Manchester Guided Walks & Tours 2010 January - April
Spinningfields
Manchester Guided Walks & Tours 2010 Manchester Guided Walks & Tours Whether you’re visiting Manchester for a day or you’ve known the city for years, there is no better way of exploring the city than with an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide. As well as seeing all the major landmarks and attractions, you will learn about the city’s secrets and discover the hidden gems that tourists often miss. Further leaflets will be printed to publicise walks and tours from May-December 2010.
Blue and Green Badge Tour Guides All of the guided walks listed in the calendar are led by Blue and Green Badge Tour Guides, who have undertaken extensive training and are registered with the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Entertaining and informative, reliable and professional with local and up-to-date knowledge, these guides love Manchester, and love to show you why!
John Rylands Library
Enjoy a tour For the majority of the walks in this booklet, pre-booking is not necessary. Just arrive at the start location five minutes before the designated start time and the guide will be there to meet you. If you wish to guarantee your place on any tour you can contact the guide directly to ensure your place. If there is a large group of you (six or more) booking is recommended. Some tours are indicated as pre-booking essential (☎) and places on these tours cannot be guaranteed if not pre-booked beforehand. The initials of the guide who does the walk appear next to the walk titles. Please contact the guide directly to book onto the walk. All the guides information and contact details are listed opposite.
Piccaddilly Gardens
INSTIT UT
ING GUID
F TOURIST EO
GUIDE To book a tour call +44 (0)871 222 8223* *Calls to this number are charged at 10p per minute including VAT from a BT landline, charges from other networks or mobile operators may vary.
visitmanchester.com
Alternatively, book via the Manchester Visitor Information Centre (MVIC), located in the Town Hall Extension, Lloyd Street, Manchester, M60 2LA, telephone +44 (0)871 222 8223* or email touristinformation@visitmanchester.com. Please note, MVIC will be moving location in Spring 2010. For more information on this, go to www.visitmanchester.com or call the centre (the number will not change).
Prices Tours cost £6 for adults, £5 for concessions, unless otherwise stated. Payment should be made directly to the guide on the day of the tour or beforehand on some pre-booked tours - the guide responsible will advise.
Private Tours A range of walking and coach tours can be booked to suit private groups or individuals and costs will vary according to group size and requirements. Contact the guides directly to find out about their range of tours or call the Guide Booking Agency on +44 (0)161 440 0277 for more information. Private walks can be offered in most European languages.
Emma Fox (EF)
Tour Guide Information
T: 0161 861 8067 M: 07500 774200 E: emma@showmemanchester.com A passionate local, Emma’s guided walks on historical and modern Manchester bring stories, architecture, people, arts and industrial heritage to life.
Jean Bailo (JB)
Suzanne Hindle (SH)
T: 0161 439 2860 M: 07812 129754 E: jeanbailo@yahoo.co.uk Jean offers regional coach tours, talks and walks. Specialist tours include John Rylands Library, Manchester Town Hall and famous Manchester women.
M: 07853 181299 E: suzannehindle@hotmail.co.uk Suzanne’s tours are passionate about modern Manchester, its future, industrial heritage and the stories that make the city tick.
Anne Beswick (AB)
Pauline Lloyd (PL)
T: 0161 437 4449 M: 07505 691105 E: mabeswick@hotmail.com Anne has wide-ranging interests including history, health, science, artistic and multicultural Manchester and loves to tell stories.
M: 07723 503702 E: pauline.lloyd261@btinternet.com Pauline is qualified to guide in French in addition to English. Her specialisms are faith tourism, ‘Saints & Sinners’, and Manchester's international links.
Steve Bourne (SB)
Sue McCarthy (SM)
T: 01625 526 419 M: 07900 984376 E: bourne2fly@yahoo.com With 35 years experience in the travel industry on four continents, Steve specialises in wildlife safaris, transport (airport guide), sport and music tours.
T: 0161 431 7030 M: 07941 263704 E: sue@tourmanchester.co.uk A proud Mancunian, Sue has worked extensively in the tourism industry offering informative & entertaining tours. Qualified as a guide in 2009.
Andrew Derbyshire (AFD)
Peter O’Grady (POG)
T: 0161 226 3040 M: 07775 668639 E: afderbs@yahoo.com Andrew lives in Hulme and provides tours by coach and on foot. His specialist areas are the religious history and cultural life of Manchester.
T: 0161 431 5315 M: 07923 925566 E: peter@mancuniantours.com Enthusiastic and knowledgeable, Peter was born and worked in Manchester for over 40 years. His tours are informative and fun.
Kate Dibble (KD)
John Ryan (JR)
T: 0161 864 2640 M: 07905 110197 E: katedibble@aol.com Kate offers guided walks, regional coach tours and talks. Specialisms include Literary Manchester, Elizabeth Gaskell, historical and modern Manchester.
M: 07590 848100 E: info@manchestours.co.uk John guides part-time with interests in modern architecture, the Quays, the Gay Village and Manchester’s broadcasting history.
John Doughty (JD)
Barbara Warnock (BW)
T: 0161 428 7392 M: 07799 785166 E: johnrdoughty@hotmail.com John qualified as a Blue Badge Guide in 1996. A retired university tutor, his specialisms include industrial and landscape archaeology.
T: 0161 973 0120 E: bhwatno9@hotmail.com Barbara offers coach and walking tours for groups, individuals and conferences. Specialisms include heritage, culture, urban regeneration and shopping.
Cityscape
Regular Walks Discover Manchester (all guides) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Taking place every Saturday and Sunday 13:00 - 14:30, this is one of Manchester’s most popular guided walks. A qualified tour guide will lead you around the city centre, giving you a taste of Manchester’s history and culture, as well as showing you the major sites including Manchester Town Hall, the Royal Exchange and Manchester Cathedral. No need to book - just turn up at Manchester Visitor Information Centre.
Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall (Blue Badge Guides) Start & finish: MVIC Tour the sumptuous staterooms and corridors of one of the finest municipal buildings in Britain. Admire the neo-Gothic style, the paintings, furniture and décor, all of which have their own stories to tell about Manchester. Entry to staterooms subject to availability.
MVIC - Manchester Visitor Information Centre ☎ - Pre-booking essential - No disabled access
Buildings of Manchester 21st Century Manchester (JR) Start: MVIC | Finish: 301 Deansgate Celebrate the city’s modern residential, commercial and civic skyline - with a tour of the best buildings of the last decade. John Rylands Library (JB/BW) ☎ Start & finish: John Rylands reception Step inside this iconic building where fine architecture meets a unique collection of books and manuscripts and hear about one of Manchester’s most enigmatic women. Modernist Manchester (JR) Start: MVIC | Finish: Piccadilly Gardens Learning to love the concrete as we take a fresh look at Manchester’s underloved modernist masterpieces. Palace Hotel Tour & Tea (KD) ☎ Start & finish: Palace Hotel entrance Tour this testament to 19th century commerce, now a sumptuous hotel with decor to dream of. Cost £15 including afternoon tea.
visitmanchester.com
Tour of the Hilton (JB) ☎ Start & finish: Hilton Hotel lobby Love it or hate it, get to know it more by joining this walk. Look into places and spaces, not forgetting of course Cloud 23, the highest bar in Manchester. Tour of the Radisson Edwardian (former Free Trade Hall) (JB) ☎ Start: Outside Manchester Central Finish: Radisson Hotel One of Manchester’s most historic sites, now a five star hotel. Come and see the signed wall and hear the story of Peterloo. Victoria Park, Baths & Sponge! (KD) ☎ Start & finish: Victoria Baths A walk round Victoria Park, Rusholme to view stunning architecture, followed by tea and cake at Victoria Baths, before a tour of its ‘Restoration’. Cost £11.
Cultural Manchester Bonjour Manchester: The French Connection (PL) Start: Town Hall | Finish: Victoria Station This entertaining walk explores Manchester’s links with France, including an Impressionist painter, the Somme, Saint Denis and ‘King Eric’.
