One of the most famous tourist destinations in England, Manchester has been receiving more than a million visitors annually since 2017. Manchester is the commercial and cultural capital of Lancashire. Together with Salford and another eight municipalities, Manchester belongs to the metropolitan county area of Greater Manchester. The city has undergone massive developments to boost its tourism sector, particularly focusing on arts, culture, and education.
Everyone knows Manchester as the world’s football powerhouse as it is home to two international football giants, Manchester United and Manchester City. Manchester is also a perfect destination for shoppers looking for affordable and upscale boutiques. Likewise, Manchester boasts a combination of Medieval, Victorian, and Edwardian architecture. A stroll along its streets will feel like a journey back in time seeing wood furnishings, medieval carvings, and even the city’s cotton and textile factories. Museums and art galleries also stand side by side with urban parks for culture enthusiasts and nature lovers to enjoy.
Manchester has something for everyone, regardless of budget, age, gender, race, and interest. If you’re travelling to this city, better construct your itinerary from our list of best places to visit in Manchester.
See also: Things to Do in Manchester with Kids
Cost: Free
The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester operates with the principle of showcasing the “ideas that change the world from the Industrial Revolution to today and beyond”. Located on the site of the world’s oldest railroad station and at the heart of the first industrial city, the Museum of Science and Industry is where you can explore the magical discoveries in the field of science and technology. Inside the museum, visitors can explore 12 galleries. One of the exhibits highlighted by the museum is the Power Hall where steam-driven machines from the golden age of the textile industry and vintage cars are showcased. Another must-visit gallery is the Station Building where visitors are taken to a learning experience about the history of Manchester from the Roman period to the present. Likewise, a replica of Triplane 1, the first British plane to successfully fly, and other historic aircrafts await the museum’s visitors at the Air and Space Gallery. The other galleries inside the Museum of Science and Industry are equally fascinating with their different displays of technological inventions.
Location: Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact Details: 0161 832 2244
Cost: Free
Art creates a difference in ways we can’t even comprehend. Art has the power to heal, to express, to inspire, to recreate, and to communicate. At the Manchester Art Gallery, visitors can revel at more than 25,000 items on display. Regarded as one of the most beautiful art galleries in the world, the Manchester Art Gallery was founded in 1824 and is currently a publicly owned gallery. Thus, there are no admission tickets needed to enter its premises and admire the works of famous artists, including Max Ernst, Monet, Gauguin, Henry Moore, Rodin, Stubbs, and Manet. The gallery displays paintings of pre-Raphaelites, Flemish masters of the 17th century, German artists, and even contemporary English artists. The Manchester Art Gallery also hosts various exhibits every month. Indeed, a visit to this gallery in Manchester is a soothing experience for travelers to appreciate and be healed by the profound power of art.
Location: Mosley Street & Princess Street, Manchester M23JL, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Daily, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays until Sundays
Contact Details: 0161 235 8888
Cost: Free
Situated inside the University of Manchester, the Manchester Museum is the leading university museum in the United Kingdom. Travelers to Manchester include this as part of their itinerary in order to explore the museum’s stunning collection of artefacts in natural history. Visitors to the Manchester Museum can see all sorts of displays, from archaeology and anthropology to the earth sciences. Some exhibits you can check out inside the museum are Egyptian sarcophagi, mummies, a large Japanese spider crab, and a reproduction of a huge T-rex fossil. You can also visit the vivarium to have a closer look at frogs and other reptiles. Likewise, you can see the Neb-Senu statue that went viral on YouTube in 2013 after a security camera showed it turning slowly in a perfect circle. Even though experts have already regarded the phenomenon as the result of vibrations due to the visitors and the traffic, the Neb-Senu statue remains a highlight in the museum visit. Thus, the Manchester Museum is sure to excite visitors of all ages.
Location: University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
Opening Hours: Daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact Details: 0161 275 2648
Cost: Free
Another must-visit place in Manchester, especially if you’re with the family, is the Castlefield Urban Heritage Park. Originally the site of a Roman fort called the Mamucium, the Castlefield Urban Heritage Park is a conservation area that provides a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets. The Castlefield Urban Heritage Park is a place where you can take a stroll to admire the restored Victorian houses lining the old canals, visit the old Roman Fort, go to The Wharf to enjoy a sumptuous meal, and explore the Bridgewater Canal via a boat ride. You can also head to the Castlefield Art Gallery to admire the meaningful contemporary artworks or to the Bridgewater Hall to attend a concert in the Halle Orchestra.
Location: Castlefield, Manchester, England
Opening Hours: Daily
Cost: Free
Manchester boasts of numerous parks which provide an ideal relaxation away from the bustling city life. The biggest park in Greater Manchester county, the Heaton Park measures 600 acres and is a product of extensive restoration efforts. However, the park still retains many of its original structures, particularly the vistas. Today, visitors in the Heaton Park can enjoy various activities within the premises. For example, you can play on the 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, mini putt, and driving range. There is also a lake, an animal farm, and an adventure playground for visitors with kids. Moreover, you can admire the ornamental gardens, the observatory, the museum, and the woodlands. Before you leave the park, be sure to take a boat ride on the lake and enjoy the calming view of the greenery that surrounds you.
Location: The Farm Centre, Prestwich, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M25 2SW
Opening Hours: Daily, from 8:00 a.m. until dusk
Contact Details: +44(0)161 773 1085
Cost: Free
Not typically seen on a tourist’s itinerary list is a visit to the library. However, the Chetham’s Library might just be the exception to that. As one of the oldest public libraries in England, Chetham’s Library was established in 1653. Today, it holds more than 100,000 books, with over half of them printed as early as the 1800s. For history buffs, they will recognize Chetham’s Library as the meeting place of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels when the former visited Manchester. Originally, however, the library formed part of the residence for priests back in 1422.
Location: Long Millgate, Manchester
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact Details: 0161 834 7961
Cost: Free
Formerly known as the Affleck’s Palace, Afflecks is a popular indoor shopping center in Manchester located on the junction of Church Street and Dale Street. Spread across four floors, Afflecks houses many shops and stalls selling cheap items, such as clothes, souvenirs, food, and even massage services.
Location: 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Daily, until shops close
Contact Details: +44 161 839 0718
Cost: Free
If you are a traveler who loves to explore historic and cultural places, including religious structures, visit the Manchester Cathedral. Located at Victoria Street, the Manchester Cathedral became a cathedral in 1847 but was in existence as early as the 1400s. One of the most stunning churches in England, this cathedral features two chapels on both sides: the St. John’s Chapel and the Little Lady Chapel. Its choir stalls are a sight to behold with their meticulously decorated misericords. Likewise, the octagonal chapterhouse showcases unique mural paintings of Jesus Christ dressed in contemporary clothes.
Location: Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1SX
Opening Hours: Daily, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (except Fridays and Saturdays until 5:30 p.m. only)
Contact Details: 0161 833 2220
Cost: Free
Manchester is popular as a football powerhouse. Hence, it is expected that every visitor to the city would pay a visit to the National Football Museum and check out displays and memorabilia related to this beloved sport. Inside the National Football Museum, you can see trophies, uniforms, and the first rulebook, among many other displays. After a visit to the museum, you can then head to the stadiums of Manchester’s football teams.
Location: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester M4 3BG
Opening Hours: Daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact Details: 0161 605 8200
Cost: Varies
After exploring most of the city, you can’t leave Manchester without going to the Royal Exchange Theater. A grade two listed building in Manchester, the Royal Exchange Theater boasts of a seven-sided stage that guarantees the best watching experience for every audience. The Royal Exchange Theater can accommodate at most 760 spectators. You can watch a show inside the theater or take a tour and learn about the theater’s history.
Location: St Ann’s Square, Manchester M2 7DH, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Depends on the show
Entrance Fee: Varies, depending on the show
Contact Details: +44 161 833 9833
Excited to pack your bags for Manchester? Happy travels!
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