Free Manchester Walking Tours
Free Manchester Walking Tours
Free Manchester Walking Tours
5
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Full view
About
Every Day. 11am. Starting by the Alan Turing Memorial. Booking NOT required. Find your guide in the blue coat. Full FAQs on our website, and social media (@FreeTours_MCR). The original free tour of Manchester runs daily, telling the story of Manchester, meeting at 11am from the Alan Turing Memorial (Sackville Gardens, M1 3HB). This tips-based adventure includes the must-see attractions as well as our secret quirks. Our guides are History graduates, storytellers - and most importantly, Mancunian! The free tour also offers fantastic photo opportunities, a great way to meet new people, and insider recommendations. The tour lasts around 3-hours (including a 15-minute break). We run in all weather. Tips are invited by the guide at the end, but you will never be pressured to tip.
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
2,403 reviews
Excellent
2,340
Very good
49
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
6
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Jeanette H
6 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
On Sunday, January 26, we met in Sackville Gardens and went on a hiking trip with Chris around Manchester. Chris is a very friendly man, a real Mancunian, who manages and tell about the city in a lively and enthusiastic way. We notice clearly that he is proud of his city and that he has a great knowledge about it. We came past the well-known places like GAY Village, Chinatown, City Council etc but also places that we had not seen despite, we have been on holiday in the city many times. The tour takes 3 hours, with a little coffee/toilet break along the way. The trip can be highly recommended, it is really worth it and spend time on.
Automatically translated
Written 26 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah M
Orlando, FL12 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
We like to ask locals what do go in their city and when in Manchester received two excited recommendations to do the Free Manchester Walking Tour. It did not disappoint. We hit the jackpot with our guide, Chris! Chris is an actor, playwright and an amazing storyteller. It was a 3 hour tour “walking” us through Medieval times to present day Manchester. Wow, does this city have a fantastic proud history that is linked globally. Being from the USA, we enjoyed learned how Manchester’s cottonopolis was linked to the US civil war and the protest of slave picked cotton. The stories also included architecture, fashion, Royals Royce, suffragettes, and so much more. We traveled with our daughters (20 & 16) who also enjoyed the tour. Chris was high energy, passionate with impeccable dramatic timing, luring you in to hear the continuation of each story told. Definitely a highly recommended must do!
Written 3 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael O
AlUla, Saudi Arabia7 contributions
Mar 2025 • Couples
We had a fantastic walking tour of Manchester with Mike as our guide. 👍
His engaging personality and knowledge of the city's history made the experience both enjoyable and informative. Mike connected well with everyone in the group, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Despite his humorous allegiance to Manchester United, his passion for the city shone through 😉
We left with a greater appreciation for Manchester and highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore the city in an interactive way 🫡
His engaging personality and knowledge of the city's history made the experience both enjoyable and informative. Mike connected well with everyone in the group, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Despite his humorous allegiance to Manchester United, his passion for the city shone through 😉
We left with a greater appreciation for Manchester and highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore the city in an interactive way 🫡
Written 13 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara S
1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Friends
This was the best walking tour I've ever experienced! Megan, our tour guide, was incredibly funny and kept us engaged from start to finish. It felt like a three-hour theatrical performance, with her reciting poems about Manchester, immersing us in its past, giving rich context on all aspects of the city, and she was even singing about Vimto. She brought Manchester's history to life in a way that was truly captivating.
I was so impressed that, even though I usually pay around 15€ for these walking tours in other cities, I had to double that amount, because I really have never experienced such an engaging tour - like a theatre piece <3
If you are reading this: Thank you again very much, Megan!
I was so impressed that, even though I usually pay around 15€ for these walking tours in other cities, I had to double that amount, because I really have never experienced such an engaging tour - like a theatre piece <3
If you are reading this: Thank you again very much, Megan!
Written 1 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Celia D
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Family
We (2 x adults and 1 x baby) had a great time on Mike’s tour of Manchester. He kept the group engaged with his supreme knowledge of the city, providing entertaining anecdotes and nuggets of history at every stop. Would recommend to anyone short of time in Manchester or anyone starting out on their city adventures. It gave us a fantastic overview of the place and we got to see so much in the small time we were on the tour. 3 hours went by so fast!
Written 17 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lobies
20 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
Mike was a brilliant tour guide: friendly, knowledgeable and very his great delivery style means the 3 hours flew by!
Loved the addition of playing great music that has come out of Manchester as we changed locations.
He also gave great recommendations of places to eat and drink.
Been on loads of walking tours in many cities and this was up there with the best!
Loved the addition of playing great music that has come out of Manchester as we changed locations.
He also gave great recommendations of places to eat and drink.
Been on loads of walking tours in many cities and this was up there with the best!
Written 16 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
darren w
Reading, MA58 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
Nice friendly tour, some good history but did not cover some of the key sites (Manchester Cathedral or Ryland Library). Guide was very knowledgeable about the city and can’t cover everything overall well worth the time. Be sure to tip these guides….they spend a lot of time doing these with a very positive energy.
Written 31 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher G
Manchester, UK6 contributions
Mar 2025 • Friends
Went on the walking tour today (Wednesday 5th March) with a small group of friends.
The tour guide, (Mike) is very a friendly & a informormative tour guide who ensures that you have an understanding of the various sites along the tour, explaining in quite some detail the past history of each tour site and also then further explains the recent development of the city and how the city of Manchester has evolved into todays great city. Thank you again Mike, a thoroughly enjoyable tour and would definitely recomend.
The tour guide, (Mike) is very a friendly & a informormative tour guide who ensures that you have an understanding of the various sites along the tour, explaining in quite some detail the past history of each tour site and also then further explains the recent development of the city and how the city of Manchester has evolved into todays great city. Thank you again Mike, a thoroughly enjoyable tour and would definitely recomend.
Written 7 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew T
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Family
Adults and teenagers all thoroughly enjoyed Mike’s captivating talk for 3 hours. I could not fault Mike or the talk in any way and was left feeling really grateful and much more knowledgeable and very proud of this great City I’m lucky enough to call home. Definitely join this walking tour, it’s brilliant!!
Written 10 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark F
2 contributions
Mar 2025 • Family
Great tour by Mike today (6/3/25). I live near Manchester and have been there many times but my first as a tourist. It was amazing to get the insight into the city on what was a well organised, funny and insightful tour. I'd definitely recommend to anyone wanting to get an intro to the city or to see it with new eyes. Helped that the famous Manchester rain had disappeared for the day as well!
Thanks again Mike
Thanks again Mike
Written 6 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where does the tour end, got to catch a train after!!
Written 29 January 2020
Hello Samantha,
The tour ends by the National Football Museum or Exchange Square. We end just a stones throw from Manchester Victoria, which is the closest train station to our end point.
The tour ends between 1400 and 1430 each day - depending on the size and speed of the group!
I hope to see you soon.
Best Wishes,
Josh
Written 2 February 2020
Hello, do you go to Peterloo? And where do you end the tour?
Written 27 January 2020
Hello, Each tour visits Peter's Field and the Peterloo Massacre Memorial, where we tell its story. The tour includes other stories about Manchester's radical political history. If you would like to know more, come along on one of our walks! The free tour of Manchester in English runs Every Day (rain or shine!) at 11am, from the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens. There's no need to book - you can just turn up! Best Wishes, Josh
Written 28 January 2020
Hi, is this tour on today? If so from where ? They didnt allow me to the alan touring saying I need a band and said it's near a college?
Written 24 August 2019
Hello,
The tour is on Every Day at 11am (except Christmas Day and New Years Day). There is no need to book - you can just turn up. The meeting point is the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens (Postcode M1 3HB).
However during Manchester Pride, the meeting point is sometimes slightly different - it's worth getting in contact via phone call or Facebook/Twitter/Instagram if you're unsure.
We hope to see you again soon!
Josh
Written 29 August 2019
Hi, I am driving from Macclesfield and would like to park near by the tour or anywhere its convenient. Would like to know if driving in central Manchester is advisable or should I park at a train/tram station to avoid the traffic? If it's the latter, could you please advise a tram station where I could park and also take the direct tram to the tour starting point. Thanks
Written 23 August 2019
Hello,
We are 5 min walk from both Piccadilly train and tram station - and also Oxford Road train station. We are a 10 min walk from St. Peter's Square tram stop.
If you are driving, we recommend the University of Manchester Charles Street car park, which is one of the cheaper car parks, and is a 5 min walk away.
Best Wishes,
Josh
Written 29 August 2019
Is there a suggested minimum age?
Written 30 May 2019
There's no suggested age and we've had all ages on the tour.
We want the tour to be inclusive and accessible to all - so just let the guide know at the beginning if you have a heavy pushchair for example, so we can be sure to find pavement lips at crossings!
Best Wishes,
Josh
Written 29 August 2019
Jiyoon Jeon
Busan, South Korea
I will arrive in Manchester Piccadilly at 11am. Can i join the tour? Can I participate in the middle of the tour?
Written 31 January 2019
The free tour meets at the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens (Postcode - M1 3HB). This is only a 5-minute walk from Piccadilly train station and Oxford Road train station.
The guide delivers an introduction at the meeting point, so don't worry about being a little late.
If you can't find the tour, then send a message to the 'Free Manchester Walking Tours' Facebook page, and we will try our best to advise you where the tour is.
I hope to meet you on a tour soon!
Josh
Written 6 February 2019
I was wondering if I would be able to bring my dog on this tour? He is well behaved and no trouble. Many thanks.
Written 23 August 2018
Hello! Of course - we have tried our best to make this tour accessible to pets, as well as people of all ages and requirements. If you have any further questions, feel free to send me a message on Facebook or text (my number is in the page information section).
Written 23 August 2018
Hello! There is no need to book. You can just turn up. The free tour of Manchester runs every day, rain or shine, at 11am from the Alan Turing Memorial (Sackville Gardens, M1 5HB) apart from New Years Day, Christmas Day and the Saturday of Manchester Pride. Even though you are not required to book, it is possible if you wish via Eventbrite - follow bit.ly/FreeTours_MCR
Written 23 August 2018
Can we turn up without booking?
Written 7 August 2018
Yes! Please don’t book! You can just turn up.
We run every day at 11am from the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens (M1 3HB).
Written 8 August 2018
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