Get us in your inbox

Search
The Lowry
Photograph: Shutterstock

The 10 best attractions in Manchester you shouldn't miss

Need some sightseeing inspiration? Get to know this marvellous city with our guide to the best attractions in Manchester

Rob Martin
Ed Cunningham
Written by
Rob Martin
&
Ed Cunningham
Advertising

Where do you start with a place like Manchester? This powerhouse of a city has all you could want from any destination, anywhere. A vast and fascinating history? Check. A diverse and vibrant cultural scene? Of course. Some of the UK’s finest restaurants and plenty of its most brilliant boozers? You bet.

And that’s only scratching the surface. Mighty Manny has everything from majestic museums and gorgeous galleries to pretty parks and gardens. Throughout its iconic districts and neighbourhoods are awe-inspiring works of architecture and dazzling bits of street art, not to mention scores of shops, theatres, cinemas and nightclubs.

There’s so much to see and do in Manchester, in fact, that it can all seem a little daunting. But fear not, here’s help: these are the ten best attractions in Manchester to get you started on this marvellous city.  

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Manchester

Best Manchester attractions

  • Art
  • Galleries

Slap bang in the middle of the city sits an oasis of calm in the grand shape of Manchester’s main art gallery. And what a place this is. Nearly 13,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and other artworks, plus a similar number in the craft and design collection, all make for one genuinely world-class art outing.

Sea Life Manchester
  • Attractions
  • Zoos and aquariums

The Trafford Centre is more than just a collection of shops and, adding to its status as a bona fide visitor attraction, this mid-size aquarium could easily fit into your shopping trip to make sure the little ones are kept entertained for a few hours.

Advertising
  • Attractions
  • Historic buildings and sites

Manchester city centre’s very own New York-style high line is the regenerated, re-purposed and long-neglected Castlefield Viaduct. Originally built as a railway line in 1892, the iconic structure had fallen into rack and ruin until the National Trust took it on to create a beautiful park in the sky.

The Quays
Photograph: Shutterstock

4. The Quays

There are many reasons why The Quays should be near the very top of your must-see list. This striking waterfront destination has grown out of the once-derelict docklands of the Salford and Trafford Quays area, transformed from desolate wasteland into a place where some of the country’s most iconic buildings (both The Lowry and Imperial War Museum North are RIBA award-winners) stand with their neighbours to provide a place where culture, sport, shopping and a lot more come together.

Advertising
The Gay Village
Photograph: trabantos / Shutterstock.com

5. The Gay Village

Thanks to the efforts of the Village Business Association and increasing concerns about the continued need for LGBTQ+ resources, Manchester’s Gay Village is thriving. By day, it’s the best place in the city to relax and, by night, it’s just a lot of fun. Of course, this area hosts many big-name events throughout the year – Pride, Sparkle and the Great British Bear Bash, to name but a few – so it’s great to see this current shift in emphasis rejuvenating the Gay Village once again.

  • Attractions
  • Historic buildings and sites

Thank goodness for the Friends of Victoria Baths. Built in 1906 and housing a stunning Turkish bath suite as well as the main pool, this was once considered ‘the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country’, but fell into dereliction when, in 1993, Manchester Council could no longer afford to keep it open. The tireless work of the Friends meant that the baths won the public vote for funds through the TV show Restoration in 2003.

Advertising
  • Art
  • Galleries

With great sensitivity to history, nature and its surroundings, this new version of the Whitworth leaps way beyond its former position as a minor partner to the Manchester Art Gallery. A major refurbishment saw the old walls replaced with floor-to-ceiling windows, while the café seemingly levitates among the trees. It all helps to frame the artworks, which are a diverse and inclusive selection. 

  • Attractions
  • Libraries, archives and foundations

In times of woe and in need of spiritual guidance, you could well find yourself wandering into the John Rylands Library mistaking it for a church, such is the late Victorian neo­-Gothic splendour of this magnificent building. Head inside and you’ll find something that could truly enrich the soul – about 200,000 books.

Advertising
  • Art
  • Film and video

One of the newer venues in town brings the arts home to the city centre like no other, merging two former cultural institutions, Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company, under one multi-million-pound roof. Here you’ll find two theatres, five cinemas, a large and flexible gallery space, plus plenty of places to eat, drink, shop and hang out. 

  • Attractions
  • Historic buildings and sites

Salford is a city full of surprises, and among the most striking is the magnificent Ordsall Hall, a Grade I-listed Tudor manor house right in the middle of a housing estate. The hall dates back to 1177 – so you can see why this lovingly restored building earned its listed status. The garden grounds are wonderful for a family picnic or short stroll, and reflect the variety of eras through which the building has survived.

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising