As I board the Etihad Airways, I soon realise, every bit of what I had heard of the airline offering the best of Arabian hospitality, is true. Etihad flies via Abu Dhabi to Manchester, which was my destination, and if you’re flying business class, you can experience a bit of luxury at its lounge with a foot reflexology at the Six Senses spa or indulge in a gourmet buffet or pick from an extensive á la carte menu.

On the sixth day God created MANchester: Known to be one of the safest cities for single women travellers in the UK, Manchester can easily be called one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities too. Set in a region that offers great value for money, it retains its own unique character, with its fascinating history, interactive attractions, magnificent architecture and the spirit of its people. There’s a nip in the air, as I arrive, and a slight drizzle too, but as they say, ‘you have to face the rain, if you want to see the rainbow,’ and with that thought I check-in at the Midland Hotel, a four star deluxe hotel, situated at the heart of the city, overlooking St Peter’s Square, Manchester Central Library, Albert Square, Manchester Central as well as Bridgewater Hall. Since I had time only to dip my toe in Manchester, on this three-day trip, I decided to dip it in style. Since the hotel is located near shopping district and theaters, I head out to soak in its fine traditions of culture, music and sport.

Getting around: A free bus service Metroshuttle, loops around the city centre on three different routes, with easy to comprehend 1, 2 and 3 routes clearly marked on all maps. Manchester also has a tram service called the Metrolink to go to Salford Quays or Old Trafford. I took the Manchester Taxi Tour with my tour guide John Consterdine in his traditional black hackney taxi (manchestertaxitours.com). Dinner at Mughli on Manchester’s famous ‘Curry Mile’ 30 Wilmslow Road, will give you a good taste of how the English tuck into their butter chicken. Culture curry: The next morning is bright with clear skies, as Helen Freeborough, a tour guide (manchesterguidedtours.com) waiting to show the city on foot. Only if you’re walking, can you truly appreciate the various galleries and museums, architectural highlights and the bohemian Northern Quarter and canal side Gay Village. Town Hall is about making a statement and is host to many television programmes like House of Cards, a BBC drama and films like The Iron Lady and Harry Potter. As luck would have it, Frankenstein was being filmed in the Victorian courtyard, and I got to take a quick peek into the street scene being recreated.

A walk at the Northern Quarter is a must with a hot cup of English tea at Teacup after you browse around at the Manchester Craft & Design Centre. While some may visit the city for a beautiful game or a legendary night out, many others even pitch in to get their retail kicks. Get some great buys at the quaint boutiques, lose yourself inside Manchester Arndale, Selfridges or TK Maxx. Once you’re done, head to the Salford Quays or try the impressive Imperial War Museum North, one of the most celebrated museums in Britain today. An act to remember: Cross the Quays bridge over to The Lowry arts centre and dine in style before catching a performance. I plonk on a couch facing the glass-walled Damsons restaurant.

After appreciating the work of art on my plate, I walk down to catch Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, a captivating study of the corrosion of youthful idealism, wasted ambitions and unrequited love. Night life: With historic pubs being a pride of the city, it’s also a Hipster haven with a mix of traditional and new pubs like The Castle Hotel, Crown and Kettle, The Marble Arch, The Angel, The Briton’s Protection, Peveril of the Peak, Sam’s Chop House, The New Oxford or Lime that have great selections of interesting and affordable wine or pint. Football: Listen to the greatest football stories ever told at the Manchester United Museum & Tour at Old Trafford. The story of Manchester United is a century old and combines eras of total English and European domination.