Art, History & Culture in ManchesterManchester is a city with a rich mix of art, history, and culture. With a deep industrial past and a thriving creative scene, there's a lot to see—from unique museums and beautiful historic buildings to live theater and music performances. Save these ideas for your next trip to Manchester! ⚽📚♪♫♪💫AuthorsSteller
DestinationsManchesterItinerary

Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum was established in 1867 and is one of the UK’s largest university museums! Its permanent exhibits include a comprehensive Egyptology collection, a 52-foot Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named "Stan," the world’s oldest known horse skull, and the Vivarium, which houses rare amphibians like the Variable Harlequin toad. Visitors love the museum for its diverse exhibits and engaging, educational environment. 🦖

The Whitworth

The Whitworth houses an astonishing 60,000-plus pieces, including historic prints, drawings, textiles, and wallpapers. Walk through the Art Garden and Whitworth Park to see how they blend art with nature, and you'll understand why The Whitworth was once named UK’s Museum of the Year for its fresh approach to connecting art, people, and the outdoors!

Manchester Art Gallery

Do not miss the Manchester Art Gallery! It is free to enter and features works by artists like portraitist Thomas Gainsborough, legendary British landscape artist JMW Turner, and renowned autobiographical artist Tracey Emin. Designed by Sir Charles Barry, who also built the Houses of Parliament, the gallery offers a mix of historic and contemporary art right in the city center. 🎨

Almost Famous GN/The Locationalist

Did you know Manchester's Northern Quarter is a popular movie- and TV-filming location? Meet up at Almost Famous GN for The Locationist tour and follow in the footsteps of film icons like Jared Leto, Emma Corrin, and Cillian Murphy!

Aviva Studios, home of Factory International

If you're going to be in Manchester in July 2025, make sure you head to this venue for many of the Manchester International Festival events. Held every two years in July, the festival will feature art that pushes the boundaries, including music, film, plays, life-sized puppets, dance, digital art, and lots more. Aviva Studios is the year-round home of Factory International and hosts the Manchester International Festival, a major global arts event. The space focuses on new, original work across music, theater, and visual art. Always check the website for a calendar of events and to find out what's on during your trip to Manchester.

Northern Quarter Makers market

Head to the heart of Manchester’s hipster haven, the Northern Quarter. The area is full of indie cafés, bars, boutiques, galleries, and bold street art that changes like an open-air gallery. The Northern Quarter Makers Market, which happens the second Sunday of every month, features talented works by local creators and is near Afflecks, a legendary spot for alternative stalls and even a tattoo studio. Fun fact: Scenes set in Brooklyn for "Captain America: The First Avenger," were filmed here!

Science and Industry Museum

Explore Manchester's role in shaping modern science and technology at The Science and Industry Museum, built on the site of the world’s first passenger railway station, Liverpool Road, which opened in 1830. The museum's collection here includes a working replica of The Baby—the first programmable computer—and the oldest surviving steam engine from the 1760s! 🚂

John Rylands Library

The John Rylands Library is a neo-Gothic gem that looks like it belongs in a Harry Potter film. It opened in 1900 and was Manchester’s first major public building founded by a woman—Enriqueta Rylands. Inside, you’ll find the world’s oldest known fragment of the New Testament, a piece of the Gospel of John from around 125 AD. It’s both a peaceful study space and a place rich in history.

Lowry

This riverside arts center holds the largest public collection of works by L.S. Lowry, known for his iconic matchstick men and depictions of industrial northern England. Named in his honor, it also hosts theater, dance, and exhibitions—celebrating both his legacy and today’s creative voices.

IWM North

Step into an award-winning immersive experience at IWM North—housed in a striking building designed to symbolize a globe shattered by conflict and representing earth, air, and water. Located in an area heavily bombed during the Manchester Blitz, remnants like shrapnel were discovered during construction. The Main Exhibition Space features a sloping floor, creating an immersive timeline as visitors walk through history from the First World War to the present day.

Manchester Jewish Museum

Located inside a historic Spanish and Portuguese synagogue built in 1874, the Manchester Jewish Museum offers a fascinating look into Sephardi Jewish heritage in the city. The museum's most popular feature is the beautifully restored synagogue (it was the first Sephardi synagogue in Manchester!), which hosts live cultural events like talks, performances, and concerts. Notable permanent exhibits include oral history testimonies, a photographic archive, and ceremonial objects.

Palace Theatre Manchester

Now this is a place to see a show! The stunning Victorian-era Palace Theatre first opened in Manchester in 1891 and has quite a history: During the Manchester Blitz in 1940, the theater suffered extensive bomb damage, but thankfully was restored. It has since hosted major productions, including the UK premiere of "The Book of Mormon" in 2019 and the first UK tour of "Hamilton" in 2023. It remains a top venue for live performances in the city. Upcoming shows include "Moulin Rouge- The Musical," "Miss Saigon," and "Matilda." 🎭 Check the website to see what's on during your visit.

HOME Manchester

HOME Manchester is a dynamic arts venue that blends performance, film, and visual art in a single space. The building features two performance venues, five cinema screens, and gallery spaces, offering a truly multi-sensory experience!

