FREE THINGS TO DO IN Manchester

Manchester Town Hall is undoubtedly one of the best free attractions in Manchester, as well as one of the most beloved buildings in the city.

The Grade 1 listed building is a pinnacle of culture and architecture in Manchester’s city centre and it’s a place that you need to add to your travel itinerary while you’re there.

The Manchester Town Hall is situated in Albert Square and is renowned for its beautiful Neo-Gothic Architecture.

You can take a free self-guided tour around the inside of the Town Hall, visit numerous rooms and admire some of the beautiful murals that don the walls.

This activity is perfect if you’re interested in awesome architecture and just a little bit of history too.

Address: Mount Street Entrance, Albert Square, Manchester M2 5DB, United Kingdom

Located in the Fallowfield area in Manchester, Platt Fields Park is a large open space that’s popular with both tourists to the city as well as locals.

It’s safe to say that the city of Manchester isn’t renowned for often having good weather but when a particularly sunny summer’s day hits, you can bet that Platt Fields Park will be teeming with people.

Platt Fields Park is the perfect place to visit in Manchester with children as there’s an abundance of open green spaces for the kids to run around and let off some steam.

It’s also a lovely place in the city to enjoy a romantic picnic date if you’re travelling to Manchester as a couple.

Address: Manchester M14 6LA, United Kingdom

What you need to know:

Manchester Art Gallery is the perfect place in the city to get your culture on and is also considered to be one of the best free attractions in Manchester.

The Art Gallery complex is situated near to some of the city’s top bars and restaurants, so it’s conveniently located.

However, once you enter the Gallery, you’ll be surrounded by over 13,000 paintings, photographs, sculptures and more in a peaceful and quiet oasis away from the outside world.

It’s a really great place in Manchester to enjoy some local culture and best of all, it’s completely free!

You might not want to bring young children along to Manchester Art Gallery as they’re not very likely to find it too entertaining.

Address: Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL, United Kingdom

The Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden is a 21-acre park and gardens area situated away from the bustling city centre in Didsbury, Manchester.

The Gardens are a lush oasis from the heaving city streets and are an ideal location for a lovely afternoon stroll, a friendly game of catch or even a picnic.

There’s so many beautiful plants to admire at the Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden; from locally grown flowers, to plants that have been sourced from exotic locations all over the world.

This free attraction in Manchester can be enjoyed by everyone as there’s plenty of open space for everyone to go about their own thing.

You might even want to bring your camera along so you can take some pictures of the day out.

Address: 18 Stenner Ln, Manchester M20 2RQ, United Kingdom

Arguably the most famous free attraction in Manchester and certainly one of the greatest is the John Rylands Library.

Located in Deansgate, Manchester, the John Rylands Library is an exquisite work of Victorian Gothic architecture; both inside and out.

It also has an overwhelming Harry Potter vibe to it, so fans of the hit movie franchise are sure to enjoy visiting the library, regardless of their age.

You can also find some of the most fascinating historic literature inside the library, including a 1476 edition of the Canterbury Tales, and one of the oldest pieces of the New Testament.

Even if you’re not particularly interested in the enigmatic historic contents of the library, you’re still sure to love wandering around its intricately designed façade.

Address: 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH, United Kingdom

The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester is an incredibly fascinating museum located in the city centre.

The museum is home to works of art and studies that are devoted to the development of technology, science and industry and celebrates the city of Manchester’s achievements within these fields.

It’s a fun day out for the whole family and even young kids who aren’t usually fans of museums will enjoy learning through interactive exhibitions at the museum.

You’ll get to learn all about the pivotal roles Manchester played in the industrial revolution, as well as the science and industry fields as well.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Science and Industry Museum, including exhibits, galleries and immersive collections.

Address: Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4FP, United Kingdom

Spanning a total of 600 acres, Heaton Park encompasses a Grade 1 listed, 18^th century country house aptly named Heaton Hall.

Heaton Park is actually the largest urban park in Europe and is home to a plethora of incredible things to see and do, alongside the beloved Heaton Hall.

You’ll find activities that everyone will enjoy, including a golf course, an animal farm, a boating lake, tennis courts, and so much more!

It’s a great place to visit in Manchester if you’re travelling with your family as there’s so many varied activities to indulge in.

While you might have to pay for some things, there are plenty of free things to do as well such as the kids’ playground, enjoying a picnic or just wandering through the woodland areas.

Address: Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW, United Kingdom

Castlefield Urban Heritage Park is a great place to spend a few hours while in Manchester.

It’s definitely a free attraction that’s a bit more off the beaten track, but it’s also one that’s sure to give you plenty of enjoyment and culture when visiting Manchester.

You can walk along the admirable canals, see the picturesque houseboats bobbing up and down on the water and even see the remnants of an ancient Roman fort!

The Castlefield Urban Heritage Park is a great place in the city to visit as a whole family as there’s plenty of unique areas to discover.

Make sure you pack your camera for a trip to the Urban Heritage Park as you’ll likely want to take plenty of pictures while wandering along the archaic streets!

Address: Beaufort Street, Manchester, England

What you need to know:

Manchester Cathedral dates all the way back to 700AD so it’s a great place in the city to immerse yourself in enigmatic history.

It has a Neo-Gothic design and is one of the very few Grade 1 listed buildings in Manchester City; it’s also located very centrally in the city so it’s pretty easy to get to.

This particular free attraction in Manchester won’t appeal to many young children, but if you are interested in beautiful and archaic architecture, then make sure you pay a visit to the Manchester Cathedral.

You can also take in the view of the famous ancient monument named the Ancient Bridge and you can choose to take a guided tour of the church, or simply walk around at your own leisurely pace.

Address: Victoria St, Manchester M3 1SX, United Kingdom

Manchester’s Trafford Centre is a huge shopping centre located in the Greater Manchester area.

If you have a particular penchant for shopping, then a visit to The Trafford Centre needs to be on your list of things to do in the city.

While of course you’ll need to spend money if you plan on buying anything from The Trafford Centre, you can also just simply enjoy window shopping.

There are approximately 280 stores to enjoy inside this giant shopping mall, so you certainly won’t be short of choice if you do decide to purchase something new!

You can spend as little or as long as you want inside The Trafford Centre as it’s open from 10am until 10pm everyday apart from Saturday (10am-9pm) and Sunday (12pm-6pm).

Address: The Orient, Stretford, Manchester M17 8AA, United Kingdom