England · MANCHESTER TOURS
Manchester sells itself on football, music and red brick, roughly in that order. The 14 below cover the stadium tours, the city walks, the cocktail rooms and the Peak District runs that leave from it, priced and timed.
Spend about 75 minutes behind the scenes at Etihad Stadium with guides such as Martin, Hannah, Tim, and Gary. See the home and away dressing rooms, walk the players’ tunnel, sit in Pep Guardiola’s dugout seat, explore holograms, and question a virtual Pep in the press room.
“How the tour staff Paul and Dave looked after our grandson during the tour The tour itself was very interesting even to none football fans.”
At Alcotraz Manchester, you enter Cell Block Three-Four in an orange prison jumpsuit, smuggle in gin, rum, or whisky, and work with the prison cast to create four cocktails. Expect about 1 hour 45 minutes of comic live theatre, direct interaction, and a small group capped at 15 people.
“It was a brilliant experience. Actors were amazing. Loved every minute. Also made new friends in Cell C.”
Take children aged 3 to 10 into a LEGO-sized world of rides, 4D films, MINILAND Manchester, NINJAGO City Adventure, and a Space Mission Experience. Your ticket includes attractions and free parking at Trafford Palazzo. Allow one to three hours, and check ride height rules before you go.
“Great experience and lovely staff everything was clean apart from the cafe area, could do with maintaining”
Join an English-speaking guide, often Gareth, at 2 pm for a 2.5-hour walk through central Manchester. See the library, suffragist memorial, canals, Chinatown, Gay Village, Town Hall, The Shambles, Cathedral, and more. Expect an easy pace, plenty of standing, and a maximum group size of 25.
“Loved this tour! I live nearby, and go the Manchester for work, but felt like I didn't know that much about the centre. The guide is fantastic. Extremely knowledgeable about all aspects. He made it really engaging and interesting. I particularly enjoyed how he maintained the narrative and how all the different points in Manchester's history fit together to create the bigger picture. Would really recommend to visitors and locals! Thanks”
Explore SEA LIFE Manchester at your chosen entry time, from the 3D Turtle Beach to moon jellyfish, sharks, rays, rock pools, and a glass tunnel. The standard ticket lasts about two hours and includes admission only. Separate animal-feeding and shark-snorkeling experiences may be available, with staff such as Jordan, Isla, and Maya leading some sessions.
“Husband booked for myself and the kids to snorkel with sharks. It was an amazing experience and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! A huge thank you to Jordan W who explained everything to us, answered all questions and made the experience one to remember!”
Walk central Manchester from the Free Trade Hall to Afflecks with local guides such as Joe or Dave. Expect music stories about Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division, and The Stone Roses, plus football, film locations, architecture, street art, and pub stops. The 2 to 3 hour route covers plenty of ground, so wear sturdy shoes.
“What an engaging and fascinating tour! Joe's expertise on the Manchester music scene is impressive - he shares captivating stories and takes you to all the significant locations. His knowledge of the local music scene is exceptional, with entertaining anecdotes about Happy Mondays, Oasis, and Joy Division. Joe delivered a truly informative and intriguing experience. The tour also incorporates interesting historical context and a few football stories. The almost 3 hour tour felt just right for covering everything. Thank you, Joe!”
Walk central Manchester with guides such as Mel, Mark, or Matt, stopping for Northern cheese, halloumi, rarebit, grilled cheese, wine, and fizz. Expect a lively two-hour route, team quizzes, and visits to food spots you may not find alone. Arrive early, wear comfortable shoes, and expect limited seating at some stops.
“Mel was a really great host and the tour was fun. Nice food and wine too! A nice way to spend a couple of hours”
At iFLY Manchester, you’ll learn basic body position, suit up, and take two short flights in a vertical wind tunnel. A certified instructor guides you throughout, with no previous experience needed. The session lasts about 90 minutes, includes a certificate, and suits ages 3 and above.
“An absolute ripoff! The skydiving itself is good experience but the prices are ridiculous. Probably Booking directly from the organisation may be better. We were promised a certificate but we didn’t even receive one!!”
Spend about 3.5 hours walking through Ancoats and the Northern Quarter with Manchester Bites. Guides such as Julia, Ian, and Lala connect industrial history, music, football, and local food across six independent stops. Expect a filling lunch, bottled water, one paired glass of wine, and a maximum group size of 10.
“What a wonderful tour! Delicious food, really nice company and a terrific guide. Julia was really knowledgeable and friendly, made everyone feel welcome, and you could really tell she was passionate about and enjoyed what she was doing. We had a great time and would recommend the tour to everyone visiting Manchester.”
Spend about four hours walking from the Manchester Craft and Design Centre through the medieval city area, Chinatown, and the Northern Quarter. Guides such as Rob, Britta, and Steph pair generous food tastings and lunch with local history. The group is capped at 10, and the tour ends in the Northern Quarter.
“I had an incredible experience on this food tour in Manchester with Britta! From start to finish, everything was perfectly curated—we got to try some of the best food in the city while learning about its rich history in a fun and engaging way. Britta was an amazing guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and full of great stories that made the experience even more special. Every stop on the tour was a delight, featuring delicious bites that showcased the diversity of Manchester’s food scene. From local favorites to hidden gems, every dish was a highlight! Not only was the food fantastic, but the mix of history and culture made it a well-rounded experience.…”
Follow Captain Bess on a self-guided Manchester treasure hunt from Piccadilly Station. Your phone delivers maps, cryptic clues, hints, facts, and stories as you walk through St Peter’s Square, Castlefield, St John’s Gardens, John Rylands Library, and Chinatown. Start between 8 AM and 6 PM, pause when you like, and finish back at the station.
“Loved recommendation for the pub and lovely way to see the city without clues being too hard. Only issue was at clue 13 there was scaffolding on the library which meant we were unable to see the answer. Also roadworks meant we crossed at a different point impacting on clue 14.”
Meet at Fell Northern Quarter at 1:30pm for a guided walk through Manchester’s independent beer scene. You’ll visit local breweries and craft beer bars, taste a range of included beers, and finish at Sureshot Taproom. Guides such as Fred and Isla add beer facts, local history, and easy conversation.
“Really good afternoon. Isla, the host, was really good. Very friendly and informative. Got to see parts of Manchester that I wouldn’t normally visit, so was really interesting.”
Travel from Manchester Airport into North Wales with a lively driver-guide such as Shelly, Adrian, Frank, Gerry or Lee. You’ll visit Llandudno, Conwy, Snowdonia, Betws-y-Coed and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, with free time for photos, food, castle walls and village browsing. It’s a full 9.5-hour day with scenery, stories and plenty of road time.
“Great day with Frank. We saw a lot of different places. You spend a lot of time in the car, but the scenery is beautiful and Frank has a few tricks up his sleeve to make time fly. The meeting point is at the airport, next to the trains coming from Manchester (my advice : try to buy your train tickets in advance, since the fare is much cheaper in advance) I also recommend the welsh cakes that you can by at several pastry shops, along the way (delicous !)”
Spend about four hours walking through Manchester city centre with wine guide Kel, stopping at four changing venues for wine and snacks. You will see statues and points of interest along the way, taste varied wines, and finish near Kampus or another announced location. Groups are capped at 12.
“4 of us enjoyed a Saturday afternoon in January. Kel is so knowledgeable and fun, we all learnt lots. The locations and wine choices were varied and well chosen. We went to places that we would never have normally have gone to but intend to return to visit a couple of the venues properly. Thank you Kel for a wonderful wine tasting experience.”
Start from a city, a castle or a pair of boots.
