Manchester - John Rylands Library tea towel

If there's one city that weaves together its past and its present successfully, it's Manchester. With its long and exciting history, modern Manchester is a rich tapestry of old and new, industrial and metropolitan. From Roman ruins to sky-scrapers, Gothic churches to 19th century mills - Manchester has it all. And any trip to Manchester would be incomplete without a visit to the John Ryland's Library. Opened to the public in 1900, the library is a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture. The ornate facade is more than enough to take your breath away: dark red stone carved with finely-detailed tracery.

But the interior - shown in this stunning design - is just something else. The whole space has something holy about it, as if it were a church of learning, complete with stained glass windows and a high vaulted ceiling. There's a reading room for a nave, students for the faithful, and stacks of books for an altar. Bookshelves line the galleries above, and private alcoves branch off through the arches below. And to make the atmosphere just right, there's the warm glow of the lights - a beautiful scene to enjoy as you dry the dishes.