Manchester is a major city in north-west England and the centre of Greater Manchester, known for its Industrial Revolution heritage, Victorian canals and warehouses, free museums, live music, Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs and a large Indian and Chinese food scene.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Manchester.
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1
Science and Industry Museum
Housed in the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station (1830), this museum covers the Industrial Revolution, textiles, power and the birthplace of the modern computer.
Tip: General entry is free, but booking a free timed ticket online is advisable at busy times. · Check the website for days when engines and looms are in steam or operating. · Allow two to three hours; families with children often need more. · Combine the visit with a walk through nearby Castlefield canal basin and the Roman fort. · Special exhibitions can cost about £8 (~$11), so confirm before arriving.
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2
John Rylands Library
A Victorian Gothic Revival library completed in 1900, with a cathedral-like Historic Reading Room and a collection that includes a fragment of St John's Gospel from the early second century.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning for the calmest reading room and the best light. · Entry is free, but allow for last admission about 20 minutes before closing. · Keep voices low; the room is still used by researchers. · Check the website for free guided tours and for days when events close parts of the building. · Pair the visit with Manchester Central Library or Castlefield, both within a short walk.
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3
Manchester Cathedral
A 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic church with one of the widest medieval naves in England, a carved choir with misericords and a restored interior after bomb damage in 1940.
Tip: Arrive in the morning to avoid lunchtime services and events. · Entry is free; donations help with upkeep. · Check the website for service and concert times as parts of the building may close. · Combine with Chetham's Library, a short walk away on Long Millgate. · Attend choral evensong for the full atmosphere of the building.
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4
Manchester Art Gallery
A civic art collection spanning Pre-Raphaelite paintings, British art, decorative arts and contemporary exhibitions, in a Charles Barry-designed building of 1824 and a modern extension.
Tip: Free entry; donations and paid temporary exhibitions are optional. · Remember the gallery closes on Mondays except bank holidays. · Weekday afternoons are the quietest time to see the Pre-Raphaelite rooms. · Families can use the interactive gallery for younger children. · Combine with nearby Chinatown or Piccadilly Gardens.
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5
National Football Museum
The world's largest football museum, with the FIFA collection, historic trophies, interactive games and a skills area.
Tip: Buy tickets online; prices are usually lower and queues shorter than at the door. · Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit. · Allow two to three hours, longer with children who enjoy the interactive games. · Check the website for school-holiday opening changes. · Victoria station is two minutes away, so the museum suits a short city-centre stop.
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6
Manchester Town Hall
Alfred Waterhouse's Victorian Gothic Revival town hall (opened 1877), with an 85-metre clock tower, the Great Hall murals by Ford Madox Brown and a restored interior.
Tip: Check the council website for guided tour and open-day dates, as access is not daily. · Book tour places in advance; numbers can be limited. · The exterior and clock tower can be admired for free from Albert Square at any time. · Christmas Markets weekends are very crowded; go on a weekday for photographs. · Metrolink St Peter's Square is a two-minute walk.
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7
Old Trafford (Manchester United Stadium Tour and Museum)
The 74,000-seat home of Manchester United, with a tour of the dressing room, tunnel and pitchside and a museum of the club's history.
Tip: Book a tour slot online; times and prices vary between peak and off-peak. · Avoid match days, when tours are restricted or unavailable. · Allow two and a half to three hours for the tour and museum. · Take the Metrolink to Old Trafford and walk about ten minutes to the ground. · Check the website for current tour times, which change during events.
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8
Etihad Stadium (Manchester City Stadium Tour)
Home of Manchester City, with a tour of the players' areas, tunnel, pitchside and the club museum.
Tip: Book in advance; tours do not run on match days. · Choose a morning slot on a non-match day for smaller groups. · Take the Metrolink to Etihad Campus, about 15 minutes from Piccadilly. · Check the website for current prices and tour variations. · Allow around two hours including time in the club shop.
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9
Manchester Museum
The University of Manchester's natural history and world cultures museum, with Egyptian mummies, a vivarium, a fossil gallery and the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery.
Tip: Entry is free, but check the website for current opening days; the museum is usually closed on Monday. · Weekday mornings avoid the weekend family crowds. · Pair the visit with The Whitworth, a short way down Oxford Road. · Take bus 42, 43 or 142 from the city centre. · Term-time weekday mornings can include school groups.
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10
The Whitworth
An art gallery in Whitworth Park, with fine art, textiles and wallpaper collections, glazed walkways into the park and a rotating contemporary programme.
Tip: Entry is free; check the website for current exhibitions. · The gallery is usually closed on Monday. · Weekday afternoons are the calmest. · Combine with Manchester Museum farther up Oxford Road. · Bring a picnic or walk in Whitworth Park if the weather is fine.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Museums
Landmarks
Religious_sites
Libraries
Neighborhoods
Parks
Culture
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most municipal and university museums (Manchester Museum, the Whitworth, Manchester Art Gallery) close on Mondays; the Science and Industry Museum and Imperial War Museum North open daily. Check each website before travelling because hours change in school holidays.
- Fees
- Most major museums are free. Stadium tours cost about £25 (~$34)-£37 (~$50) for adults. The National Football Museum costs about £15 (~$20).
- Best Times
- Weekday mornings are quietest; the Christmas Markets (mid-November to December) and match days at Old Trafford and the Etihad are the busiest.
- Tickets
- Book stadium tours and National Football Museum tickets online in advance, especially on weekends and school holidays.
- Getting Around
- The Metrolink tram covers the city centre and most attractions; contactless bank cards are accepted on trams and buses, with daily fare caps.
- Information
- Visit Manchester: visitmanchester.com, phone +44 161 237 1020. Emergency services: 999. Non-emergency police: 101.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit the free museums on weekday mornings for the shortest queues.
Tap on and off with a contactless card on Metrolink and use the daily fare cap for several short rides.
Book Old Trafford and Etihad tours in advance and avoid match days, when tours are suspended.
Allow time at John Rylands Library for the reading room; last entry is shortly before closing.
Carry a light waterproof; showers are frequent in every season.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Manchester?
Two days cover the museums, the cathedral, Castlefield and the Northern Quarter. A third day adds a stadium tour, Salford Quays and a day trip.
Which Manchester attractions are free?
The Science and Industry Museum, John Rylands Library, Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum, the Whitworth, the People's History Museum, Imperial War Museum North and the parks have free general entry.
How do you reach Old Trafford?
Take the Metrolink to Old Trafford station (about 10 minutes from Deansgate-Castlefield) and walk 10 minutes to the stadium on Sir Matt Busby Way.
Is a city pass worth buying?
Most major museums are free, so a pass is rarely needed; pay individually for stadium tours and the National Football Museum.