Welcome to Manchester: Private 2.5-hour Introductory Walking TourPrivate Tour

Things to know

What makes this tour special

Explore Manchester, once an industrial powerhouse that became a major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial history. Your tour begins at Castle Heritage Field, where the first human settlement in Manchester was recorded.

On your private tour, you will:

• Begin at Castle Heritage Field, where you'll visit the Roman fort from which it derived its name and which represents the first record of human settlement in Manchester;
• Visit The Hacienda, which became famous after its involvement in the Madchester movement of the 1980s and 1990s;
• Learn the history of Bridgewater Canal & Hall, connecting Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, which was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester;
• Walk through St Peter's Square, one of the main squares in the city centre;
• Enjoy the buzz of St Ann's Square which is at the heart of Manchester's shopping district and home to exclusive shops, bars, restaurants and the Royal Exchange;
• Hear how Exchange Square was created after the IRA 1996 Manchester bombing;
• Visit Manchester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, the seat of the Bishop of Manchester and the city's parish church;
• Immerse yourself in the life and soul of the city, which can be found at Northern Quarter & Printworks, a trendy neighbourhood buzzing with restaurants, cafés and some of the city's most popular music venues.

During your Private Walking Tour of Manchester, you will learn the history of Manchester from its very beginnings up to the present day. It's an immersive experience and one which will take you on a journey through the city's rich heritage. 

It's not just paper, textiles and cotton the city is famous for; its role in computer science has grown over the years, and it's the birthplace of Alan Turing, mathematician, computer scientist and codebreaker. Often named 'the father of modern computing'. 

Learn about the Industrial Revolution and how and why The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh. Have the opportunity to pop into the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MoSI) where you will learn about the development of science, technology and industry with emphasis on Manchester's contribution to these fields.

Visit the impressive Manchester Cathedral which is located in the heart of the Medieval Quarter, alongside Chetham's School of Music, Chetham’s Library and the National Football Museum. Manchester is famous for its star-studded musical heritage and is the birthplace of The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Smiths and Take That. 

Learn about Manchester's rich musical history when visiting The Hacienda, which became famous after its involvement in the Madchester movement of the 1980s and 1990s. Your guide will lead you to the trendy neighbourhood of the Northern Quarter which is buzzing with restaurants, cafés and some of Manchester's most popular music venues. 

Soak up the atmosphere at Printworks Manchester's go-to destination for food, drink, cinema and leisure, day or night, and it's based right in the heart of the city centre.

What you'll see

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