If you live in or have visited the city of Manchester, you will be familiar with the impressive and unforgettable sights and attractions that it has to offer, often for free. The city is a highly active place, brimming with media companies and creativity, but which are the best places to visit?

Filled with culture and development, Manchester is highly celebrated, with an important musical history and thriving LGBT community. Even though it might appear that the city does not have the appeal of other larger metropolitan cities, there is a wealth of things to see amongst a bustling economy and beautiful surroundings.

It is these attractions that have made Manchester an ideal location for company headquarters, as they give workers something to do on their lunch hour or after work. In fact presented below are some of the key areas, generated with the assistance of Need Office Space:

1. The Whitworth Art Gallery: Costing nothing to enter, this gallery has a collection of over 55,000 items, as well as an array of unique and unusual exhibits. Roughly a year ago, I had visited this gallery to view 'Kinderzimmer' by Gregor Schneider, which was a massive space that had no lighting whatsoever, except for a small, eerily-lit room that contained a dirty and old mattress. Deeply unsettling but highly effective.

2. The Manchester Museum: Managed by the University of Manchester, it does not cost anything to enter and has recently been awarded as one of the must-see university museums of the UK. Featuring around six million within, such as animal skeletons, live animals within a vivarium, items that date from a number of different eras, as well as dinosaur bones. An unforgettable museum experience!

3. Manchester Academy: If you listen to a lot of new and upcoming bands, then Manchester Academy is an absolutely amazing place to visit. The music scene has played a vital role in making Manchester become the cultural epicentre and the Academy only strengthens this further. With upcoming bands scheduled to play, such as Jimmy Eat World, Example and Groove Armada, the Manchester Academy is always lively, electric and thrilling.

4. Trafford Centre shopping mall: From across the UK, shoppers flock to the Trafford Centre to experience the plethora of amazing shops contained within. This centre presents the perfect lunch-break for the average worker in Manchester serviced offices, according to Need Office Space experts. Boasting a wide range of premium stores (and independent outlets), this centre will be a delight for every shopper who visits.

5. Beautiful greenery. Even though many might think that Manchester is a solely industrial region, it boasts lush greenery, fantastic landscapes and a selection of some of the most famous parks of the UK. Heaton Park stands out as one of the best in the region, with great attractions such as fine cafe and playgrounds for the kids, this park is the best way to de-stress yourself in some fresh air. It would be a great idea to visit other parks that have been widely celebrated, such as Wythenshawe and Queens Park.

Whilst there is nothing better than exploring Manchester yourself and discovering your particular favourites, these five things to see will add up to a highly enjoyable experience.