Just back from a couple of days in Manchester where we picked up the Eurocities award for participation (well done Kevin et al). I loved Manchester and have bored everyone about this since I got back.  The following lists why it made an impression on me:

#Warmth of the welcome - from the conference welcome desk at the station, through to the euro cities posters splashed on every other poster site - I knew they wanted me there (what an impression this must have made if you had just arrived from Macedonia or Finland etc.)

#Civic pride - a pool of local volunteers with local accents, many elderly, provided help and guidance about the city to conference delegates (it made me realise just how rare it is to see older people actively involved in ‘professional' events).  People appear to be very proud of their city.  Even the taxi-driver talked it up.  It is visibly multicultural too - the pub next door even had a half-price deal on Halal meals. 

#Quality Buildings, the scale and the space - Looking around, it was hard to find a truly ugly building.  Many of the city centre buildings are very tall but it still manages to feel spacious at street level.  Up-lighters make the most of the impressive Victorian facades and at night, the city centre looked simply fantastic.  The Bridgewater Hall is 10 years old but feels like it was designed yesterday.

#Active  - the centre is buzzing with life, people working-out in basement gyms, theatre queues, Salisbury's packed, concerts, Christmas market outside the town hall. Much more than stag and hen nights.

#Transport - I paid £3 for a taxi!  The tram adds a sense of urgency and grace.  The concert arena actually hangs over Victoria Station, what a great use of space and so easy to get in and out.

#Sense of Humour - conference organisers gave everyone an umbrella

#Leadership - Richard Leese, cool, confident, self-assured, a man of the people but a visionary too.  Very inspiring.

#Narrative - everyone tells the same story.  "Mancheter, the original modern city" is a great line, summing up the city's inheretance and its future. 

Bristol has all of these elements and on the ground, many of our projects are leading thw way (we did win the award after all) but I feel we have more to do in bringing it all together.