Are you looking for the best Manchester hidden gems? We are here to help!
There are many famous landmarks in Manchester and loads of things to do but if you’ve been here a few times, or are a local who wants to discover some secret places in Manchester, this article is for you!
I’ve been living in Manchester for years and spend so much time exploring the city, doing walking tours and researching literally everything about this beautiful city.
This has allowed me to discover loads of hidden gems in Manchester and I’m sharing them all with you today!
From secret windows to cute sculptures and more, everything you need to know about the best Manchester hidden spots is right here!
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!
1. Tib Street Parrots
Tib Street is one of the most famous streets in Manchester.
It’s located in the heart of the Northern Quarter and is full of cafes, jazz bars and brunch spots.
One thing you probably didn’t know about it though is that it used to be the street where all the pet shops in Manchester were.
This is not really the case anymore but you can still find some leftovers from that time.
If you go to a bar called Beermoth, you will see that above the sign there are some sculptures of parrots.
These parrots are there because there used to be a pet shop owned by Walter Smith where a lot of birds were sold.
Though the pet shop stayed for decades, it was later on replaced by other types of shops and the parrots were installed.
You’ll notice that they look towards the building, inside where the pet shop was.
All Mancunians know Tib Street and yet, most of them have never spotted these parrots! It’s hidden in plain sight.
2. Portico Library
Portico Library is a bit better known but also a place that most locals have never visited. You can find it on Mosley Street.
It was established in 1806 and has over 25,000 books.
The early members of the library included politicians, textile traders, factory owners and scientists such as John Dalton, father of the atomic theory.
You’ll find the entrance door around the corner of the pub The Bank.
There is a small sign so it should be easy to spot but the door is quite small.
Once you’re there, you need to ring the intercom and they will let you in.
You can then go up the stairs and will enter the library.
The staff at the entrance will explain everything to you and will be more than happy to answer any questions.
They are very friendly so really don’t hesitate to ask them anything.
You will also find a small exhibition that explains the history of the library and what you can find here.
It’s also worth noting that it was designed in a Greek revival architecture which makes it rather majestic. You’ll want to take loads of photos.
3. New Islington Marina ‘Cast No Shadow’ lyrics
When it comes to secret gems in Manchester, this one really steals the show!
Firstly, it’s important to talk about the context. You probably already know that the rock band Oasis is from Manchester.
Over the years, they released a number of albums including one called ‘Cast no shadow’.
So, this Manchester hidden gem is about this specific album and you can find it at New Islington Marina.
To do so, we recommend walking from Ancoats.
Take Bengal Street towards the marina and you will find a bridge.
Cross the bridge and head to the bannister near the water.
From there, if you look under the bridge, you will see that the sentence ‘Cast No Shadow’ is written.
If you are visiting on a sunny day, you should be able to see the reflection in the water but if the sky is grey or it’s raining, you will need to lean down a bit so you can actually see it under the bridge.
4. Barton Arcade
Barton Arcade is a grade-II listed Victorian shopping arcade located between Deansgate and St Ann’s Square.
It was built in 1871 but restored in the 80s and conserved the Victorian style.
It’s very easy to get there on foot since it’s very central.
You can find several entrances and walk in.
Inside, you’ll find several cafes, barbers, bakeries and shop.
It’s absolutely stunning with the beautiful balconies and old shops.
It’s a nice spot to stop and have a coffee, especially since it’s home to a popular locals spot: Pot Kettle Black.
You will also find a number of shops with unique clothing, perfect if you’re looking for a gift or souvenirs.
5. Little windows at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre
This one is another true hidden gem in Manchester.
If you head to the Manchester Craft and Design Centre in the Northern Quarter (which by the way is an amazing place to visit!), you can walk around it on Copperas Street and find some hidden windows in the wall.
They are located on the walls of the centre and quite small so you might have to look for them but they are there.
Inside, there are some cute figurines. It’s super unique!
Also, you might notice that there is a mural on that wall with a cat and a fish.
This is here because the Craft and Design Centre used to be a food market.
At the back, there was a fish stall and the owner used to feed the cats with the leftover fish.
Even months after he left, the cats kept coming to be fed.
6. Pineapple on Thomas Street
This is another hidden feature in Manchester that is hidden in plain sight.
It is actually located on Thomas Street, on the roof of the building where there is the restaurant Wolf at the door but the best place to see it is from the Old Wholesale Fish market.
From there, you’ll be standing far enough to see the pineapple on top of the building.
Now, why is there a pineapple here?
Well, back in the days, pineapples were a very exotic fruit.
The first pineapples that came to Europe actually arrived in Liverpool (which is why you can see a lot of pineapples in Liverpool as well).
They were so rare that only rich people could afford them and therefore, putting a pineapple on your house or office was a sign of wealth.
The building in question on Thomas Street used to belong to a wealthy accountant during the Industrial Revolution and that’s why the pineapple is there.
7. Ancoats Peeps
If you were looking for hidden gems in Ancoats, this one is for you!
The Ancoats peeps are spy hole artworks located all around the neighbourhood of Ancoats.