Chinatown (BW/KD) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre From small beginnings, Chinatown has grown into a Dragon City. Unlock its secrets, discover the traditions and culture of this community - what do you know about Chinese New Year? Churches Past and Present (AFD) Start: Cathedral | Finish: St Peter’s Sq A walk around central Manchester and Salford to illustrate the conurbation’s rich and varied religious history. Manchester Irish (AB) Start: Town Hall | Finish: City centre The Irish have been in Manchester for generations. Hear their stories of struggle, hard work and triumph. Manchester Lovers (JB) ☎ Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre So you thought Paris was the only city for luurve! Come along and hear some Mancunian love stories. Manchester’s Markets (POG) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre From Medieval to Modern, the story of Markets in Manchester. Meet today’s stallholders and re-live the stories of the past.
Manchester Poetry (AB) Start: Town Hall | Finish: City centre From the Poet Laureate to the poet of punk, hear the poems that tell the stories of the city. Over the Rainbow Gay Manchester (AFD) Start: MVIC | Finish: Canal Street Journey through the turbulent history of LBGT Manchester, finishing at the once closeted but now open and vibrant Gay Village. Romantic Manchester (AB) Start: Town Hall Finish: City centre A Valentine’s Day special. Romantic stories of love thwarted, love consummated and love confused.
Show Me Manchester (EF) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Historical, radical, ever-changing and fun. Explore the story, the heart and the soul of this vibrant, original, modern city.
Girl Power (JB) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Hear the stories of some of the women who helped to make Manchester the city it is today. Who built a church, a library, a theatre?
The Northern Quarter (JB) Start: Statue of Queen Victoria, Piccadilly Gardens | Finish: City centre Take a walk through these narrow streets and hear tales of a bygone era while discovering a uniquely vibrant aspect in the heart of Manchester.
Pub Tour - Manchester’s Historic Gentlemen’s Clubs (SH) Start: Sinclairs Oyster Bar (M 1SW) Finish: City centre Come and be entertained over a glass or two as we explore Manchester’s historic ‘Gentlemen’s Clubs’ where money was made over punch and port!
Unspun Spinningfields (JR) Start: MVIC | Finish: Bridge Street Discover Manchester’s shiniest new quarter - and find out why it used to be one of its sleaziest oldest. Village People (JR) Start: MVIC | Finish: Sackville Gardens From Manchester’s gayest neighbourhood, the homo heroes and heroines that bring the Village to life.
Sex and Shopping (AB) Start: Hilton Hotel entrance Finish: City centre A walk along Deansgate is a tempting experience. Designer elegance, Victorian brothels and the birth of shopping; all human life is here.
Heroes & Villians
Show Me Chorlton (EF) Start: Richardson’s Bakery, Beech Road M21 9EQ | Finish: Chorlton centre Explore one of Manchester’s most popular suburbs, listening to fascinating stories of historical, modern, unusual, creative, independent and foodie Chorlton.
Cranford’s Fascinating Authoress Elizabeth Gaskell (KD) ☎ Start: MVIC | Finish: Piccadilly Station Born 200 years ago, Mrs Gaskell’s writing enthrals you today. We follow her footsteps in Manchester then on the train to elegant Knutsford. Cost £26, including coffee, lunch, donations and travel.
Show Me Deansgate (EF) Start: Chetham’s School of Music, main gate | Finish: Deansgate Politics, filthy rich, filthier poor, death, war, sex, philanthropy, stunning architecture and cutting edge Manchester, all on one street! Show Me Germanchester (EF) Start: MVIC | Finish: Chetham’s School of Music Explore the influential lives of creative, commercial, controversial, mercenary, medical and sporting Manchester based Germans including Engels and Hallé.
