Manchester has secured a huge coup by being named one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

It is the only British city to have been named on the New York Times list of ‘places to visit in 2015’ with neither London or Birmingham featuring.

Ranked 26th out of 52, it has soared above renowned destinations such as the Italian capital Rome and idyllic spots such as Miami Beach in Florida.

The newspaper says the “flurry of cultural openings” penned in for this year make it a must-visit for Americans.

These include the renovated Whitworth Art Gallery on Oxford Road, new £25 million arts centre Home and the home of legendary Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell where she wrote classics such as Cranford.

However, as the NY Times points out “it’s not all high culture”, and it highlights the new Hotel Football, being launched opposite Old Trafford by United legends Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

Tourism bosses say they have ploughed lots of resources into courting US visitors and say are delighted with the accolade.

There are now direct flights from Manchester Airport to nine US cities with Delta Airlines to begin daily flights to New York this summer.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, director of tourism at Marketing Manchester, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to see Manchester being recognised in this way, in what is set to be an exceptional year for cultural tourism in the city.

“Marketing Manchester has been courting the US market through promotional activities and campaigns for many years so this is a real coup and we hope that it will inspire a new wave of travellers to discover the city.

“In addition to the culturally significant moments described in the listing Manchester will also enjoy landmark events in 2015 including the fifth Manchester International Festival, Manchester Pride’s 25th anniversary and a leg of the Rugby World Cup.

“It’s also the 20th anniversary of the Manchester Arena which Billboard magazine recently recognised as the third busiest music venue in the world.”

Coun Pat Karney, Manchester’s City Centre spokesman, said: “Lists like this that promote the city on an international stage are priceless for boosting the Manchester brand across the globe – but of course Mancunians have known for years that Manchester is a world-beating destination - and cultural, residential and infrastructure investment continues to make Manchester one of the fastest growing and most exciting cities in Europe.”

The NY Times piece says the opening of the Whitworth Art Gallery next month, following a £15 million refurb is the one of the many events that “fills the 2015 calendar of this now edgy city.”

Dr Maria Balshaw, the director of Whitworth and Manchester Galleries said: “The fact that Manchester is being recognized as a cultural destination doesn’t surprise me – from the reopening of the Whitworth to the opening of HOME and Manchester International Festival a little later, this year is a very good one to visit the city.

“International in their outlook, those openings and events are fuelled by the ingenuity, wit and innovation that have characterized the city for the best part of 200 years and that’s why people from all over the world want to come here.”

New Arts space Home, born out of the merger of the Library Threatre Company and the Cornerhouse, will open at the First Street Development near Deansgate Locks in the Spring.

The home of Elizabeth Gaskell, hailed by her contemporary Charles Dickens, is a notable inclusion after it re-opened last year following a 20 year campaign by volunteers to save it from ruin.

The grade II listed regency villa on Plymouth Grove re-opened last Autumn after undergoing a £2.5 million lottery funded restoration project.

Football has always been a huge factor in putting Manchester on the map and the Hotel Football will, the piece says, cement its place as a “soccer stronghold.”

Due to open on March 2 it will house fans visiting Old Trafford for matches and other events and will feature a rooftop football pitch and award winning football-themed cafe.

Stuart Procter, the hotel’s Managing Director, said: “It’s a massive tribute to the booming city of culture Manchester has become and we should be extremely proud of the recognition it’s now rightly receiving.

“As ‘England’s second City’ we are already home to leading cultural and sporting attractions and 2015 won’t disappoint in terms of new launches and opening. “There’s no doubt that the leisure industry in the city is on the up and it’s therefore the perfect time and location to introduce Hotel Football to the world.”

Stephen Miles, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel said: “The American market has always been very important to us and the Edwardian Group London has worked hard, along with Marketing Manchester, to encourage US tourism, as active sponsors of Brit Week.

“We know from the American guests that visit our hotel that it’s the city’s musical heritage, unique historical character and vibrant locals that attract them to visit.”

Here are just some of the reasons why Manchester really is the place to be: