Delve into this 13 must visit attractions in Manchester that captivates this city’s true shine. From the Northern Quarter’s hipster energy to the thunderous excitement of Manchester City Football Stadium for sports enthusiasts. Can’t miss the historical gems like the Manchester Museum, or Chettam’s Library. Living here, I can vouch that exploring Manchester brings a dynamic blend of history, creativity, and warm hospitality that Northern Englanders are known for. So, let your curiosity wonder – trust me, this city will surprise you!
Join me as I show you the 13 must visit attractions in Manchester below:
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Plan Your Visit
 Flight |  Stay |  Do |  Drive |
| WayAway | Hotellook | GetYourGuide | Rentalcars.com |
Visit Manchester Travel Tips
| Visit 2 Countries: | Combine Ireland and England – An hour or less flight from Manchester can get you to Dublin. Check out my Dublin guide here. | ||
| Good Place To Base Yourself: | Use Manchester as your home base for all your day trips to other parts of Northern England. Such as Liverpool, Chester, an Ale Trail or even Edinburgh in Scotland. This is what makes Ireland so great and leverage the nights to experience Irish pubs, music and cuisine. | ||
| Ways To Get To Manchester: | Fly – Check out cheap flights using WAYAWAY – your new and trustworthy travel companion. Train – I booked trains using Trainline and they were very reliable and affordable. Car Rental – Depending on the number in your group and what else you plan to see, renting a car may be a cheaper option. Book your rental HERE Uber – Uber operates in Manchester with many drivers available throughout the day. | ||
| Length Of Stay: | To explore Manchester, I would recommend 2-3 full days and preferably during the weekend. |
13 Must Visit Attractions In Manchester
| CENTRAL MANCHESTER LIBRARY – Aka the place I spent many hours hiding from the city. |
| Northern Quarter – Walk around this hipster neighborhood to check out some of the iconic Manchester street art. Stay longer for the funky shops, vintage stores and cafes |
| John Rylands Library – View collections including the earliest surviving pieces of the New Testament and always changing exhibits. (FYI: Their gift shop has fabulous items compared to the usual and mostly boring library gift shops I’ve come across in my travels.) |
| Manchester Art Gallery – Filled with works from many local and English artists from past to present. |
| Manchester Science and Industry Museum – 4 buildings that are great for kids, kids at heart and people who enjoy learning new things. |
| PEOPLE’S MUSEUM – Better understand the industrial revolution and its effects in Manchester. |
| Media City – Queys canals and explore where iTV and BBC is. (I highly recommend a stroll down most canals in Manchester as I find this as an enjoyable activity if exploring the city.) Consider this river cruise here. |
| The Lowry – The architecture is one not to miss in this theater/gallery especially when exploring Media City. |
| Chettam’s Library – The oldest free public library in the UK and where the infamous Karl Marx found himself researching with Friedrich Engels on what would lead to their work, “The Communist Manifesto” |
| SALFORDS LADS CLUB – For that iconic smiths picture. |
| Manchester City Stadium – Catch a footy match or check out a tour here if the team isn’t in season playing. |
| The Midland – Gorgeous hotel from 1903 with breathtaking architecture to match. |
| Manchester City Cathedral – At the heart of its city’s history, this cathedral has taken center stage and stands as one of the most captivating landmarks. |
| See more must-visit attractions in Manchester City HERE |
Manchester Attraction Map & Guide – Google Map
This handy google maps HERE lists the full location of restaurants, attractions, etc. including further tips in the notes section. Be sure to add this list to your Google Maps.
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