote and fair work, which suits a city that has made political history. If you love football, the National Football Museum is a world of its own.

Where industry began

In Castlefield, the Science and Industry Museum stands on the site of the world's oldest passenger railway station. Machines, steam power and textile technology are explained vividly, and children enjoy it too. Around the museum, canals and brick railway viaducts are worth a look even under a grey sky.

The north side, undercover

The Northern Quarter is a tangle of record shops, vintage stores, cafés and small galleries. Take your time browsing, and let the murals on the walls surprise you. A hot tea or coffee in one of the many independent cafés is part of the experience.

An evening of music

Manchester is a music city, and the evening is the best time to feel it. Small clubs and bars in the centre often have live bands, and the pubs are cosy when the weather turns. Ask locally about current gigs, because the programme changes constantly.

A day, well planned

Start in one of the libraries in the morning while it is still quiet, and head to the Northern Quarter at lunchtime. Museums fit the afternoon well, and the evening belongs to music. The centre is compact, so you can reach almost everything on foot or by tram and the free city buses. A waterproof jacket, a small umbrella and shoes with a good grip are the right kit. Plan breaks in cafés between stops, because rain can be tiring and a hot cup of tea works wonders. If you have time, look at the brick warehouses along the canals and let the architecture of the industrial age impress you.

In the end, rain in Manchester is not an obstacle but an invitation to see the city at its most welcoming. Pack a light waterproof jacket, and your city break will work in any weather.