Criminal Events (BW) Start & finish: MVIC Uncover the places, people and crimes that earned Manchester its reputation as ‘Sin City’ and the Criminal Justice Centre for the Northwest. Engineering the City (AB) Start: Town Hall | Finish: City centre Manchester is a city that gets things done. Hear of the men whose ideas and ingenuity built a new world. Gangs of Manchester - The Story of the Scuttlers (EF) ☎ Start: Barton Arcade | Finish: City centre Based on Andrew Davies’ book about Britain’s first youth cult - violent Victorian gangs called ‘scuttlers’. Books signed by author available afterwards at Marble Arch pub.
Saints & Sinners (PL/JR) Start: MVIC Finish: Manchester Cathedral A walk that chills and inspires! Discover some of the villains and the virtuous from Manchester’s colourful past. Sherlock Holmes in Manchester (JB) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Seen the film, now hear the story! Walk the streets in the steps of the great man. Who was our own Sherlock? Show Me Thomas De Quincey’s Manchester (EF) Start: Chetham’s School of Music, main gate | Finish: City centre Celebrate the life and times of Manchester born problem teenager, prolific essayist and opium addict. Explore the shock city of his era (1785- 1859). The Women who Made Manchester (AB/PL) Start: MVIC | Finish: ABode Hotel A celebration of Manchester women on International Women’s Day - hear stories of strong Manchester women who influence Manchester past and present. The Women who made Manchester Pub Walk & Quiz (AB/PL/SH) Start: Town Hall Tavern (M2 4JA) Finish: City centre A celebration of Manchester women on International Women’s Day. Over your favourite tipple hear stories of strong Manchester women who influence Manchester past and present and compete in the fun quiz.
Science & Nature From Pillar to Post (JB) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Communication methods change constantly. Will our iconic red post boxes soon be no more? The pillar box as you’ve never noticed before! Green City Tour (KD) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre A different way of looking at buildings, green parks & waterways, and alternative power sources to see how Manchester shapes up as a ‘green city’. Bridgewater Canal
Manchester’s Past Ancoats Mills to New Islington 21st Century Village (KD) Start: Crown & Kettle, Great Ancoats Finish: Murrays Mills A walk describing the history of the ‘world’s first industrial suburb’, looking closely at mill developments, and towards the transformation of a brand new urban village. Didsbury - Village Life (SM) Start: Didsbury Library (M20 2DN) Finish: St James Church This tour explores the historical twists and turns that have shaped the development of one of the most popular suburbs in Manchester.
Manchester’s Warehouse Legacy (JD) Start: MOSI | Finish: Piccadilly Gardens During the Industrial Revolution warehouses became an important feature of the city’s landscape. This walk traces the development of warehousing from the humble canal side warehouse to the ‘Cathedrals of Commerce’ of the city centre. Show Me Victorian Manchester (EF) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Discover why Cottonopolis was the Shock City. Explore the polarising effect of industrialisation through anecdotes, architecture, culture and people.
Family History Hunt (SH) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Bring the pushchair, bring the children, bring granddad! An interactive and fun walk around the city centre uncovering Manchester’s history. Children £1.
Stockport 1 & 2 (JB) Start: Stockport Tourist Information Centre | Finish: Stockport centre Two walks looking at the historic market town of Stockport. Stockport 1 looks at the lower end of town, while Stockport 2 walks to St Mary’s church and the area around Hopes Carr.
Justice for Manchester! (KD) ☎ Start: Piccadilly Station, Platform 1 Finish: City centre See how law and order has worked (or not!) in Manchester for centuries, before visiting the Civil Justice Centre to explore courtrooms and hear how it works today. Cost £7, including visit to CJC.
The Canal under the City Streets (JD) Start: Castlefield Basin steps, Liverpool Road | Finish: Dale Street Basin This walk will provide a snapshot of the Rochdale Canal in the early 1850s. As the canal passes under the streets of modern Manchester, the walk offers views of the city from very unusual angles.
