The metropolitan county of Greater Manchester is made up of the City of Manchester and areas such as Stockport, Salford, Bolton, Wigan and Rochdale.
The City of Manchester is the heart of Greater Manchester and has one of the most vibrant music and cultural scenes in the whole of England. Sporting tradition, music and the fact that Manchester began the world industrial revolution have meant that Manchester is famous the world over.
Greater Manchester is a very diverse location with an industrial and cultural heartland in the centre, whilst the North and East of the county are hilly and rural. Manchester boasts one of the highest student populations anywhere, with the Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University, the Manchester Business School and the Royal Northern College of Music creating a huge and vibrant campus feel in Manchester. Manchester is well connected to the travel network in England, with an international airport, a location on the west coast train line, as well as being at the centre of the North West road network. The location of Greater Manchester is also excellent for exploring the North Wales coast as well as the Lake District, possibly the most beautiful area in the whole of England. The city of Manchester has a strong heritage of music, popular culture and sport. Manchester United is one of the biggest names in sport globally, whilst music bands such as Oasis and New Order has been successful across the world.