You will receive the full meeting point details and a map after you finalize your booking, in a confirmation email.
Do I have to book my Free Tour?
Yes, it's necessary to book your Free Tour in order to receive the full meeting point details via email on time. This helps ensure an enjoyable experience and good coordination between guides and tour guests. Booking is free, quick, and easy!
Can I contact my guide?
Yes, you will be able to message your guide with any questions that you might have after making a reservation, up until the start of the tour.
Can I make a booking for a larger group?
Maybe! In order to keep the group sizes manageable, each guide sets their own limit of guests per booking and departure. Choose the Free Tour you want to book, select the number of people in your group, and see if there are any departures available that suit your needs.
Are Free Tours really Free?
Yes, with Free Tours, there's no set price; instead, the guides rely on the tips of participants to sustain their livelihoods. By contributing a fair amount that reflects the value you receive from the tour, you not only support the guides but also express your appreciation for their expertise and dedication.
The tours are solely tips based so you can decide to contribute as much or as little as you feel the experience was worth.
Tour Features
[{"title":"Chinatown","wiki_title":"Chinatown, Manchester","description":"A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as \"Chinatown\" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.","wiki_description":"Chinatown in Manchester, England, is the second largest Chinatown in the United Kingdom and the third largest in Europe. Its archway was completed in 1987 on Faulkner Street in Manchester city centre, which contains Chinese restaurants, shops, bakeries and supermarkets.","day_image":"d32a884c-4e51-4f85-87a2-d5031f7c5000","address":"","latitude":53.4786,"longitude":-2.2401,"wiki_latitude":53.4786,"wiki_longitude":-2.2401,"place_id":"00d2717178b3dc8a55cdd478429821c7","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Central Library","wiki_title":"Manchester Central Library","description":"Central library may refer to:","wiki_description":"Manchester Central Library is the headquarters of the city's library and information service in Manchester, England. Facing St Peter's Square, it was designed by E. Vincent Harris and constructed between 1930 and 1934. The form of the building, a columned portico attached to a rotunda domed structure, is loosely derived from the Pantheon, Rome. At its opening, one critic wrote, \"This is the sort of thing which persuades one to believe in the perennial applicability of the Classical canon\".","day_image":"a28fcea4-0fe3-4843-af4a-331d42922c00","address":"","latitude":53.4781,"longitude":-2.2447,"wiki_latitude":53.4781,"wiki_longitude":-2.2447,"place_id":"01e48d5c7e4108f210af600581720641","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Canal Street","wiki_title":"Canal Street (Manchester)","description":"Canal Street may refer to:","wiki_description":"Canal Street is a street in Manchester city centre in North West England and the centre of Manchester's gay village. The pedestrianised street, which runs along the west side of the Rochdale Canal, is lined with gay bars and restaurants. At night time, and in daytime in the warmer months, the street is filled with visitors, often including LGBT tourists from all over the world. The northern end of the street meets Minshull Street and the southern meets Princess Street; part of the street looks across the Rochdale Canal into Sackville Gardens.","day_image":"38ab4466-3229-4ae4-e792-cf22d1904a00","address":"","latitude":53.47777778,"longitude":-2.235625,"wiki_latitude":53.47777778,"wiki_longitude":-2.235625,"place_id":"13c51af53287a862f081881efcad383b","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Free Trade Hall","wiki_title":"Free Trade Hall","description":"The Free Trade Hall on Peter Street, Manchester, England, was constructed in 1853\u201356 on St Peter's Fields, the site of the Peterloo Massacre. It is now a Radisson hotel.","wiki_description":"The Free Trade Hall on Peter Street, Manchester, England, was constructed in 1853\u201356 on St Peter's Fields, the site of the Peterloo Massacre. It is now a Radisson hotel.","day_image":"3168caba-f5df-4ed3-7c69-9d1ad0676900","address":"35 Peter St, Manchester, M2 5BG","latitude":53.47777778,"longitude":-2.24722222,"wiki_latitude":53.47777778,"wiki_longitude":-2.24722222,"place_id":"29d5edbe33c24aafe702f0afa71b35f2","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Museum of Science and Industry","wiki_title":"Science and Industry Museum","description":"Museum of Science and Industry may refer to:","wiki_description":"The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, England, traces the development of science, technology and industry with emphasis on the city's achievements in these fields. The museum is part of the Science Museum Group, a non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, having merged with the National Science Museum in 