In Sickness and in Health (AB) Start: Bridgewater Hall Finish: City centre Manchester has incubated cholera and created new cancers. See where they happened and how we learned to put things right. Manchester Wildlife Trails of the Riverbank (SB) Start: Victoria Station | Finish: City centre With three rivers running through the city centre, Manchester is home to a wide variety of wildlife. To discover more, join our safari for a walk on the wild side. Sensible footwear recommended. Winter Trees (AB) Start: MVIC | Finish: City centre Shhh! Dormant, decorated, sometimes forgotten, Manchester’s trees are waiting for spring. Hear their stories as they sleep.
Victorian Underworld (JB) Start: CIS building steps Finish: Police Museum Be horrified by tales of life in Victorian Manchester and hear about Manchester’s own Sherlock Holmes. Finish with a visit to the Police Museum.
visitmanchester.com
Beetham Tower/Hilton Hotel
Calendar
Guided Walks & Tours
January 02 03 03 03 06 07 09 09 09 10 10 10 13 14 16 16 16 17 17 21 21 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 27 28 28 30 30 30 30 31 31 31
Sat Sun Sun Sun Wed Thu Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Wed Thu Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Thu Thu Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Wed Thu Thu Sat Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun
March 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:00 - 12:30 11:00 - 12:30 11:30 - 13:00 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 11:30 - 13:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:00 - 12:30 11:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:00 - 12:30 14:00 - 15:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 14:30 10:30 - 12:00 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 16:00 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30
04 06 06 07 07 07 07 08 08
Show Me Manchester Discover Manchester In Sickness and in Health Didsbury - Village Life Girl Power Discover Manchester 21st Century Manchester The Women who Made Manchester The Women who Made Manchester Pub Walk and Quiz 10 Wed 11:00 - 12:30 From Pillar to Post 10 Wed 11:00 - 12:30 John Rylands Library 11 Thu 11:00 - 12:30 Show Me Deansgate 13 Sat 11:30 - 13:00 Manchester’s Markets 13 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 14 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Town Hall Tour 14-21 British Tourism Week - Watch out for walks with a difference! 17 Wed 11:00 - 12:30 John Rylands Library 17 Wed 13:00 - 14:30 Manchester Irish 19 Fri 10:00 - 11:30 Ancoats Mills to New Islington 19 Fri 13:00 - 15:00 Justice for Manchester! 20 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 21 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Gangs of Manchester 21 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 21 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Tour of the Hilton 25 Thu 11:00 - 12:30 Show Me Germanchester 25 Thu 19:00 - 20:30 Pub Tour - Historic Gentlemen’s Clubs 27 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 27 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Sex and Shopping 27 Sat 14:00 - 16:00 Churches Past and Present 28 Sun 11:30 - 13:30 Manchester Wildlife: Trails of the Riverbank 28 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 28 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Over the Rainbow - Gay Manchester 28 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 John Rylands Library 28 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Town Hall Tour 31 Wed 14:00 - 15:30 Town Hall Tour
Thu Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Mon Mon
11:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 11:30 - 13:00 11:30 - 13:00 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 19:30 - 21:30
April
01 03 Thu 11:00 - 12:30 Show Me Thomas De Quincey’s Manchester 04 08 Thu 13:00 - 14:30 Manchester Poetry 08 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 08 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 10 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Modernist Manchester 10 Wed 11:00 - 12:30 Town Hall Tour 11 Thu 11:00 - 12:30 Show Me Victorian Manchester 11 Sat 11:30 - 13:00 Manchester’s Markets 11 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 11 Sun 11:00 - 12:30 Chinatown 13 Sun 12:00 - 13:30 Romantic Manchester 14 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 14 Sun 14:00 - 16:30 Manchester Lovers 15 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Town Hall Tour 15 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 17 Sat 