Manchester is filled with a lot of exciting fun facts that range from scientific discoveries to milestones in the entertainment industry.

In this article, we’re going to take a deep dive into interesting pieces of information about this beloved city in the UK.

1. An atom was first split here.

The person credited for splitting an atom for the first time is Ernest Rutherford. He did this at Manchester University in 1917, where he was a professor.

Later on, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in chemistry. This achievement has revolutionised many aspects of science such as nuclear energy and radiation for the treatment of cancer.

2. Rolls and Royce met here.

On May 4, 1904, in the city of Manchester, Charles Rolls first laid on Henry Royce’s classic 10hp automobile. This is the first motor car designed and contracted by Royce himself.

After this, Rolls immediately knew that he found the car that he had been looking for. Flash forward to today, Rolls-Royce is one of the most known luxury car providers in the world.

3. Kellogg’s largest factory is here. 

When it comes to cereals, most of us are familiar with Kellogg’s. It would be hard to walk into a supermarket without spotting several boxes of this on the aisle.

But did you know that the largest factory of this cereal is situated in Manchester? The plant was founded in 1938 and has been producing some of your favourite breakfast staples since then. 

4. It’s the home of the first football league.

Aside from the city’s popular football stadiums, there is a deeper history between this well-loved sport and Manchester. In fact, the world’s first professional football league was established here in 1888.

There were a total of 12 clubs who participated, which kickstarted the opening season of the Football League. 

5. This is where the Industrial Revolution began.

Here’s one of the better-known facts about Manchester. In 1761, the Industrial Revolution started when Bridgewater Canal was opened.

Since there is a great demand for cotton, the city has been a go-to stopping point for textiles. This made it one of the cornerstones of the textile industry during those times.

6. There are over 2000 spoken languages here.

There are over half a million people in Manchester. Some are locals, while others hail from various parts of the world.

With a diverse population, it’s no surprise that many languages will be spoken here. But what’s fascinating is that it’s deemed the most linguistically diverse city, since four out of every ten young people can speak multiple languages.

7. There are 25 Nobel Laureates from Manchester University. 

Aside from Ernest Rutherford, there are also other Nobel Laureates from the esteemed Manchester University. This makes it the third-best academic institution in the UK, after Oxford and Cambridge.

With this, Manchester has proven itself as one of the most suitable destinations for advanced education. In fact, there are many students from all over the world who are enrolled in the various universities in the city.

8. The first public library was opened here.

With Manchester’s proven love for academic advancement, it’s fitting that the city is also home to the first public library. In 1653, Chetham’s Library was founded near Victoria Station.

This contains about 100,000 books from various authors and genres. We are happy to share that this historical library is still open until today, every Monday to Friday.

9. The vegetarian diet originated here.

Nowadays, most of us are familiar with the vegetarian diet. There are also many activists who push for this. 

But what many of us may not know is that the vegetarian movement originated in Manchester – specifically in Salford. It was initiated by Reverend William Cowherd, who established the first vegetarian church in the UK known as Beefsteak Chapel.

10. Textile departments are also called Manchester departments.

The achievements of Manchester with cotton and other textiles during the Industrial Revolution resonate until today. In fact, in countries such as Australia, textile departments are sometimes referred to as Manchester departments. 

Most believe that this is because various textiles arrive in crates with Manchester inscribed on it – making the city synonymous with its popular product.

11. Manchester was named after breasts.

With the city’s rich history and culture, you would think that its name is derived from something more meaningful. However, the name is based on the two hills that stand in between a crossing point on the River Medlock.

The two hills resembled a women’s breasts, therefore the place was called “Mamucium,”  which means “breast-shaped hills”. As time passed, the name of the city was changed to Manchester by the Normans.

12. Peaky Blinders was shot in Manchester.

Despite being set in Birmingham, many scenes in Peaky Blinders were actually shot in Manchester. Since the city is rich with industrial backdrops, it served as a perfect production location for the popular series. 

One of the spots that they used is Castlefield, where most of the scenes with canals were done. 

13. Quidditch was invented while J.K. Rowling was in Manchester.

In 1991, J.K. Rowling, the author of the renowned book series Harry Potter, stayed at the Bourneville Hotel in Manchester. According to her, it was during her stay here that she was able to conceptualise Quidditch.

If you are a fan of the book or the movies, you are probably familiar with this game played by wizards. 

14. It is the home to one of the earliest LGBT-friendly spots.

The New Union Pub is located in the city’s Gay Village district on Canal Street. This has been known to hold drag shows as early as World War 2.

Until today, the city of Manchester is one of the safest and most welcoming places for LGBT people.

15. Manchester is the best city to live in.

Of course, that’s subjective. But if you ask The Economist’s Global Liveability Survey, Manchester is consistently bagging the top award in the UK.

It’s believed that this is because of its commendable living conditions, which include kind people, good establishments, and great weather.