11 Best Free Things to Do in Manchester
How to Experience Manchester on a Small Budget
Manchester is teeming with inexpensive (even free) experiences all year round. Almost every museum in the city is free to enter, allowing you to see rare paintings, sculptures and decorative arts, as well as a variety of wildlife, minerals, and fossils. Botanical gardens and public parks feature plenty of walking trails with views of ornamental gardens, ponds and playgrounds.
Victorian-style libraries attract unapologetic book lovers with their Gothic interiors and impressive collections of ancient manuscripts, novels, and prints dating back as far as 200 AD. If you’re travelling on a tight budget, check out our list below and learn how to enjoy Manchester without breaking the bank.
1. Manchester Museum
A massive collection of artifacts
Categoría: Historia, Fotos, Opciones económicas
Manchester Museum, located opposite The University of Manchester, is an institution on the same scale as the British Museum in London. The permanent exhibits showcase over 4.5 million items, ranging from dinosaur skeletons to Ancient Egyptian mummies and from archaeology to earth sciences.
This mammoth of a museum cares for a collection of around 100,000 fossils, including one of the most important collections of Ice Age animals in Europe. There’s even a vivarium, where researchers breed extremely endangered frog species. The museum’s free to enter, so you can also spread your exploration across a number of days. Mostrar más
Ubicación: University of, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Horario: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, Wednesday from 10 am to 9 pm, Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Teléfono: +44 (0)1612 752648
Manchester Museum
2. Chinatown
Where a colorful paifang arch invites you to enter
Categoría: Gastronomía, Opciones económicas, Compras
The home of Manchester’s considerable East Asian community is among the largest Chinatown districts in the UK. After passing under the iconic Chinese arch on Faulkner Street, you’ll find dozens of Chinese restaurants, shops, supermarkets and even banks.
The Chinese New Year celebrations here get bigger and more vibrant with every passing year. For foodies, there’s something new to discover in every street and around every corner. Be sure to check out Hunan Restaurant for excellent Hunan specialties, or The Little Yang Sing for authentic dim sums Mostrar más
Chinatown
3. Heaton Park
One of the largest parks in the UK
Categoría: Familias, Fotos, Opciones económicas
Heaton Park is among the biggest city parks in the UK, spanning more than 600 acres. Among the woodland and grassland, you’ll find ornamental gardens, an 18-hole golf course, several ponds, and a number of well-preserved historical buildings.
This urban oasis is a popular spot for families, thanks to the Animal Centre, playgrounds, boating lake, and several cafés. There are miles of paved running and walking routes through the park, as well as a volunteer-run tramway to help you get around. Mostrar más
Ubicación: Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW, UK
Heaton Park
4. John Ryland’s Library
Home of the world’s oldest Gospel of John at the Ryland Gallery
Categoría: Historia, Opciones económicas, Viajes diferentes
The magnificent John Ryland’s Library occupies an elegant Victorian Gothic building and is part of The University of Manchester. The castle-like structure dates back to 1890 and houses over 1 million artefacts, manuscripts, books and maps.
Among its most prized items are a 15th-century William Caxton edition of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and the oldest fragment of the Gospel of John. You can take photos during your visit, though refrain from using a tripod or flash as this is a working library. Mostrar más
Ubicación: 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH, UK
Horario: Wednesday–Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed Sunday–Tuesday)
Teléfono: +44 (0)1613 060555
John Ryland’s Library
5. Rochdale Canal
Peaceful boating trips and cheeky bars
Categoría: Fotos, Opciones económicas
The Rochdale Canal flows for 32 miles (51 km) from Castlefield Basin to West Yorkshire, ensuring there’s no shortage of great places to wander along the waterside. If you feel like heading out on the canal for some peaceful boating, it’s connected to the much-loved Cheshire Ring cruising route.
Several shops are found at various spots along the Rochdale Canal, with many more as you get closer to the metropolis of Manchester. As the waterway winds through the city, there are numerous bars and restaurants with outdoor seating running alongside the canal, particularly in Deansgate and Gay Village. Mostrar más
Rochdale Canal
6. The Lowry
Free talks and art exhibits about painter LS Lowry
Categoría: Historia, Opciones económicas, Parejas
The Lowry is where you can find the city’s largest collection of 20th-century artwork by painter LS Lowry. Located in Salford Quays, the arts complex has 0.2 hectares (2,000 sq meters) of gallery space and 2 theatres, one of which is among the largest in the UK.
