IF you thought there’s no other place like Manchester, you’d be wrong.
There’s one place in Europe that is said to be the ‘Polish’ version of the UK city with a huge shopping main street and former factories turned entertainment hubs.
This city is Łódź, found in central Poland, it was was once a textile industry hub for the country.
Now it has turned its old factories into a cultural and entertainment area – much like Manchester.
Scattered around the city of Łódź, you’ll spot huge brick buildings that had been used as factories during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.
Now, they’ve been transformed into other uses. OFF Piotrkowska, a former cotton factory is now an open-air mall filled with boutiques.
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And an old textile mill in the Manufaktura complex has been turned into an ‘industrial-chic’ hotel called Vienna House.
Unlike most other cities, Łódź doesn’t have a main hub with lots of little streets – it’s got just one.
Called Piotrkowska Street, it’s where you’ll find almost all of the cities shops, bars, restaurants and cafes.
At 2.6 miles, it’s the longest commercial street in Europe and the longest street in Poland.
It’s not all former factories and shops though, also in the city is Lagiewniki Park which one visitor wrote on Tripadvisor is the “place to go to get away from the city”.
It’s an urban forest surrounding a lake with lots of walking trails and picnic spots.
Just minutes from Łódź is Mandoria, Europe’s largest indoor theme park, which has over 30 rides and attractions.
It opened in 2021 and has four rollercoasters, as well as a small water ride and a large wooden playground called the Old Fort.
Another ride is the huge spinning Galleon ship, which overlooks an indoor harbour within the theme park.
Other attractions include a mirror maze, dodgems, and plenty of different carousel rides.
Earlier this year, it launched its fourth and fastest rollercoaster.
It opened in January 19, 2025, and the rollercoaster reaches speeds of 43mph along its 445m route.
The rollercoaster train has been decorated to look like a wooden cart, something that wouldn’t go amiss in the Renaissance period.
The indoor theme park is a 20-minute drive from Łódź, and an hour’s drive from Warsaw.
From the UK, Brits can fly to Łódź directly from London Stansted or Birmingham Airport from £16 with Ryanair in around two and a half hours.
For more on Poland, here’s a city that one of the cheapest in Europe which has unusual potato beers and Ryanair flights.
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Here’s what else you can do in Łódź…
When it comes to exploring the city, check out these fun and interesting activities…
Film buffs should drop in to the Museum of Cinematography, entry £2, which celebrates Polish cinema with props, original film posters and equipment.
Then make your way to Holly-Lodz, the city’s version of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, outside the Hotel Grand on Piotrkowska Street.
Łódźs’ most famous residents, including pianist Arthur Rubinstein and film director Andrzej Wajda, are honoured with their own pavement stars.
For a modern art fix, check out the impressive collection of 20th- and 21st-century Polish art at MS1 gallery.
The Museum of the City of Łódź occupies the architecturally eclectic palace of Izrael Poznaski, a 19th-century textile magnate.
Pop into Herbst Palace Museum, once home to one of Poland’s wealthiest industrial families, is also filled with fine art and antiques.
When it comes to food, try Pierogi (ear-shaped dumplings filled with anything from mushrooms to shredded duck) which are a Polish classic.