2012.","day_image":"7eafb862-a1e5-4f15-eb1e-b61aa0758a00","address":"","latitude":53.47694444,"longitude":-2.25555556,"wiki_latitude":53.47694444,"wiki_longitude":-2.25555556,"place_id":"43dbdf97a6816d10a1a94e117b5e2275","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Spinningfields","wiki_title":"Spinningfields","description":"Spinningfields is an area of Manchester city centre, in North West England, developed in the 2000s between Deansgate and the River Irwell by Allied London Properties. The \u00a31.5 billion project consists of 20 buildings, totalling approximately 430,000\u00a0m2 (4,600,000\u00a0sq\u00a0ft) of commercial, residential and retail space. It takes its name from Spinningfield, a narrow street which ran westwards from Deansgate. In 1968, Spinningfield and the area to the south were turned into Spinningfield Square, an open paved area. Landmark buildings within the scheme include the Manchester Civil Justice Centre and 1 Spinningfields, a 90\u00a0m (300\u00a0ft) tall office building.","wiki_description":"Spinningfields is an area of Manchester city centre, in North West England, developed in the 2000s between Deansgate and the River Irwell by Allied London Properties. The \u00a31.5 billion project consists of 20 buildings, totalling approximately 430,000\u00a0m2 (4,600,000\u00a0sq\u00a0ft) of commercial, residential and retail space. It takes its name from Spinningfield, a narrow street which ran westwards from Deansgate. In 1968, Spinningfield and the area to the south were turned into Spinningfield Square, an open paved area. Landmark buildings within the scheme include the Manchester Civil Justice Centre and 1 Spinningfields, a 90\u00a0m (300\u00a0ft) tall office building.","day_image":"0887110f-002e-4de1-8360-ec22957dfd00","address":"1 Hardman Boulevard, Manchester, M3 3AQ","latitude":53.48,"longitude":-2.254,"wiki_latitude":53.48,"wiki_longitude":-2.254,"place_id":"4d81c1325871d826d59c2823fc56b846","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"King Street","wiki_title":"King Street, Manchester","description":"King Street may refer to:","wiki_description":"King Street is one of the most important thoroughfares of Manchester city centre, England. For much of the 20th century it was the centre of the north-west banking industry but it has become progressively dominated by upmarket retail instead of large banks.","day_image":"eb22df60-c4dd-4338-124e-5eb5bbf9f100","address":"","latitude":53.48118,"longitude":-2.24582,"wiki_latitude":53.48118,"wiki_longitude":-2.24582,"place_id":"7a29203e121b43cfc56a468232095284","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Albert Memorial","wiki_title":"Albert Square, Manchester","description":"The Albert Memorial, directly north of the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington Gardens, London, was commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband Prince Albert, who died in 1861. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style, it takes the form of an ornate canopy or pavilion 176 feet (54\u00a0m) tall, in the style of a Gothic ciborium over the high altar of a church, sheltering a statue of the prince facing south. It took over ten years to complete, the \u00a3120,000 cost met by public subscription.","wiki_description":"Public square in Manchester, England","day_image":"5266f902-51d7-4965-f3f0-a69fbe53e300","address":"","latitude":53.479444,"longitude":-2.245,"wiki_latitude":0,"wiki_longitude":0,"place_id":"b63d988962211c58886079b2de5ca515","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Shambles Square","wiki_title":"Shambles Square, Manchester","description":"Shambles Square is a square in Manchester, England, created in 1999 around the rebuilt Old Wellington Inn and Sinclair's Oyster Bar next to The Mitre Hotel.","wiki_description":"Shambles Square is a square in Manchester, England, created in 1999 around the rebuilt Old Wellington Inn and Sinclair's Oyster Bar next to The Mitre Hotel.","day_image":"c6f2be1a-2591-45c0-74d8-e7c5bc5afa00","address":"","latitude":null,"longitude":null,"wiki_latitude":null,"wiki_longitude":null,"place_id":"bc19fe9f2443ef94f369befc667b65d3","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"National Football Museum","wiki_title":"National Football Museum","description":"The National Football Museum is England's national museum of football. It is based in the Urbis building in Manchester city centre, and preserves, conserves and displays important collections of football memorabilia.","wiki_description":"The National Football Museum is England's national museum of football. It is based in the Urbis building in Manchester city centre, and preserves, conserves and displays important collections of football memorabilia.","day_image":"dac8f3fb-24a0-4b86-30d3-36742bb27100","address":"1 The Printworks (Corporation St), Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 2BS","latitude":53.48555556,"longitude":-2.24194444,"wiki_latitude":53.48555556,"wiki_longitude":-2.24194444,"place_id":"d27fe40d584b02f10a3476fc1e4f9d53","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Royal Exchange","wiki_title":"Royal Exchange, Manchester","description":"Royal Exchange may refer to:North East Quarter, Belfast, a planned city centre development formerly known as Royal Exchange.\nRoyal Exchange, Dublin, now City Hall, Dublin\nRoyal Exchange, Edinburgh, now the Edinburgh City Chambers\nRoyal Exchange, London, a centre of commerce in the City of London\nRoyal Exchange, Manchester, a 19th-century classical building, home of the Royal Exchange Theatre\nRoyal Exchange, former market and meeting hall\nThe Royal Exchange (film), 2017 Belgian-French film","wiki_description":"The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street. The complex includes the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Royal Exchange Shopping Centre.","day_image":"0260bc77-a973-47d6-0d41-fc146fd0d900","address":"","latitude":53.4825,"longitude":-2.2444,"wiki_latitude":53.4825,"wiki_longitude":-2.2444,"place_id":"6f0727afcf03ad398f97620042aa4ad6","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"St. Peter's Square","wiki_title":"St Peter's Square, Manchester","description":"Saint Peter's Square is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome, directly west of the neighborhood (rione) of Borgo. Both the square and the basilica are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider to be the first Pope.","wiki_description":"St Peter's Square is a public square in Manchester city centre, England. The north of the square is bounded by Princess Street and the south by Peter Street. To the west of the square is Manchester Central Library, Midland Hotel and Manchester Town Hall Extension. The square is home to the Manchester Cenotaph, the Emmeline Pankhurst statue, and St Peter's Square Metrolink tram stop and incorporates the Peace Garden. In 1819, the area around the square was the site of the Peterloo Massacre.","day_image":"7b247a5f-e754-404d-2796-4dba13ecac00","address":"Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City","latitude":53.4778,"longitude":-2.24361,"wiki_latitude":53.4778,"wiki_longitude":-2.24361,"place_id":"73f8585caccc9119143f8dc546cae20a","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Cathedral","wiki_title":"Manchester Cathedral","description":"A cathedral is a church that contains the cathedra of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of \"cathedral\" are usually specific to those Christian denominations with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches. Church buildings embodying the functions of a cathedral first appeared in Italy, Gaul, Spain, and North Africa in the 4th century, but cathedrals did not become universal within the Western Catholic Church until the 12th century, by which time they had developed architectural forms, institutional structures, and legal identities distinct from parish churches, monastic churches, and episcopal residences. The cathedral is more important in the hierarchy than the church because it is from the cathedral that the bishop governs the area under his or her administrative authority.","wiki_description":"Manchester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St\u00a0Mary, St\u00a0Denys and St\u00a0George, in Manchester, England, is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Manchester, seat of the Bishop of Manchester and the city's parish church. It is on Victoria Street in Manchester city centre and is a grade I listed building.","day_image":"9ffc27db-e6b6-48c0-8ffc-ab5c0f460400","address":"","latitude":53.48527778,"longitude":-2.24472222,"wiki_latitude":53.48527778,"wiki_longitude":-2.24472222,"place_id":"8e08bcae0d3dd2397e459c8b11f14d05","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"Manchester Art Gallery","wiki_title":"Manchester Art Gallery","description":"Manchester Art Gallery, formerly Manchester City Art Gallery, is a publicly owned art museum on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre, England. The main gallery premises were built for a learned society in 1823 and today its collection occupies three connected buildings, two of which were designed by Sir Charles Barry. Both of Barry's buildings are listed. The building that links them was designed by Hopkins Architects following an architectural design competition managed by RIBA Competitions. It opened in 2002 following a major renovation and expansion project undertaken by the art gallery.","wiki_description":"Manchester Art Gallery, formerly Manchester City Art Gallery, is a publicly owned art museum on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre, England. The main gallery premises were built for a learned society in 1823 and today its collection occupies three connected buildings, two of which were designed by Sir Charles Barry. Both of Barry's buildings are listed. The building that links them was designed by Hopkins Architects following an architectural design competition managed by RIBA Competitions. It opened in 2002 following a major renovation and expansion project undertaken by the art gallery.","day_image":"0bb927a9-e800-4a79-a9bc-94474956df00","address":"Mosley St, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 3JL","latitude":53.47861111,"longitude":-2.24138889,"wiki_latitude":53.47861111,"wiki_longitude":-2.24138889,"place_id":"d3328c724801c941db5c011398ef37d6","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"John Rylands Library","wiki_title":"John Rylands Research Institute and Library","description":"The John Rylands Research Institute and Library is a late-Victorian neo-Gothic building on Deansgate in Manchester, England. It is part of the University of Manchester. The library, which opened to the public in 1900, was founded by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands. It became part of the university in 1972, and now houses the majority of the Special Collections of The University of Manchester Library, the third largest academic library in the United Kingdom.","wiki_description":"The John Rylands Research Institute and Library is a late-Victorian neo-Gothic building on Deansgate in Manchester, England. It is part of the University of Manchester. The library, which opened to the public in 1900, was founded by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands. It became part of the university in 1972, and now houses the majority of the Special Collections of The University of Manchester Library, the third largest academic library in the United Kingdom.","day_image":"2d048668-c372-4c92-2aaf-171db78e5000","address":"150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH","latitude":53.480321,"longitude":-2.2487,"wiki_latitude":53.480321,"wiki_longitude":-2.2487,"place_id":"e0dd5fc534e09e33e89dc5e9d12d994b","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]},{"title":"City Hall","wiki_title":"Manchester Town Hall","description":"In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre, guildhall, or municipal building is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city or town council, its associated departments, and their employees. It also usually functions as the base of the mayor of a city, town, borough, county or shire, and of the executive arm of the municipality.","wiki_description":"Manchester Town Hall is a Victorian, Neo-gothic municipal building in Manchester, England. It is the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments. The building faces Albert Square to the north and St Peter's Square to the south, with Manchester Cenotaph facing its southern entrance.","day_image":"0b9d1c49-646a-45bb-ca89-ef09650f6d00","address":"","latitude":53.47916667,"longitude":-2.24416667,"wiki_latitude":53.47916667,"wiki_longitude":-2.24416667,"place_id":"ea7a1fd4cc2ad9fc8f54ff62ce83717a","order":0,"tour_ids":"4743","order_tours":{"4743":0},"colors":["#64f664"],"posts_title":[{"title":"Essential Free Tour Manchester","id":4743}]}]
Highlights of your trip!
Best Free Tours in Manchester
This major city in the northwest of England is a popular travel destination for all kinds of tourists. Since many of the attractions are located in the city center, Free Walking Tours in Manchester are a perfect way to see it all in a short amount of time. There are several departures every day. Book an Essential Manchester City Tour to see all the main attractions in the city center in around 2-3 hours. These routes are designed by local guides who wish to share their city with visitors. After that, we recommend taking a Free Food Tour, a Craft Beer Tour or a Wine Tour around Manchester. On each tour, your local guide will take you to the city’s most famous eating places, and also some secret spots. You will discover a side of Manchester you may never have seen or heard of before. As the gateway to the North of the UK, you can continue your adventure taking day trips to Chester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle or York.
Highlights of a Free Tour in Manchester
This bustling, exciting, and picturesque city is one of the few in the UK that offers both charm and passion. Join the Free Tours of Manchester to learn about the city’s historical trading role, its glorious football scene and extensive culture of art, literature, vibrant nightlife and amazing architecture! Stroll around noticeable landmarks such as the Free Trade Hall, the Cathedral, Piccadilly Gardens, Chinatown, Manchester Art Gallery, Rochdale Canal, the University, the Town Hall, John Rylands Library, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Midland Hotel, Albert Hall, and many more! Additionally, when visiting Manchester, football/soccer fans should go to the National Football Museum. This museum was founded to conserve and interpret collections of football memorabilia. If you prefer to discover history, old and new, you can visit the Manchester Museum and the Imperial War Museum North, which explore the impact of modern conflicts on people and society.
Things to Do in Manchester
With Manchester Free Walking Tours, you’ll understand just how football/soccer-crazy this city is. Manchester is well known for owning the most famous football club in the world, Manchester United, and the city houses one of the world’s biggest indoor stadiums, the Old Trafford. So, booking a ticket and enjoying a football match is one of the many fun things to do here! However, there’s more than football waiting for visitors. The art enthusiast should not leave the city without visiting the Manchester Art Gallery. Located in the city center, this art center was built in 1823 and exhibits thousands of watercolors, oil paintings, and sculptures. After a long day of sightseeing, you might want to take a stroll over to Castlefield Urban Heritage Park. Additionally, if you visit during the annual Manchester Pride Festival, go to the Gay Village. It’s a cobbled boulevard next to Rochdale Canal, lined with cute cafes, and lively bars.