Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you looking for the best walking tours in Manchester? We are here to help!
Manchester is a historical city and it’s famous for many reasons including football, music, being the birthplace of the Suffragette movement and more.
Whether it’s your first time in our beautiful Northern city or you are a local who wants to learn more about the history of Manchester, these amazing Manchester walking tours will be perfect for you.
Don’t have time to read the entire article?
The free walking tour of Manchester is the best walking tour in Manchester. It runs every day at 11 AM and needs to be booked.
You will get to learn many interesting facts but also discover famous landmarks and hidden gems in Manchester.
After living in Manchester for so many years and as a proper walking tour fan myself, I actually went on pretty much all walking tours in Manchester. This means that i can now share all my knowledge with you!
So, are you ready to discover the best walking tours of Manchester? Let’s get started!
1. Free walking tour of Manchester
⌛ Duration: 3 hours |📍Meeting point: Sackville Gardens | ✅ See availability here
If it’s your first time in Manchester (or you are a local who wants to learn more about the city), the free walking tour of Manchester will be perfect for you.
It’s run by Free Walking Tours Manchester and Josh, a history MA graduate with a true passion for the city of Manchester.
These tours are run every day and start at 11AM. The meeting point is the Alan Turing statue in Sackville garden, near the Gay Village.
It’s very easy to get to on foot or from Piccadilly station.
The tour lasts around 3 hours and you will get to see all the best spots in Manchester city centre. This includes the gay village, the Vimto statue, St Peter’s square, the Stock Exchange, Emmeline Pankrust statue and more.
You will learn plenty of facts about Manchester including some about the suffragette movement that started in Manchester, the ‘gig that changed the world’, the music culture and more.
Whether you have Josh as a guide or someone else, be reassured, they are all amazing. Don’t hesitate to ask them for tips for places to eat or things to do because they know the city like the back of their hand and they will be more than happy to help.
Please note that although this is a free walking tour, it is actually tip based so don’t forget to take a bit of cash to give to the guide.
2. Northern Quarter Street Art Walking Tour
⌛ Duration: 2 hours |📍Meeting point: Shudehill | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
This is one of the best Manchester street art tours for those that want to see the city and some beautiful pieces of art.
It starts from Shudehill and will take you through the back streets of Manchester’s Northern Quarter for a couple of hours.
The Northern Quarter has an eclectic bohemian vibe and is the best place in the city to see the street art.
This includes large scale murals to impressive graffiti and smaller pieces you might just walk past if you were alone.
The Manchester street art trail that you will follow was first established in the 1990s.
It’s not just art you will get to see, you will also pass through Victorian-era markets that have been repurposed, hippy cafes and some of the best bars in the city.
It’s also a great way to get acquainted with the city if you’re a newbie and discover its hidden gems if you’re a frequent visitor.
3. Manchester Bites Food Tour
⌛ Duration: 3 hours |📍Meeting point: New Islington Marina | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
If you are a foodie who wants to find the best places to eat in Manchester and learn about the history of Manchester at the same time, this food tour is perfect for you.
It’s run by a local company called Manchester Bites. You can easily book online here.
The tour starts late morning from Islington marina which is a beautiful hidden gem in Manchester.
You will be greeted with a local sweet and start the tour of Ancoats and Northern Quarter.
Unlike the free walking tour, this one is less focused on the history of Manchester per se but more on interesting facts about the NQ and Ancoats.
These two areas used to be ‘bad’ areas but they are now one of the best places to live in Manchester.
You will learn plenty about the canals, the gangs, the music culture and more.
But more importantly, you will get to eat a lot.
The food spots were very carefully chosen to showcase the cosmopolitan culture of Manchester. Expect to discover bakeries, pizza spots, ice cream parlours and even you will even get to eat a Manchester egg, one of the most typical foods from Manchester.
4. Salford Quays Guided Walking Tour
⌛ Duration: 2 hours |📍Meeting point: Media City | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
This Salford Quays tour starts and ends at Media City Piazza.
You will walk around 4.5 km and see sights like the Lowry Art Centre and the Imperial War Museum. It’s a great way to not just see Salford’s sights but learn about them too.
Your guide provides you with plenty of fun and historical information about Salford, with lively and professional delivery.
Many people visiting Greater Manchester find that Salford Quays is one of the best parts of the city because of its industrial history and contemporary style.
5. Manchester Music Walking Tour
⌛ Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes |📍Meeting point: Bridgewater Hall | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
Manchester has a rich musical history and there’s no better way to discover it than with this 90 minute music-themed walking tour.
They offer both public and private tours every Saturday, but it is for adults only.
