Top Manchester Attractions & Museums

Swap the hustle and bustle of central Manchester for a more peaceful sightseeing option—a scenic river cruise on a dutch sightseeing vessel. It’s a great way to see multiple top landmarks without being stuck in the middle of crowds. Glide past Manchester Ship Canal, and access great views of Media City, Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum, and more.

Whether you’re visiting Manchester for its musical heritage or its footballing legacy, this walking tour will fill you in on all the juicy secrets the city has to share. See famous streets and sets from TV and film on your way to visit places of historical importance—from women’s rights to ending slavery. If you’re into football, learn about how Manchester began the Premier League, and if you’re more of a music fan, see where live acts started out.

Go behind the scenes at Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City Football Club, on this guided tour. With an avid Man City fan as your guide, hear all about the football (soccer) club’s history as you visit the manager’s dug-out, the press conference room, the changing rooms and other sites that are off limits to the public during matches. Immerse yourself in the City story during a thrilling audio-visual show.

This is an excellent choice for travelers with limited time. Go on a whistle-stop walking tour of Manchester’s main attractions such as Piccadilly Gardens, Chinatown, Vimto Sculpture, St. Peter’s Square, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Cathedral, and much more. Exploring the city with a guide means you won’t have to worry about getting lost, and you’ll hear entertaining stories along the way.

Enjoy a completely immersive, family-friendly activity—and challenge your group to solve a series of brain-teasing tasks and clues—when you book this cinematic escape room experience. Pick from a wide range of start times, make your own way to the venue (located in a former Victorian cotton mill), and choose from a range of themed rooms inspired by different movies and film genres. Can you complete the challenges in time?

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, England’s Lake District lies around 1.5 hours north of Manchester and is incredibly slow to explore without your own wheels. Skip the expense of self-drive when you book this fun tour, with a professional driver/guide to narrate. Stop at a neolithic stone circle, a gingerbread store, and more—there’s even a scenic hike.

Save yourself four hours or more of left-side driving and enjoy all the benefits of a licensed guide when you book this great-value North Wales sightseeing tour. See highlights including the pretty seaside town of Llandudno, historic Conwy Castle (entrance at own expense), Swallow Falls, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and cute little Betws-y-Coed, the area’s fairytale capital. Hidden roads and routes make Snowdonia National Park even more beautiful than you’d expect.

If you love the freedom of independent travel but don’t fancy driving 4.5 hours or more over unfamiliar roads, then this affordable day trip by comfortable Mercedes mini-coach is perfect for you. Enjoy stops at Conwy, famed for its 13th-century castle, Chester, with its Roman ruins and historic cathedral, and Betws-y-Coed, the gateway to beautiful Snowdonia National Park: you choose what to do and pay as you go.

Treat your taste buds to a trip to the much-loved Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester’s iconic Printworks. Classic American cooking and an unrivalled collection of music memorabilia await you at the Hard Rock Cafe Manchester. Choose from a 2- or 3-course menu and tuck into tasty dishes such as the classic cheeseburger, ribs and barbecue chicken. Both options come with a dessert and a drink of your choice (soda, tea or coffee).