25 Famous Landmarks in Manchester, England (100% worth a visit)
Manchester is a large city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial and cultural heritage. This major metropolis was indeed the first city in the world to embrace the industrial revolution!
The 6th largest city in the United-Kingdom is now best known as one of the greatest soccer cities in the world, and houses 2 famous teams, Manchester United and Manchester City. But Manchester also has good reputation among nightlife lovers because of its large student population.
Wondering what to do or see in Manchester?
Here are 25 famous landmarks in Manchester you can’t miss, Greater Manchester included! 🔥
Full List of the 25 Famous Manchester Landmarks
Find below the full list of the top 25 landmarks in Manchester England divided by category: the landmarks in downtown Manchester in one hand; and the landmarks in Greater Manchester in the other hand.
Manchester famous buildings & monuments:
- Manchester Cathedral
- Manchester Town Hall
- Science and Industry Museum
- Manchester Art Gallery
- Manchester Museum
- Beetham Tower
- Castlefield
- John Rylands Library
- People’s History Museum
- Manchester Central Library
- Printworks
- Royal Exchange Theater
Famous landmarks in Greater Manchester:
- Heaton Park
- Imperial War Museum North
- The Quays
- Old Trafford
- Ordsall Hall
- Tatton Park
- Victoria Baths
- Fletcher Moss Park & Botanical Gardens
- Dunham Massey
- Lyme Park
- Quarry Bank
- Peak District National Park
- Bramall Hall
Keep reading below to learn more about each of these landmarks! 👇
Manchester Famous Buildings & Monuments
Manchester city center is full of historical monuments and beautiful buildings that are absolute must-sees when in town. Here’s a selection of 12 best landmarks below! 🔎
1. Manchester Cathedral
Located on Victoria Street in the heart of the city, Manchester Cathedral is a medieval church and the seat of the Bishop of Manchester.
Built in the 15th century, the imposing Manchester Cathedral cannot fail to amaze you with its stunning Gothic exterior. The place is also full of history. First of all, the stones used to build its floors are full of small fossils. But the cathedral also stands in place of a church built in 700!
Inside, visitors can admire various ancient artifacts as well as beautiful wooden sculptures. A must-see in Manchester!
2. Manchester Town Hall
Located between St. Peter’s Square and Albert Square in the city center, the Town Hall is the most famous landmark of Manchester.
The building was designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse in 1877. From Albert Square, you can contemplate its magnificent Gothic clock tower which rises 85 meters high!
The interior is also worth a visit, with its high vaulted ceilings and beautiful golden spiral staircases. You can also admire the statues and busts celebrating Manchester’s major personalities in the Sculpture Hall.
3. Science and Industry Museum
Manchester’s rich industrial heritage is showcased in this vast and exciting museum, in the heart of the city.
Housed in the former Liverpool Street station, the Science and Industry Museum bears witness to the incredible scientific, technological and industrial history of the English city. Through the various collections, you can learn more about transport, energy, the textile industry, telecommunications and computers.
This museum is especially ideal for families who want to visit Manchester in a fun way, as it includes many hands-on activities. You can try out different science experiments and learn more through games or virtual reality booths.
4. Manchester Art Gallery
Located only a few steps from Manchester Central Library and St. Peter Square, the Manchester Art Gallery is a large museum hosting both local and international artists.
Opened in 1824 as the Royal Manchester Institution, the Manchester Art Gallery is housed in 3 beautiful buildings designed by the architect Charles Barry.
Inside the museum, you can admire impressive collections of fine and decorative arts and costume. Several thousand works of art including 2,000 paintings and 350 sculptures, drawings, watercolors, prints and photographs, await you.
5. Manchester Museum
Open to the public since the 1880s, the Manchester Museum is the largest university museum in the country.
Manchester Museum houses nearly 6 million items from around the world. Housed in a magnificent Gothic-style building, it’s a treasure trove of archaeology and natural history.
Inside, you’ll find exhibits dedicated to the natural history of the city, a vivarium housing a fine collection of live reptiles and amphibians, or the well-preserved skeleton of Stan the T-Rex.
6. Beetham Tower
The Beetham Tower dominates the red brick houses of the surrounding area. It’s the tallest skyscraper in Manchester rising to 168 meters.
Built from 2004 to 2006, this large tower, with a slightly futuristic design, houses a hotel and luxury housing including several penthouses.
But if the tower is famous, it’s not only for its height and its architecture. On windy days, a shrill whistling sound seems to come from the building. This isn’t an illusion, the tower do produces this piercing sound: the wind rushes between the blades of the glass structure on top of it, causing this strange acoustic phenomenon.
7. Castlefield
Slightly off-center in the southeast of Manchester, Castlefield is a lively and cultural neighborhood offering nice cheap options to stay in Manchester.
With its many canals, waterfront bars and beautiful green spaces, Castelfield is a relaxed and friendly place. It’s also very charming thanks to the many Victorian-style homes you can find there.
You can see the Bridgewater Canal, the world’s first industrial canal built in 1764. The Castlefield Bowl, which hosts rock and classical music concerts, is really popular, as well as the Home Arts Center for film screenings, exhibitions and plays.
8. John Rylands Library
Located on Deansgate, John Rylands Library is certainly the most famous library in Manchester.
Opened to the public in 1900, John Rylands Library is housed in a Neo-Gothic sandstone building. Belonging to the University of Manchester, this library is really worth a visit.
First of all, you can’t help but be amazed by the architecture of the building. The vaulted ceilings, subdued lighting and ornate archways make it a magical place. Secondly, the library is home to a large number of medieval manuscripts, ancient texts and personal letters from famous people. And most importantly, this library is a haven of peace in the heart of a busy city: it’s the perfect place to soak up history and relax.
9. People’s History Museum
The People’s History Museum is located on the banks of the River Irwell, a 5min walk from the John Rylands Library.
Opened in 1994, the People’s History Museum is housed in a former hydraulic pumping station dating from the early 20th century.
This museum is unique in collecting, preserving and studying the history of the working class in the UK. It offers a completely new perspective on the country’s history. You’ll learn about the history of the democracy in the UK and about the daily life, work and leisure of the British people during the last 200 years.
10. Manchester Central Library
Located in the heart of the city on St Peter Square, the Manchester Central Library is a Neo-classical building housing the headquarters of Manchester’s library and information service.
Completed in 1934 by architect Harris, the shape of the building is vaguely similar to the Pantheon in Rome with its columned portico and dome.
It’s the second largest lending library after Birmingham’s.
11. Printworks
Located in the center of Manchester near the National Football Museum, the Printworks is an entertainment venue offering clubs, restaurants, stores and a cinema.
Housed in the former offices of publisher Edward Hulton, founded in 1873, the complex was renovated in 1998 and opened in 2000.
12. Royal Exchange Theater
The Royal Exchange Theater is one of the most popular entertainment complexes in the city. Considered the best theater in Manchester, it produces a wide variety of shows each year.
Located in the downtown area, the theater is obviously the most striking architectural building in town. Completed in 1921, it survived the bombings of World War II, and then the 1996 Manchester bombing. The building is also known to be haunted by a few ghosts.
In the complex, which also includes the Royal Exchange Shopping Centre, you’ll find several cafes and restaurants to try before or after a show.
Famous Landmarks in Greater Manchester
With Greater Manchester included, Manchester is the UK’s second most populous urban area after London with 2.8 million people. Surrounded by pretty cities, cute villages and wide open green spaces, there are tons of attractions to do in the area.
Let’s discover 13 of them now! 🚀
13. Heaton Park
Located about 20min drive north from Manchester city center, Heaton Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, with an area of 600 acres.
This wide green space open since 1902 is perfect for relaxing, doing outdoor activities or picnicking away from the city for a day or half day.
Inside the park, you can discover the Animal Center built around former stables. You can also take a walk in the forest or ride the Heaton Park Tramway, a historic tramway from the 20th century. Visitors can also explore Heaton Hall, a stately home established on the site since the Middle Ages. People also come here for the musical and cultural events that regularly take place in the park.
14. Imperial War Museum North
Located on the other side of the Manchester Ship Canal across from The Quays, the Imperial War Museum North or IWM North is part of London’s Imperial War Museum.
Designed by architect Libeskind and opened in 2002, the building is now symbolic of the city of Manchester. Its rather complex architecture and its aluminum wall delight all photography lovers.
The museum traces modern history from the First World War to the present day. In the main exhibition room, visitors can see Tolkien’s First World War revolver that fired the first British shots in 1914.
15. The Quays
Located at the entrance of the city in the south-east next to the Old Trafford stadium, The Quays are the new dynamic neighborhood of Manchester.
It used to be the Manchesters docks, renovated in the 1990s. Lots of museums have settled there (The Lowry, The Imperial War Museum,…) and there are plenty of attractions.
You can walk along the canal, following the bridges and locks. The area is very colorful and contrasts radically with the old center of Manchester.
16. Old Trafford
Old Trafford is located about 20min from Manchester city center, and is one of the largest stadium in England with a capacity of nearly 76,000 seats. It’s also known as “The Theatre of Dreams” of the legendary soccer club Manchester United.
Completed in 1909, Old Trafford was severely damaged by German bombings during WWII. It was rebuilt in the 1950s with floodlights, which allowed it to host European games and the 1966 World Cup.
Old Trafford is now a prestigious stadium that hosted some of the greatest soccer players including Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
17. Ordsall Hall
Located in Salford in Greater Manchester, Ordsall Hall is a former Tudor manor house dating from the 14th century.
Ordsall Hall is one of the best examples of an Elizabethan half-timbered manor-house. With its beautifully decorated rooms, its landscaped gardens, its exhibitions and hands-on activities, visiting Ordsall Hall is for sure one of the best day trip from Manchester.
18. Tatton Park
Located 40 minutes drive south west of Manchester, Tatton Park is a historic Cheshire estate including a medieval manor house (Tatton Old Hall), a mansion (Tatton Hall), a farm and a 2,000-acre deer park.
Tatton Old Hall was built by the Stanley family in the early 15th century on the site of a vanished medieval village. Tatton Hall was added by John Egerton in the late 18th century. After successive changes of Owners throughout history, the last owner Lord Egerton finally left the estate to the National Trust in 1958.
When visiting Tatton Park, don’t miss the 50 acres of gardens that are undoubtedly the highlight. You will be amazed by the Japanese garden, the greenhouse or by the deers that you’ll meet along the visit.
19. Victoria Baths
Located 20min from the center of Manchester, the Victoria Baths are Turkish baths built in 1906 with beautiful stained glass windows and incredible mosaic floors.
Designed by the architect Henry Price without skimping on resources used for their construction, these baths are considered the most beautiful in the country.
Closed and abandoned in 1993, the Victoria Baths have undergone a major renovation project in 2007-2009, allowing the building to regain its former glory.
20. Fletcher Moss Park & Botanical Gardens
Located in Didsbury about 30min drive from the center of Manchester, Fletcher Moss Park is a relaxing and charming park with botanical gardens.
Gifted by the philanthropist Fletcher Moss in 1915 to the city of Manchester, the gardens include a large collection of plants from all over the world.
Lots of improvements have been made since its creation, especially recreational facilities including tennis courts, football fields and cafes.
21. Dunham Massey
Located approximately 19 kilometers southwest of downtown Manchester, Dunham Massey is a green oasis with a 400 year old castle and a deer park.
Built in 1616 by Sir George Booth, Dunham Hall and gardens have undergone many changes over the course of their history. The castle was also used as a military hospital during WWI. As for the estate, it has been home to deer since 1748!
Dunham Massey is the perfect visit in Greater Manchester if you like discovering historic buildings while walking through beautifully decorated gardens.
22. Lyme Park
Located 1 hour drive from Manchester on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Lyme Park is a huge estate including a manor house, a garden and a park.
The mansion dates from the late 16th century and is the largest house in Cheshire. Inside the castle, the ceilings, walls and richly decorated furniture are absolutely breathtaking. The garden includes a rose garden, an orangery and a flower maze that visitors can explore during a 1.5 hour walk.
The park is known for being the filming location for many movies, including Pride and Prejudice.
23. Quarry Bank
Located in Styal about 35min from Manchester city center, Quarry Bank is a former textile mill dating back to the industrial revolution.
Founded in 1784, it was originally a simple mill with a single water wheel. The system was later upgraded, including a steam engine, to the point where it became the headquarters of the largest British cotton manufacturing businesses. Donated to the National Trust in 1939, Quarry Bank Mill continued to operate until 1959.
Now converted into a museum, you can take a tour inside the mill to learn more about its history, and discover the gardens surrounding the mill.
24. Peak District National Park
Located about 40 kilometers from Manchester, Peak District is the oldest national park in the United Kingdom.
Peak District National Park is a mid-mountain region full of wonderful landscapes, gorges and cute villages attracting million of visitors every year. The Peak District isn’t a particularly steep area. Instead, there are high hills rising to around 500 meters. The park is covered with moorland and peat bogs due to a long history of deforestation and sheep farming.
Among the places not to be missed in the park are Chrome Hill, the Dovedale Valley, Owler Tor and the typical village of Ashford-in-the-Water.
25. Bramall Hall
Located in Bramhall in Greater Manchester, Bramall Hall is one of the finest examples of a Tudor Manor House.
Bramall Hall is famous for having been the property of the Davenport, a family of wealthy landowners who have made the estate as we know it today.
Inside the castle, visitors can discover 16th-century paintings, many historical artefacts and feel the atmosphere of this unique building of black timber and white plaster.
Map of the Landmarks in Manchester
Here’s the map of the 25 famous Manchester landmarks listed on this post. To get it, simply click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.
More Landmarks in England
Want to discover more famous landmarks in England? Well, I have other posts will be useful to you!
Here’s the complete guide of all the very best English landmarks 👉 +70 Famous Landmarks in England
And you can also find other city-based landmarks guides:
- Famous Landmarks in London
- Famous Landmarks in Liverpool
- Famous Landmarks in Bristol
- Famous Landmarks in Birmingham
- Famous Landmarks in Leicester
For more, you can also check all our UK guides.
I hope you’ve found all the information you needed to make your England bucket list through these posts. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!
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