Shopping, Craft & Cafés
For quirky independents and the creative urban heart, head for the Northern Quarter – Oldham Street and Thomas Street are good central points to aim for.
You’ll find a plethora of unique coffee shops to choose from, and a decent bakery (get there early, there will be queues!)
Independent retailers of all kinds – beware losing all sense of time in Affleck’s. Record shops (Vinyl Exchange, Piccadilly Records), craft supplies (Fred Aldous, Cass Art, Abakhan) vintage stuff, and some quite nice actual pubs.
Manchester Craft & Design Centre
20 studios of artists and makers selling jewellery, textiles, ceramics, glass, homeware etc.
17 Oak Street, Northern Quarter M4 5JD
If you’re more into window shopping and strolling around the luxury brands and designer shops, head for King Street, (impressive architecture), New Cathedral Street (Harvey Nichols, Selfridges) or Spinningfields (shiny new buildings, loads of swanky restaurants and urban living).
Unless you absolutely love buskers, living statues and amplified preachers, or urgently need a new pair of trainers, a mobile phone contract or a new eyeliner, give The Arndale Centre, Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens a wide berth.
https://www.visitmanchester.com/shopping/
Cultural highlights
John Rylands Library – Looks like a Gothic church, but actually a Victorian cathedral to learning. Special exhibitions, great shop, and free entry. It is glorious. (Closed Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays)
150 Deansgate, M3 3EH
Manchester Art Gallery – Beautiful gallery, renowned for Pre-Raphaelite collection and work by local artists Valette (Impressionist) and Lowry (Naïve). Great shop. Free entry. (Closed Mondays. Open late night Weds until 9pm)
Mosley Street, M2 3JL
Manchester Museum – Fabulous building, exhibitions and galleries full of natural history and usual museumy stuff on egyptology, anthropology, archeology, planets. Plus real live frogs… Free entry. Great for families. (Closed Mondays. Open late night Weds until 9pm) Oxford Rd, M13 9PL
The Whitworth Art Gallery – Exhibitions of historic collections and new commissions – visual art and textiles. Has a more contemporary feel than Manchester Art Gallery. Home to our monthly Sunday singing. Free entry. (Closed Mondays. Open late night Thursdays until 9pm)
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
People’s History Museum – The national museum of democracy, covering the history of “ideas worth fighting for” and inspiring the fight for a fairer world now. Free entry. (Closed Tuesdays)
Left Bank, M3 3ER
Ordsall Hall – A Tudor mansion in our sister city, about 25/30 min walk from Manchester City Centre. The Museum tells the story of the house and its occupants through time. Free entry (Closed Fridays & Saturdays)
322 Ordsall Lane, Salford, M5 3AN
HOME – Contemporary / arthouse / classic cinema. Also theatre, exhibitions, bar, restaurant. Free entry.
2 Tony Wilson Place, M15 4FN
See the excellent Manchester Visitor Guide for more detail & more suggestions.
Pubs in the city centre
Beermoth Not a traditional pub, more a large beer café just off (evil) Market Street, in the central commercial part of town. Nice open, airy feel. Incredible line-up of craft beers. Pricey. Serves expensive bar snacks. Wheelchair accessible toilet.
Brown St, Manchester, M2 1DA
The Smithfield Market Tavern A Northern Quarter proper pub run by Manchester-based Blackjack Brewery. (You simply must try the stroopwafel beer). Six changing cask ales, comfy seats, real fire, pool table, board games and a relaxed atmosphere.
37 Swan Street, Manchester, Manchester, M4 5JZ
The Castle Hotel Attractive traditional-looking tiled pub in the Northern Quarter with a good jukebox and an alternative vibe. Hosts gigs. Often very busy and very loud. Close to Smithfield Market Tavern (less loud, more spacious) and Gulliver’s (similar to The Castle – tiles, noisy, gigs)
66 Oldham Street, M4 1LE
City Arms Small, dark, cosy. 2 rooms. 7 ales on rotation. Central – near the main commercial area, Town Hall and Motel One.
46-48 Kennedy Street, M2 4BQ
Briton’s Protection Historic, old-fashioned pub near The Bridgewater Hall. Large collection of whiskies. Large function room upstairs room and smaller downstairs rooms.
50 Great Bridgewater Street, M1 5LE
Peveril of the Peak Historic, photogenic traditional pub. Also near The Bridgewater Hall. Handsome green tiles and stained glass windows. Small rooms. Cosy.
127 Great Bridgewater Street, M1 5JQ
The Temple Converted temple of convenience (public toilet). A cool vibe, but tiny, and literally underground. Good jukebox. Sister bar to Big Hands, where we go after The Whitworth Sunday singings.
100 Great Bridgewater Street, M1 5JW (just off busy Oxford St, a stone’s throw to Peveril of the Peak if you’re trying to get a few different pubs/beers in)
Cask Good range of ales and continental beers. Importantly, there’s a chippy next door and if it’s not too busy they let you eat your fish&chips in there whilst you drink your beer. Near Museum of Science & Industry.
29 Liverpool Road, M3 4NQ
Outdoors & Green Spaces
There’s a park at The Whitworth, gardens at Ordsall Hall, small park areas dotted around. But Manchester city centre is not very green.
Castlefield Viaduct (National Trust ‘sky garden’) is free entry and walking distance from Aviva Studios. Depending on how you approach, it’s either on street level or there’s lift access/steps.
Castlefield Viaduct, M3 4LG
RHS Bridgewater – Spectacular formal gardens on a huge estate in Salford. Opened in 2021, this is the 5th and most recently built of the RHS gardens. Admission varies but costs around £13-£18. Buses from Mcr stop a 10 min walk away. 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)
Worsley, Salford, M28 2LJ
If you want a proper walk, here’s a guide to walking routes on the outskirts of the city and environs.
Manchester Sacred Harp 