Your expert guide will demonstrate their encyclopaedic knowledge of the Manchester music scene.
From The Smiths to Joy Division, The Stone Roses and Oasis there is certainly a lot of ground to cover. You will visit the location of the once legendary Hacienda nightclub which was the epicentre of the post-punk scene.
You will also go to Free Trade Hall which is so often associated with Bob Dylan but also the Sex Pistols and the ‘gig that changed the world’.
With many more musical sites to see you will also learn about the different musical eras from punk and post-punk to the 1980s rave scene.
Any music fan will love this informative and fun tour of Manchester’s musical hotspots. Not only will you get to enjoy the city’s thriving music scene but also some of the best landmarks in Manchester.
Please note that this company also offers a private music tour as well as a taxi music tour in Manchester.
6. Coronation Street Tour
✅ Check Rates and Availability
Coronation Street or ‘Corrie’ as the hardcore watchers call it was first broadcast in 1960 and it’s been a staple in many UK households ever since.
This guided tour of Manchester’s Coronation Street set makes for a fantastic gift for any Corrie lover.
The soap is based on the life of writer Tony Warren who used to live in the terraced streets around the old Manchester docks.
This 90 minute guided walking tour starts at Media City where you will see the set. You will discover all the shows’ iconic locations including Roy’s Rolls Café, Kev’s car shop and Webster’s Auto Centre.
Your guide will provide you with plenty of information that even hardcore fans of the show may not know.
Of course, no trip to the Coronation Street set would be complete without visiting the Rover’s Return, one of the most chaotic and argument-filled pubs in England!
The tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays so be sure to plan your Manchester trip around these days, so you don’t miss out on seeing your favourite soap location first-hand.
7. Manchester Afternoon Walking Tour
✅ Check Rates and Availability
Another of the best guided tours of Manchester is this whistle-stop walking tour of the city’s top attractions.
Starting at Manchester Central Library, an impressive site in itself, this walking tour will then guide you through the city seeing some of the best landmarks along the way.
The tour starts at 2pm and ends on Cathedral Street.
This tour is ideal for those who are visiting Manchester for the first time or those who want to get to know the city better. In 2 ½ hours you will get to see a good number of sites and landmarks.
Some of the stops you’ll get to see include the Emmeline Pankhurst statue, the Alan Turing Memorial, the Manchester ship canal, Sackville Gardens, Chinatown, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Town Hall, Chetham’s Library, and the National Football Museum to name a few.
Tour attendees in the past have loved the mix of informative historical facts and Manchester’s culture that is presented by an informative and energetic guide.
8. Manchester One Day Tour With a Local
✅ Check Rates and Availability
There’s no better way to explore a city than with a local. This is a private day tour that is tailor-made for you and your group.
You get to pick everything, from your departure time to the duration and meeting point, you can even create your own itinerary that’s tailored to your specific interests.
Some of the locations visited by past groups on this tour include the Manchester Museum, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, the Northern Quarter Gallery, and the National Football Museum, but the list is endless.
This tour is ideal for those who want step-by-step guidance through the city.
Perhaps you are spending some time in Manchester and want to know the best restaurants and cafes to visit, well your local guide will have the answers.
9. Manchester Music Taxi Tour
✅ Check Rates and Availability
Another of the best guided tours in Manchester for music lovers is this taxi tour.
This tour is available from early morning until evening every day of the week, so it’s great for fitting into your packed schedule.
You will visit iconic venues, learn about the city’s rich heritage, and see the studio and landmarks that made the Manchester music scene so famous.
You will visit sites like the Hacienda and The Ritz which were at the forefront of the 1980s and 1990s “Madchester” movement.
You will learn about music legends like The Stone Roses, Oasis, Joy Division, and Inspiral Carpets.
As well as music from the past you will also learn more about Manchester’s contemporary music scene.
If you are a history buff and music lover then you will thoroughly enjoy this tour. Of course, you will be travelling to each of these musical stops in a quintessentially British black cab!
10. Scranchester Food Tour
✅ Check Rates and Availability
This Manchester food tour provides you with an insight into the city’s culinary scene. Manchester is a multicultural city and that’s reflected in the history and food flavours.
This tour starts outside the Manchester Craft and Design Centre and ends in the Northern Quarter. The tour includes a number of food tastings, as well as lunch.
The tour starts by heading through the Medieval area of Manchester and through the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Next up is a stop-off at a traditional Cantonese bakery in Chinatown for some yummy sweets. You will also get to see Afflecks, an alternative shopping centre in the Northern Quarter.
The tour has plenty of food stops with generous portions rather than minuscule bites.
