11 Best Free Things to Do in Manchester

Manchester Museum, located opposite The University of Manchester, is an institution on the same scale as the British Museum in London. The permanent exhibits showcase over 4.5 million items, ranging from dinosaur skeletons to Ancient Egyptian mummies. There’s even a vivarium, where researchers breed extremely endangered frog species. The museum’s free to enter, so you can also spread your exploration across a number of days.

The home of Manchester’s considerable East Asian community is among the largest Chinatown districts in the UK. After passing under the iconic Chinese arch on Faulkner Street, you’ll find dozens of Chinese restaurants, shops, supermarkets and even banks. The Chinese New Year celebrations here get bigger and more vibrant with every passing year. Be sure to check out Red Chilli for excellent Szechuan food, or Ho’s Bakery for authentic Chinese buns.

Heaton Park is among the biggest city parks in the UK, spanning more than 600 acres. Among the woodland and grassland, you’ll find ornamental gardens, an 18-hole golf course, several ponds, and a number of well-preserved historical buildings. It’s a popular spot for families, thanks to the Animal Centre, playgrounds, boating lake and several cafés. There are miles of paved running and walking routes through the park, as well as a volunteer-run tramway to help you get around.

John Ryland’s Library occupies an elegant Victorian Gothic building and is part of The University of Manchester. The castle-like structure dates back to 1890 and houses over 1 million artefacts, manuscripts, books, and maps. Among its most prized items are a 15th-century William Caxton edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and the oldest fragment of the Gospel of John. You can take photos during your visit, though refrain from using a tripod or flash as this is a working library.

The Rochdale Canal flows for 32 miles from Castlefield Basin to West Yorkshire, ensuring there’s no shortage of great places to wander along the waterside. If you feel like heading out on the canal for some peaceful boating, it’s connected to the much-loved Cheshire Ring cruising route.

Several shops are found at various spots along the Rochdale Canal, with many more as you get closer to the metropolis of Manchester. As the waterway winds through the city, there are numerous bars and restaurants with outdoor seating running alongside the canal, particularly in Deansgate and Gay Village.

The Lowry is where you can find the city’s largest collection of 20th-century artwork by painter LS Lowry. Located in Salford Quays, the arts complex has 2,000 sq m of gallery space and 2 theatres, one of which is among the largest in the UK. The exhibition hall not only displays 400 paintings by Lowry, but also offers guided tours every day at 12pm and 2pm. Temporary exhibits and cultural events are regularly scheduled at the theatres, many of which are free.

Manchester Cathedral, built in 1215, has some of the best medieval woodwork in North England. Not only can you enter its elegant halls for free, the church regularly hosts free classical music concerts that come with coffee or wine. 

A must-see here is the Hanging Ditch Bridge, which dates back to the 14th century and is the oldest structure in Manchester. If you want to learn about the history of Manchester Cathedral, free guided tours are available at 11 am and 2 pm on weekdays, and at 2 pm on Saturdays.

The Hidden Gem is literally a hidden gem – a beautiful but little-known attraction in the heart of Manchester. A fairly modest red-brick building on a quiet street of similar structures, St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic church in Manchester. The unassuming exterior hides a treasure trove of marble sculptures, artworks and stained glass windows. Look out for the critically acclaimed Stations of the Cross series of 14 striking modern artworks by Norman Adams, on the left-hand wall as you enter.

Manchester Art Gallery displays over 25,000 objects relating to fine arts, costumes, and crafts. Located along Mosley Street, it’s known for its extensive collection of masterpieces by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, but you can also see many European oil paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs dating back between the 15th and 21st centuries. There are many ancient decorative pieces on display at the Manchester Art Gallery, ranging from coins, ceramics and armours to dollhouses, furniture and jade carvings.

The National Football Museum, one of the largest sports museum in the UK, is a popular stop for diehard football fans. It has over 140,000 football-related items, including shirts, paintings, postcards, boots, balls, and ceramics. For a small fee, you can play a variety of virtual games on the 1st and 2nd floors of the museum. Photography fans can check out the 3rd floor gallery, which is dedicated to football photographer Stuart Roy Clarke.

Chetham’s School of Music is one of many music schools in Manchester with a regular schedule of programmes and recitals. One of its most popular activities is the lunchtime recital, which takes place at the Carole Nash Hall. The 45-minute performance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays range from solo piano and organ recitals to full orchestras by students between the ages of 8 and 18.