They were created by the artist Dan Dubowitz and allows you to see through the holes.
There are over a dozen of Ancoats Peeps so if you want to go on a bit of a scavenger hunt, it will be ideal.
8. Vimto Bottle
While this one is also quite well known, it’s not located in the most obvious place and a lot of people miss it.
The Vimto Monument is a sculpture that was created as an homage to the soft drink Vimto.
If you are from Manchester, Vimto needs no introduction.
For everyone else, you may be thinking, what is Vimto?
Vimto is a soft drink that was created in 1908 by John Noel Nichols.
At the time, people were drinking a lot of alcohol in England and alcoholism was a big issue.
So John Noel Nichols, a local chemist, decided to create a soft drink that would be so good people would stop drinking alcohol and drink this instead.
Vimto was made with a combination of herbal products and fruit but still to this day, the recipe is secret.
While Vimto has not stopped anyone from drinking alcohol, it became a very popular drink in Manchester.
You can find it everywhere and it’s very common for children to drink it as well.
To honour this local drink, it was decided to create a Vimto monument.
It was first installed in 1992 and then refurbished and painted in 2011.
You can find it on Granby Row, which is just behind Sackville Gardens near Piccadilly station and the Gay Village.
9. Godlee Observatory
If you are visiting Manchester, chances are you will head to the Gay Village and Sackville Gardens at some point.
That’s where you can find the famous statue of Alan Turing.
One thing you may not know though, it’s that it’s also home to one of most hidden places in Manchester, the Godlee Observatory.
Once you are in the gardens, head to Alan statue and face it.
You can then right right and you will see the Sackville Street building.
If you look up, you should see a small green tower on top of the building.
This is the Godlee Observatory. It’s an old astronomical observatory that was given by Francis Godlee (hence the name) to the city of Manchester in 1902.
Inside, there are a 300mm Newtonian reflecting telescope and 200mm Refracting telescope.
It was closed for redevelopment in 2022 but once it opens again, you will be able to visit it inside.
10. Heaton park boating lake
If you are looking for some secret things to do in Manchester, this one is for you.
Heaton Park is the largest park in Manchester and a popular spot for families and dog owners.
It’s also famous for hosting the annual festival Park Life.
But there is more to it!
Right in the middle, you can find the boating lake of Heaton Park and this is such a great spot in summer.
You can rent pedal boats (they have different types, normal ones and swan shaped ones).
You can hire the boat from there or book online. It fits 4 people, making it a great option for people looking for things to do with kids.
It’s also worth noting that the boats are dog friendly so you can go with your dog and then enjoy a walk in the park!
It’s a lot of fun and on a nice summer day, you can be sure to have a good time.
11. Ancoats Ashtrays
These are the most recent Manchester hidden gems in this article.
They were installed in 2023 and can be found on Blossom Street and Hood Street in Ancoats.
Now, I know looking for ashtrays sounds weird but there is something special about these ashtrays.
Like every city, Manchester has issues with littering so these ashtrays were installed to push people to use them instead of throwing their cigarette ends on the ground.
Each ashtray is split into two parts and the cigarette butt is like a vote you can cast.
You will find questions such as ‘Marmite: Yay or Nay’.
12. John Rylands Library
This one is not exactly the most hidden place in Manchester however, there are so many locals that have never been that I thought it’d be worth mentioning.
John Rylands library is by far the most beautiful library, if not the most beautiful landmark, in Manchester.
It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John Rylands who was Manchester’s first multi-millionaire.
He founded a textile company that became one of the largest in the UK and the world.
The library itself opened in 1900 and was a gift to Manchester and its people.
It is now part of the University of Manchester and is used for research, exhibitions as well as a normal library.
Best of all, it’s free to visit!
You can find it in Deansgate and is open from Wednesday to Saturday.
It’s a stunning neo-Gothic building that is very popular with Harry Potter fans.
Though it has no connection to Harry Potter, it looks like Hogwarts and that’s why a lot of people want to visit.
When you get there, you’ll notice there are two parts. The old and modern one.
The modern part is only interesting if you are actually looking for books but if you just want to visit, it’s the old part you need to check out.
You’ll find exhibitions with old collections including some of the oldest editions of the bible in the world.
Make sure to go all the way to the reading room because that’s truly the hidden gem here! It’s stunning!
Please note that you are allowed to take photos so don’t hesitate.
Now that you know everything about the best hidden gem things to do in Manchester, it’s time to go and discover all the secrets of our beautiful city.
13. Behind Closed Doors
As you roam around Manchester, you may notice that it feels very much like New York City. While the industrial architecture and street art is mainly responsible for that, that’s not where the comparison stops!
Manchester is also full of speakeasies and secrets bars.
One of them is Behind Closed Doors. It’s located on Oldham Street and is quite hard to spot if you are not looking for it.
The only thing you can see from the street is the little ‘BCD’ sign above the door. Once you find it, you can take the stairs that will lead you to this underground bar.
It’s such a fun place, with loads of colours and they even have phones on the tables so you can call the other tables if you want to! It’s so much fun.
It’s also worth noting that it’s one of the best cocktail bars in the Northern Quarter.
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