The exhibition hall not only displays 400 paintings by Lowry, but also offers guided tours for a fee. Temporary exhibits and cultural events are regularly scheduled at the theatres, many of which are free. The landmark quayside building itself is a photo-worthy attraction, so do bring you camera. Mostrar más
Ubicación: Pier, 8 The Quays, Salford, Manchester M50 3AZ, UK
Horario: Tuesday–Friday from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Teléfono: +44 (0)1618 762183
The Lowry
7. Manchester Cathedral
Free tours available to learn about this glorious medieval church
Categoría: Historia, Fotos, Opciones económicas
Manchester Cathedral, built in 1215, has some of the best medieval woodwork in North England. Not only can you enter its elegant halls for free, the church regularly hosts free classical music concerts that come with coffee or wine.
A must-see here is the Hanging Ditch Bridge, which dates back to the 14th century and is the oldest structure in Manchester. If you want to learn about the history of Manchester Cathedral, visit their website for the details and schedules of the volunteer-led free guided tours. Mostrar más
Ubicación: Victoria St, Manchester M3 1SX, UK
Horario: Monday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 4 pm, Sunday from noon to 4 pm
Teléfono: +44 (0)1618 332220
Manchester Cathedral
8. Hidden Gem
Manchester’s oldest Catholic church
Categoría: Opciones económicas, Parejas, Familias
The stunning Hidden Gem, also known as St Mary’s Church is literally a hidden gem, a beautiful but little-known attraction in the heart of Manchester. A fairly modest red-brick building on a quiet street of similar structures, St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic church in Manchester.
The unassuming exterior hides a treasure trove of marble sculptures, artworks and stained-glass windows. Look out for the critically acclaimed Stations of the Cross series of 14 striking modern artworks by Norman Adams, on the left-hand wall as you enter. Mostrar más
Ubicación: St Mary’s Church, 17 Mulberry St, Manchester M2 6LN, UK
Horario: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9.30 am to 4 pm, Wednesday from 9.30 to 7.30 pm, Saturday from 9.30 am to end of Mass, Sunday from 8.30 to end of Mass
Teléfono: +44 (0)1618 343547
Hidden Gem
9. Manchester Art Gallery
From Ludolf Backhuysen’s Seascape to Men of War and Smaller Vessels
Categoría: Historia, Fotos, Opciones económicas
The versatile Manchester Art Gallery displays over 25,000 objects relating to fine arts, costumes, and crafts. Located along Mosley Street, it’s known for its extensive collection of masterpieces by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, but you can also see many European oil paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs dating back between the 15th and 21st centuries.
There are many ancient decorative pieces on display at the Manchester Art Gallery, ranging from coins, ceramics and armors to dollhouses, furniture and jade carvings. If you’re traveling with kids, check out the museum’s website for the schedule of exciting family events. Mostrar más
Ubicación: Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL, UK
Horario: Tuesday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Teléfono: +44 (0)1612 358888
Manchester Art Gallery
10. National Football Museum
Can you find your favorite player in the Hall of Fame?
Categoría: Historia, Familias, Grupos
The National Football Museum, one of the largest sports museum in the UK, is a popular stop for diehard soccer fans. It has over 140,000 soccer-related items, including shirts, paintings, postcards, boots, balls and ceramics.
The entry is free for Manchester residents and National Art Pass and
Museum Association members. For a small fee, you can play a variety of virtual games on the 1st and 2nd floors of the museum. Photography fans can check out the 3rd floor gallery, which is dedicated to soccer photographer Stuart Roy Clarke. Mostrar más
Ubicación: Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, Manchester M4 3BG, UK
Horario: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Teléfono: +44 (0)1616 058200
National Football Museum
11. Chetham’s School of Music
Free lunchtime concerts
Categoría: Opciones económicas, Parejas, Viajes en solitario
Chetham’s School of Music is one of many music schools in Manchester with a regular schedule of programmes and recitals. One of its most popular activities is the lunchtime recital, which takes place at the Stroller Hall.
The 45-minute performance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays range from solo piano and organ recitals to full orchestras by students between the ages of 8 and 18. Simply choose your favorite and book your free ticket for the concert of your choice on the school’s website. Mostrar más
Ubicación: Long Millgate, Manchester M3 1SB, UK
Teléfono: +44 (0)1618 349644
Chetham’s School of Music
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