It’s the perfect balance between walking and sitting and eating, making you feel like you earnt each food stop. Whilst you eat you will enjoy knowledge from a local guide about Manchester’s history and culture.
11. Private Manchester Tour With a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems, Personalised
✅ Check Rates and Availability
If you are searching for one of the best personalised walking tours in Manchester this one is a wonderful choice.
Booking this 100% personal tour allows you to see and do what you want. If you are a football fan, then perhaps you want to visit all the famous football spots.
Perhaps you want to know more about the best places to visit in the Northern Quarter or explore the vibrant artsy area of Castlefield.
As well as the destinations you can also choose whether you have a two, four, six or eight hour tour. There is also the option to use public transport if you don’t want to walk between all your destinations.
As you navigate the city with your guide, they will provide you with a detailed history of the area. As it’s a private and personalised tour you will cover a lot of ground.
12. Private Walking Tour – Fascinating Manchester
✅ Check Rates and Availability
This guided tour of Manchester starts by the Piccadilly Gardens and will take you and your group to some of the city’s most notable landmarks.
You will then head to Canal Street and discover the Chinese and Asian influences in the area.
Next up, its Manchester Central Library and St Peter’s Square, two beautiful architectural and historical places.
You will learn about parts of Manchester’s troubled history whilst visiting the Peterloo Massacre Monument.
You will round off the tour with a look at some of Manchester’s most notable libraries.
This tour provides a great mixture of historical information, classic Manchester landmarks and cultural sites.
Your knowledgeable and entertaining guide will make sure the tour is going at a pace good for you and can answer a ton of your Manchester related questions.
13. Rock and Goal Manchester Walking Tour
✅ Check Rates and Availability
This Rock and Goal walking tour in Manchester is great for those with a love of two of the city’s most famous things, football, and music.
Starting at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel you will learn why stars like David Bowie and Rod Stewart used to come to this hotel by mistake.
Next up it’s Newton Street to discover some of the sets of your favourite TV shows.
On Tariff Street you’ll learn about all things whiskey and how the area developed into a fantastic street art scene.
You will learn about the beginnings of the Premier League before seeing the mosaics on the side of Afflecks which pay homage to the “Madchester” music scene in the 80s and 90s.
Your guide’s love of Manchester shines through making for an engaging and fun two to three hour tour.
With so much variety from football to music and everything in between this ‘Rock and Goal’ Manchester walk tour is ideal for the whole family and people of all ages.
14. Beer Tour Around Manchester
✅ Check Rates and Availability
Manchester is well known for its bar and pub scene, so why not learn more about the city’s best breweries on this afternoon pub crawl.
Starting at 1:30pm this three-and-a-half-hour tour is an enjoyable activity to do with friends or even for a stag do or hen party activity.
This beer tour is ideal for those who don’t know the Manchester bar scene very well as the expert tour guide can take you to all the best beer drinking waterholes.
You will start and end the tour at Dale House on Dale Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
On this tour, you will head to three of Manchester’s microbreweries and sample some excellent local and international beers.
You will see Blackjack Brewery where you will meet some of the owners who you can tell have a real passion for beer brewing.
Fierce Bar is another of the stops on this tour where you will be able to sample the rhubarb beer which is a real crowd pleaser.
Chances are you will meet some great people who are also on your tour so why not extend the day and head out to check out Manchester’s nightlife scene together.
15. Christmas In Manchester Tour
✅ Check Rates and Availability
Everyone loves Christmas and whilst many associate London with the festive season, Manchester is actually an excellent place to enjoy the festivities.
This three hour private and personalised Christmas-themed Manchester tour is ideal for those looking to get into the holiday spirit whilst also getting to know Manchester.
Your local host will know all the best places to visit in Manchester to see the Christmas lights and enjoy some winter treats.
Though you can tailor the tour to suit your preferences your guide will also be able to show you some of the best lesser known Christmas markets around the city.
Enjoy places like Exchange Square and learn about the history of the area whilst also taking in the festive decorations and lights.
Albert Square Market is a great place for kids as you can see the iconic giant Santa. This is also the location of Manchester’s famous Christmas market.
With so many stalls and interesting things to see and taste, your guide will make the whole process easier by knowing the best things to try.
Tuck into toffee waffles, homemade fudge and of course a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate.
Need to stop off and purchase some last minute Christmas gifts? Mention it to your guide and they will know some of the best stalls to check out.
This is one of the best walking tours in Manchester for Christmas and for those visiting the city with children.
We hope you enjoyed this article about the best walking tours in Manchester, now it’s time to go out and discover our beautiful city.
You may also be interested in:
