The best things to do in Manchester are great, but the real magic is often found in places that aren’t as well known. This is a new guide for you if you want to find new, different, or just less obvious places to see in Manchester.
Cultural and creative centres, not just the big museums
Aviva Studios is the newest and biggest place in Manchester for cultural events. This is also where Factory International is located. This is a unique place to see art, music, and shows all year long. You can go to a big concert one week and an interactive art installation the next week because of how it is built. Check out their schedule to see what’s going on in the city’s modern creative scene.
HOME: A lot of tourists don’t go to HOME, even though it’s a big place. It has modern art, plays, and films from all over the world. The curated cinemas that show indie films, the gallery spaces that make you think, and the great bookshop all make it the best place to learn about Manchester’s modern culture.
Victoria Baths: This lovely Edwardian swimming pool and Turkish baths complex was once known as “Water Palace” in Manchester, but it is no longer used for swimming. Instead, it has become a great place for events that celebrate the past. You can take a guided tour to see the stained glass, terracotta, and mosaic floors, or you can look for craft markets and food festivals that happen in the empty pools.
Neighbourhoods with Stories (Not in the Northern Quarter)
Ancoats: Ancoats was the first suburb in the world to have factories. It is now the best place in the UK for people who love food, and it might be the coolest neighbourhood in Manchester. Take a walk through Cutting Room Square and look at the red-brick mills that have been beautifully restored. There are also a lot of independent restaurants, craft breweries, and artisan bakeries to choose from (Pollen Bakery is a must). This is a great example of how Manchester is coming back to life.
The Underbanks in Stockport’s Old Town: Stockport’s historic centre is coming back to life, and it’s only a short train ride from the city centre. There is a beautiful street in the “Underbanks” area that has Tudor and Victorian buildings. Inside these buildings are now one-of-a-kind stores, cafes, and bars. The Stockport Market Hall and the new food hall are both great places to go instead of the city centre.
Chorlton: If you want to see what life is like for a bohemian in the suburbs, Chorlton is a great place to go. This green space in South Manchester can take care of itself very well. Along its main street, there are organic delis, thrift stores, cosy pubs, and great restaurants from around the world. It feels like a quiet village, which is a nice change from the busy city.
Weird museums and secret histories (other than the ones that are easy to find)
The People’s History Museum, which is the national museum of democracy, is best in Manchester. It talks about protests, changes, and the fight for rights in the UK over the past 200 years. You need to see the city’s radical, political heart that caused so many changes in society.
The Chetham’s Library: This is the oldest free library in the world that anyone can use. It opened in 1653 and is hard to find because it is next to the cathedral. In the dark, gloomy hallways, you can see the desk where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels studied together. They thought about how they could make the world a better place. This is a nice part of history that people often forget.
This lovely Victorian house has been fixed up and used to be the home of one of Manchester’s most famous writers. This house is a good example of what books and social life were like in the 1800s. This is very different from the industrial power you can see in other parts of the world. The tea room in the old servants’ quarters is a real treat, and it’s run by volunteers.
Green Escapes and Urban Oases
It has been more than 100 years since a new public park was built in the city centre. It shows how to rebuild cities in a great way. It was built on the site of an old factory close to the River Medlock. There are wild green spaces, beautiful plants, and an amazing adventure playground, all of which are set against the backdrop of old railway arches.
RHS Garden Bridgewater is one of the largest gardening projects in Europe. It is located in Salford, which is close to the city centre. The Royal Horticultural Society’s 154-acre estate garden is famous all over the world. The lakes, woods, and walled garden are all lovely, so it’s a great place to spend the day.