The 11 best attractions in Manchester you shouldn’t miss

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

HOME is 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. 

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.

This 156-acre garden, with original features dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria, RHS Garden Bridgewater is perhaps the finest attraction of its kind in the North West. Themed areas, a large lake and a new-ish visitor centre make this a fine spot for a wander indeed.