The Best Manchester Walking Tours,
3 Incredible Routes

Discover the Manchester of old and new

Play an active role in revealing how Manchester became what it is today, immersing yourself in its Roman roots and unravelling enigmatic directions and riddles as you are taken on a journey around its sites and through its evolution over time.

Take control of your own sight-seeing, stopping and starting at your leisure and progressing at your own pace. The perfect way for groups of all ages to see the city.

Expect More From Your Manchester Sightseeing Tours

We do more than just give you directions to cool hidden gems in Manchester. 

Our Manchester self-guided walking tours are designed so you can independently explore landmarks, areas, pubs, restaurants and more at your own pace. 

By providing you with riddles, puzzles and clues based on your surroundings, we ensure you’re interacting with the city around you as you take it all in. 

Get The Most Out of Walking Tours Manchester

You’ll notice that our walking tours in Manchester include recommended rest stops at pubs, cafes and restaurants at convenient locations along the route.

That’s because we want you to get the most out of your adventure! 

We encourage you to find a new favourite local or dip inside a place you’ve walked past a million times before because it enriches your experience of a city. We’re fussy about finding businesses that we consider to be hidden gems or must-visits, and we endeavour to select independent businesses that help stimulate the local economy.

Of course, if you’re not thirsty or raring to go - you can always skip your stop and carry on exploring!

The Best Self-Guided Walking Tours in Manchester

Fall in love with Manchester’s fables, foibles and facts with CityDays’ Manchester walking tours! 

Think of Manchester’s history like a thousand-layered cake; each slice uniquely formed by its former and current compelling characters, secret sites and hidden secrets. From Celtic tribes warring with Romans to modern inventions and scientific successes, Manchester has seen it all: and with CityDays’ walking tours, so can you! 

Discover what turned this place from the Latin name for “breast-like-hill” into a pivotal pioneer's hometown by going on a walking tour of Manchester that goes beyond the typical sites.

Our self-guided Manchester walking tours deliver fascinating facts while leading you around the city’s most intriguing suburbs. The only way to uncover them is by solving our puzzles and experiencing a trail for yourself. Here’s more info about which trail might suit you best…

Manchester Walking Tour: (1) Northern Quarter Nooks

Fitting for a place where textiles were once exported to every corner of the globe, this Manchester walking tour takes you through the historic Northern Quarter and its tightly woven history. 

By undertaking this self-guided walking tour, you’ll discover poetry in the streets, a perch for exotic birds, and what might be the most remarkable library in the English-speaking world. 

Answer riddles, solve head-scratching puzzles and get your step count above average before sitting down to a well-earned pint as you take on Manchester’s best walking tours for people of all ages!

Find out more here.

Manchester Walking Tour: (2) Heart Of The Hive

One of the best Manchester sightseeing tours, Heart of The Hive takes curious minds and intrepid adventurers through Manchester’s city streets.

Walk your way through history as you uncover central Manchester’s curious characters and some obscure historical nooks by undertaking Heart of The Hive, a Manchester walking tour that goes beyond the obvious. 

Heart of The Hive is a curated trail that uncovers Manchester’s most fascinating landmarks while participants solve clues, decipher riddles and explore the heart of the city. Along the way, you’ll meet Manchester’s pioneers - including a long-forgotten cookery book author - and even discover some unlikely final resting places. 

Heart of The Hive is one of the best Manchester walking tours for tourists and locals alike due to its varied content and central location.

Find out more here.

Manchester Walking Tour: (3) Through The Ages

One of the best Manchester walking tours for exploring the city’s ancient and modern history, Through The Ages is a sightseeing tour that crams a staggering amount of Manchester’s historical timeline into a fun yet challenging day out. 

From Romans to computer scientists, Through The Ages takes you around Spinningfields and the edge of the Gay Village in style. Uncover history while deciphering cryptic clues and taking in everything from monuments to gorgeous gardens. 

Find out more here. 

Find Manchester Hidden Gems

If you’re on the hunt for the best hidden gems in Manchester, you’ve come to the right place. Our walking tours of Manchester divulge some of the best-kept secrets and hidden nooks in the city - even ones that are hiding in plain sight.

Don’t believe us? Here are just three hidden gems in London (that we’re willing to share)…

Mackie Mayor

Mackie Mayor in Manchester is a vibrant culinary hub housed in a beautifully restored Victorian market building. This food hall offers a diverse range of gastronomic delights, from artisan coffees and craft beers to gourmet burgers and vegan delicacies. 

The airy, communal seating under the stunning glass roof creates a lively atmosphere, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists. 

Unique to Mackie Mayor is its commitment to sustainability, with many vendors using locally sourced ingredients and eco-friendly practices. 

Victoria Baths

Victoria Baths, often referred to as Manchester's "Water Palace," is a beautifully preserved Edwardian building. Guided tours offer an intimate look at its stunning architecture and historic pools. The venue, no longer used for swimming, now hosts a variety of events, making it a unique and somewhat quirky destination for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts alike.

Chetham’s Library

Chetham's Library in Manchester, established in 1653, is renowned as the oldest public library in the English-speaking world. This historic gem, with its ancient books and time-worn oak shelves, offers a unique window into the past. It played a pivotal role in the intellectual life of Manchester, attracting figures like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who famously studied there. The library's rich collection and architectural beauty make it a significant cultural and historical landmark.