Things to Do in Manchester: Our Top Highlights & Tips

Our Top 10 Attractions in Manchester

Here are the Manchester highlights you absolutely can’t miss — the places we’d send any friend visiting for the first time.

Salford Quays

Where the Manchester Docks were once bustling, grimy, and loud, you’ll now find Salford Quays — a modern cultural district. It’s home to some of the UK’s biggest television and media companies, the Quays Shopping Centre, and the Imperial War Museum North.

The standout is The Lowry. The gallery features many works by LS Lowry, one of the most beloved artists in the UK.

In the evenings especially, the Quays draw amateur photographers hoping to capture the reflections of the setting sun or colorful lights in the glass facades and water. You can find more info about what to see at the docks on the Salford Quays website.

Manchester Museum

Dinosaurs, whales, mummies — if that doesn’t sound like every kid’s dream, what does?

The Manchester Museum houses a staggering 20,000 exhibits, including ancient skeletons, taxidermy animals, and an eclectic collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt. The exhibition recently got a fresh update on top of that.

Honestly, this isn’t just a good rainy-day option for things to do in Manchester. If you’re traveling with kids, it’s a definite must — add it to your itinerary without hesitation.

John Rylands Library

The red brick building looks more like a church than a library. But in these halls, people come to read, not to pray.

The Rylands Library holds around 40,000 books, including many rare items and valuable manuscripts. It’s been open to the public since 1990 — which is great news, because it’s considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

You don’t need to be a bookworm to be completely in awe. The atmosphere alone is seriously breathtaking. Beyond the rooms, books, and manuscripts, there are also fascinating exhibitions on literature.

Heaton Park

At around 240 hectares, Heaton Park is not only the largest park in the city, but one of the largest in all of Great Britain. In what was once an industrial Manchester, Heaton Park is like a green lung where you can breathe easy. Stroll through forests, meadows, and ornamental gardens, or unwind with a spot of boating.

It’s the perfect place to soak up a little nature between sightseeing stops on a nice day. There’s even an 18-hole golf course in the park.

For kids, the little heritage tram is the absolute highlight. There are also plenty of playgrounds scattered throughout.

China Town

The large, colorfully painted entrance gate marks the way into Manchester’s Chinatown — the second-largest Chinese quarter in all of Great Britain.

You’ll find Chinese restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores throughout. Admittedly, Manchester can’t compete with the Chinatowns in London or San Francisco, but if you’re craving dumplings, roast duck, mapo tofu, or a pot of jasmine tea, this is your spot.

Things get especially lively during the annual Chinese New Year celebrations in February. That’s when Chinatown transforms into one big colorful parade with plenty of food stalls, dancing dragons, and traditional music.

Northern Quarter

When people talk about the cool side of Manchester with its thriving music scene and subculture, they’re really talking about the Northern Quarter.

Inside old brick buildings, you’ll find hip record stores, colorful secondhand boutiques, quirky craft beer bars, restaurants serving vegan full English breakfasts, and cozy cafés with latte art on point. Evenings bring concerts and open-mic nights. And great street art is everywhere you look.

An absolute favorite spot is the market hall Mackie Mayor. Whether you’re in the mood for margaritas, pizza, or tacos, you can feast here in the stunning atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century market hall.

HOME

One of the top venues for concerts, theater, and art is HOME, right next to Manchester Oxford Road station.

Here you’ll find cinemas, theaters, galleries, bars, restaurants, and much more. The performances, exhibitions, and concerts focus on contemporary and international art.

It’s always worth checking the events calendar — there are seriously great events happening here year-round. You can book tickets online on the HOME website.

Old Trafford Stadium

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the hallowed halls of Manchester United. On a guided tour on non-match days, you’ll visit the locker rooms, the player tunnel, the dugout, and you even get to walk out onto the sacred pitch yourself.

The museum covers the full history of the club. With a capacity of 74,310 spectators, Old Trafford is the second-largest soccer stadium in Great Britain after Wembley.

The best way to experience it is, of course, at a live match. Tickets are available online on the Manchester United website — but be warned: the stadium sells out really fast, so sort out tickets well in advance.