Band on the Wall

Make sure to stop by Manchester's oldest music venue, a hub for trailblazing artists from across the globe, offering a unique blend of genres. The award-winning spot is famous for its internationally acclaimed live music events happening every night of the week! 🪩 You can also grab dinner at their NYC-inspired restaurant, The Copper Bar.

The Bridgewater Hall

The Bridgewater Hall is home to the renowned Hallé Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic. Built with an advanced acoustic design, its concert hall is suspended on 280 springs to keep out external noise. The venue also boasts an impressive pipe organ with 5,500 pipes, which, at its unveiling, was the largest instrument installed in the UK for a century. It's a must-visit for music lovers, with world-class performances in a beautiful setting.

Chetham's Library

📚 Chetham's Library is the oldest free public library in the English-speaking world. The library holds medieval manuscripts, and rare books, and was historically a meeting place for figures like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. With thousands of volumes, including 60,000 published before 1851, it’s a treasure trove of history. One notable item is a copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle, annotated by scholar Thomas Gudlawe. Guided tours are available for a deeper dive into this historic gem.

National Football Museum

Football in Manchester is not just a game—it’s a symbol of pride and a central part of the city’s global reputation as the home of Manchester United. This museum delves into the social history and culture of the sport, and features over 140,000 items, including memorabilia, photographs, and documents, making it one of the largest football collections globally. With both hands-on and off exhibits, visitors can test their football skills and explore the sport’s deep-rooted history. ⚽🏟🏆

Canal Street

Canal Street, known as the Gay Village, is renowned for its lively bars, restaurants, and vibrant LGBTQ+ community. It's a hub for nightlife and cultural events and was also home to one of the first UK Pride Festivals, solidifying its status as a key location in Manchester’s LGBTQ+ history. The original 'Queer as Folk' series was also filmed here. Whether you're looking for a night out or cultural events, Canal Street is a welcoming and inclusive place. 🏳️‍🌈

Invisible Cities - Walking Tours Manchester

Invisible Cities offers unique walking tours of Manchester, led by guides who have experienced homelessness. The tours cover various themes and provide personal insights into the city, giving visitors a deeper understanding of Manchester’s history, culture, and challenges. It’s a meaningful way to explore the city while supporting a social cause. 🫶

Manchester River Cruises

Board a Manchester River Cruise and get a different perspective on the city’s industrial history and heritage. As you travel along the waterways, you’ll learn about Manchester’s role in the Industrial Revolution and how its canals shaped the city’s growth. It’s a great way to explore the city from the water. You can also choose from fun themes like Back to the 90's Boat Party and the kid-friendly Pirates & Mermaids Cruise!

The Portico Library

The Portico Library is home to more than 25,000 books with a focus on 19th-century literature. Notably, Peter Mark Roget began compiling his famous thesaurus here. Since 1985, it has been awarding the biennial Portico Prize for Literature, celebrating books set in the north of England. It’s a peaceful, historic space for anyone interested in reading, writing, or discovering local stories. Gather in the main library space under the stunning Regency-era painted glass dome and join one of the free public exhibitions. You can also explore the bookshop, and enjoy homemade cake in The Portico Kitchen, one of Manchester's oldest lunch spots!

Elizabeth Gaskell's House

This beautifully restored Regency-era villa was once the home of one of the UK's most important Victorian writers, Elizabeth Gaskell, from 1850 to 1865. Now a writer's museum, you can explore period rooms filled with original features, including the study where she wrote many of her best-known works. The house gives you a feel for Victorian domestic life, with exhibitions on Gaskell’s literary legacy and a peaceful Victorian-style garden outside.

East Lancashire Railway

Travel back in time on this railway, offering heritage steam train journeys through picturesque landscapes, connecting towns like Heywood, Bury, Ramsbottom, Summerseat, Irwell Vale, Rawtenstall, and Burnley. Established in 1846, the railway was key to the area’s industrial growth and now operates as a living museum. You can also enjoy a variety of themed events and rides, including The Wizarding Adventure, Peter Rabbit at Easter, and Day Out With Thomas, making it great for families and history buffs alike.

St Peter's Square, Manchester

Charming St. Peter's Square is located in the civic quarter of Manchester and features important landmarks, as well as some great restaurants. Once the site of St. Peter’s Church (built between 1788 and 1794 and demolished in 1907), the square still holds a memorial cross marking the location of the church’s former altar. Head to St. Peter's Square to see the impressive Neoclassical dome and columns of Manchester Central Library. Stop by the bronze "Rise up, Women" or "Our Emmeline" statue, which pays homage to suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. And marvel at the iconic Manchester Town Hall, one of the best examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in the UK!

Royal Exchange Theatre

Looking for a one-of-a-kind theater experience in one of the most beautiful buildings in Manchester? The Royal Exchange Theatre is a unique theater-in-the-round, meaning the performance space is surrounded by the audience on all sides. Shows here include everything from Shakespearean classics to contemporary productions. The Royal Exchange building, originally constructed in the 1800s, was used as a commodities trading floor and was once the largest room in the world. The spaceship-like stage is a futuristic seven-sided steel-and-glass module that only adds to the drama of the experience!