From 1 August, our celebrated Discover Manchester walk is free. Simply show up on the day at 1100 at Manchester Central Library and enjoy a ninety-minute tour of the original, modern city with our qualified guides. You are welcome to tip your guide at the end of the walk.
Pauline is a fluent French speaker and alongside general guiding, also specialises in faith tourism.
A confident and quirky guide running Manchester Food Walks, combining culture, history and cuisine.
Kate is another of our French and German speaking guides. She also guides Manchester bicycle tours.
Having been on many similar tours, this one would be up there with the best experience we have had. John, our guide, was very friendly and had encyclopaedic knowledge of the foodie spots in the area and of the history and architecture you pass along the way. With regard to value for money we stopped in five places for a variety of interesting cuisines. There was plenty of food, we certainly didn’t leave hungry and indeed left with dessert to have later!
September 2021
We pitched up at 11am, to find it was just us and Emma, our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. For the next hour and a half she gave us a superb rundown of the city centre, the industrial history and the cultural rise of Manchester. She picked out several hidden gems, gave us background and extra colour in an engaging manner.
A great experience we would thoroughly recommend.
The tours operate on a tip basis, I know that this is a bit of a problematic concept for we Brits, but it works well.
August 2021
Very enjoyable tour around Manchester city centre. Our guide Denise was very friendly, knowledgeable and easy to listen to. There were apparently a couple of inside visits that would normally have been included but couldn't because of Covid regulations but it didn't detract from the overall tour.
August 2021
Just had the most wonderful day with a group of friends, discovering Manchester and Salford. Alexandra was our guide and was just fabulous. Extremely knowledgeable, interesting and just so enthusiastic! We will be booking again very soon. Highly recommended.
August 2021
Enjoyed our tour with Suzanne who was an enthusiastic and informative guide on the social history of Manchester and the impressive buildings, particularly from Manchester's 19th Century boom.
On a wet morning, she was adept at finding the best spot to view the buildings and while keeping us out of the way of the worst downpours. I'd highly recommend the tour and the guide to any visitors.
August 2020
Did a fantastic tour of Angel Meadow and Ancoats today with Emma. Learned so much about that side of the city, how it has developed and evolved over the years, and how tough life was for its residents. There are so many clues to Manchester’s past still standing that I would never have noticed, or made sense of, before going on the tour. Emma speaks so passionately and knowledgeably about the city, and her tales of real life individuals, from all walks of life, really brought our history to life. Thanks so much Emma. Even the weather was glorious!
May 2021
Had a great walking tour from John Ryan.
I found it really interesting. I've been to Manchester a few times, but have never noticed some of the things John pointed out to us on his tour. He's a really knowledgeable guide.
I'll be looking at doing other waking tours in the future.
August 2020
Absolutely brilliant. I've been to Manchester a million times, yet learned so much about the city on this walk. Nice, steady, slow paced wander around the city centre, led by a guide who obviously loves his adopted home town.
We couldn't enter buildings because of Covid, but it made no difference to our enjoyment of the tour.
Loved it!
September 2020
This is an interesting, informative and gentle walk through the main city centre sites. Denise was very knowledgeable and friendly and gave us plenty of tips for additional things to see and do.
July 2020
A dark-skied, rainy July day. In Manchester’s gargantuan Southern Cemetery. Inauspicious? Not a chance. Emma’s passion for the sense of place and history, her indefatigable knowledge when faced with questions, and her patience allowing herself to be sidetracked by interesting tangential conversations, all add up to a grand day out. Treat your mind and soul to a breath of fresh Manchester air.
July 2020
I did this 1 3/4 hr tour with the guide called Elizabeth Sibbering (Sibby). It was excellent. We learnt a lot about the Mills and the communities who lived in Manchester in the 1800s. I would highly recommend this guide and the tours .
November 2019
Fantastic walk with Emma. Learnt about Manchester’s history, economy, historic and new buildings, bee emblem and more. About two hours. Very interesting, and a great way to get oriented and learn about Manchester's hidden gems. Emma had a real energy about her passion for Manchester. Great way to spend 2 hours.
February 2020
We really enjoyed our tour with our local guide. She was most knowledgable about Manchester and took us to some great historic spots. Even after the tour was over she was happy to help us navigate Manchester and tell us directions. I would highly recommend this walking tour.
December 2019
A very good tour today with Pauline, learning about Manchester’s history, economy, historic and new buildings, bee emblem and more. About two hours. Very interesting, and a great way to get oriented in and learn about Manchester. Besides the “Discover Manchester” walk, this group of Blue and Green Badge guides offers many other themed walks.
January 2020
This walking tour was fascinating and so interesting, made all the more so by the enthusiasm and knowledge of Ann our guide. She had so many anecdotes she shared and obviously loves her city! Highly recommended.
February 2020
I went on the "Historic Pubs of Manchester" walk and really enjoyed it. Although I have been on these before, Peter O'Grady always varies the venues and has a constant supply of fasinating stories to share. I am always amazed by his knowledge of Manchester and intend to go on more walks as I learn something fresh on every one.
February 2020
I am absolutely stunned how entertaining and educational this 2 hours walkabout tour is! All thanks to Eileen who took another visitor to Manchester and me around the Manchester City Centre. She was a gripping story teller who was able to hold our attention despite the traffic and pedestrians around us. Well worth the value I paid. Highly recommended to all visitors to Manchester who has a couple of hours to spare.
February 2020
We had the pleasure in taking the food walk around Manchester's Northern Quarter last night for my sister's Birthday. Our host John was great and informative, he took us to great places for good food and cocktails. I discovered loads about the Northern Quarter and places that I had never seen before.
I'm already planning another trip to the Northern Quarter to try out some more restaurants. Great night out had by all!
July 2020
Emma is extremely knowledgeable and a skilled story teller. As we walked along familiar streets and landmarks of Manchester & Salford, the tour brought alive the history of nineteenth century working class youth culture. We learnt a lot & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
July 2020
The tour was fantastic from start to finish. Emma is funny, engaging and full of local knowledge. I thought I knew my hometown but she gave us an education for sure! I loved that she made references to my friend's Irish heritage and the connections to our city. Enjoying a 'Cheeky Vimto' as we walked and having a sit down at some of our old drinking haunts was a wonderful trip down 'Memory Lane'. All in all, a fantastic way to spend the day with friends and family and I can't say enough good things about Emma.
July 2020