Book a tour of Old Trafford Stadium online

Etihad Stadium

Manchester is home to not one but two top-tier soccer clubs.

The Etihad Stadium is the home of Manchester City Football Club. Here too you can go behind the scenes on a guided tour — check out the press conference room and locker rooms, walk through the player tunnel, and head right up to the edge of the pitch.

The stadium tour takes you to places normally reserved for the pros. Interactive exhibits then fill you in on the full history of the club. Tickets for matches and stadium tours can be purchased online on the Manchester City website.

Book a tour of the Etihad Stadium online

National Football Museum

With two top-tier clubs, Manchester is a true soccer city through and through.

But if you live and breathe the game, don’t just visit the stadiums — make time for the National Football Museum too.

Located in the Urbis building, the museum is entirely dedicated to England’s national sport. Check out iconic items like original jerseys and cleats worn by famous players, and try out interactive games.

It’s also a great pick for a day out with the family — kids love it.

Book a ticket for the National Football Museum online

Manchester Art Gallery

The gallery sits in the heart of the city, and the idea behind it was to bring art to what was once a one-sided industrial — and therefore “culturally barren” — city.

The collection features both traditional works of art and beautiful crafts and design, with a further exhibition showcasing clothing from different centuries. Most of the works here are by British artists.

Admission is free, so you can simply drop in whenever you feel like it. No excuse not to.

Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry dedicates several halls to Manchester’s industrial past and scientific achievements.

You can dip into almost every industry here: exhibitions cover locomotives, steam engines, electricity, and textiles. Truly massive machines like spinning machines are also on display.

These are especially cool for kids to explore — there’s an endless amount to discover, and admission is free.

Cool Activities in Manchester

Beyond the classic sights, there’s so much more to experience in the city. Here are our top recommendations for activities in Manchester and the surrounding area.

Canal cruise in the city center: Spend an afternoon on a lovely boat trip along the historic Irwell Canal. Along the way, you’ll see many of Manchester’s top points of interest and learn all about the city’s history.

Peak District Tour: Get out of the city and into nature. From Manchester, you can explore the green hills, caves, and picturesque towns of the Peak District on a fantastic day trip.

Manchester Food Tour: a foodie tour with ten tastings in the trendy neighborhoods of Ancoats and the Northern Quarter. Along with delicious food, you’ll pick up loads of insider knowledge about the city.

Soccer Stadium Tours: Soccer is the main reason many people visit Manchester. That makes a tour of Old Trafford Stadium or the Etihad Stadium a total must-do.
Bonus tip: Shopping at the intu Trafford Centre! It’s one of the largest malls in all of Great Britain — if you’re in the mood for a browse or hunting for cool souvenirs, this is your place.

Our Manchester Hotel Tips

Also read our full hotel recommendations for Manchester

Practical Tips for Your Manchester City Trip

We want to make planning your trip to Manchester as easy as possible. Here are a few general travel tips to help make your visit a total breeze!

How to get from the airport to the city

Manchester Airport is located about 14 km southwest of the city center and can be reached by train, bus, or tram.

The easiest option is the train. Manchester Airport has its own train station called The Station, located between Terminal 1 and 2. Trains depart every ten minutes to Manchester Piccadilly, and the journey takes about 20 minutes. A ticket costs around 6 euros and you can buy it here online, at a ticket machine, or at the counter.

Alternatively, the tram is a solid option. The Navy Line connects Manchester Airport via Trafford to the city center. The journey to Manchester Victoria takes about one hour.

Buy a Manchester Pass

The Manchester Pass is a classic city card for tourists. How does it work? Super simple: you pay once and get free admission to many attractions, free use of public transportation, and lots of other discounts.

The pass is available for one, two, or three days, with prices starting at 45 pounds. Children pay less.

In our opinion, the pass is only worth it if you’re the type of traveler who wants to pack in lots of attractions and museums or join guided tours. If you’d rather stroll around and go with the flow, you might end up paying more than you get back.

Book the Manchester Pass online