14:00 - 15:30 Village People Sun 11:30 - 13:30 Manchester Wildlife: Trails of the Riverbank 17 18 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 18 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Tour of the Radisson 22 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Unspun Spinningfields 24 Wed 14:00 - 15:30 Town Hall Tour 24 Thu 11:00 - 12:30 Chinatown 24 Thu 13:00 - 14:30 Sex and Shopping 25 Thu 14:00 - 15:30 Green City Tour 25 Sat 11:00 - 13:00 Churches Past and Present 25 Sat 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester Sat 14:00 - 15:30 Bonjour Manchester: The French Connection 25 25 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Discover Manchester 28 Sun 13:00 - 14:30 Over the Rainbow - Gay Manchester 29 Sun 14:00 - 15:30 Town Hall Tour
February 04 04 06 07 07 10 11 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 20 20 21 21 21 21 24 25 25 25 27 27 27 28 28 28
Discover Manchester Discover Manchester In Sickness and in Health Sherlock Holmes in Manchester John Rylands Library Show Me Germanchester Manchester’s Markets Discover Manchester Girl Power Manchester Wildlife: Trails of the Riverbank Discover Manchester Town Hall Tour Town Hall Tour Show Me Victorian Manchester Discover Manchester Saints & Sinners Unspun Spinningfields Discover Manchester Bonjour Manchester: The French Connection Show Me Deansgate Palace Hotel Tour & Tea Discover Manchester Sex and Shopping Village People Gangs of Manchester Discover Manchester Tour of the Hilton Town Hall Tour Town Hall Tour Show Me Manchester In Sickness and in Health Didsbury - Village Life Discover Manchester Family History Hunt Churches Past and Present Discover Manchester Over the Rainbow - Gay Manchester John Rylands Library
Thu Sat Sun Thu Thu Thu Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Tue Wed Wed Thu Thu Sat Sat Sun Sun Thu Sat Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sun Sun Wed Thu
11:00 - 2:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 11:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:30 - 13:00 13:00 - 14:30 11:30 - 13:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:00 - 12:30 11:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 16:00 11:00 - 12:30 11:00 - 12:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 11:00 - 12:30 10:30 - 12:00 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 13:00 - 14:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 14:00 - 15:30 09:15 - 16:30
Show Me Chorlton Discover Manchester Discover Manchester Stockport 1 In Sickness and in Health The Northern Quarter Manchester’s Markets Discover Manchester Manchester Wildlife: Trails of the Riverbank Discover Manchester Modernist Manchester Town Hall Tour Victorian Underworld John Rylands Library Victoria Park, Baths, & Sponge! Show Me Victorian Manchester Stockport 2 Discover Manchester Engineering the City Discover Manchester The Canal under the City Streets Show Me Manchester Criminal Events Discover Manchester Saints & Sinners Discover Manchester Manchester’s Warehouse Legacy Over the Rainbow - Gay Manchester Tour of the Radisson Town Hall Tour Town Hall Tour Cranford’s Fascinating Authoress - Elizabeth Gaskell
Cityscape
More Walks & Tours BBC Manchester Tours
New Manchester Walks
BBC Manchester is offering the chance to take a peek behind the scenes. Take a look at the studios, try presenting the weather or have fun making your own radio drama complete with sound effects. T: +44 (0)370 901 1227 W: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours
Walks, talks, panoramic coach tours, airport meet-andgreet and hotel transfers run by qualified Blue Badge and Green Badge guides, and experienced tour and event organisers. Specialising in everything Manchester - Coronation Street, Lowry, the Town Hall, the Haçienda years, football history, Peterloo, the Radisson Hotel/Free Trade Hall and even the tunnels under the city streets. T: +44 (0)7711 606273 M: +44 (0)7884 001315 W: www.newmanchesterwalks.com
Flecky Bennett's Manchester Ghost Walk Flecky will guide you around the back streets and passageways telling stories of ghosts and the sinister side of his city! Manchester's only weekly ghost walk. T: +44 (0)7775 313208 W: www.manchesterghostwalk.co.uk
hearmanchester.com Explore the vibrant history of the Rochdale Canal with a free audio trail, available to download. W: www.hearmanchester.com
Industrial Powerhouse Industrial Powerhouse celebrates the rich industrial heritage of the Northwest with a wide variety of self-guided walks, audio trails and itineraries. W: www.industrialpowerhouse.co.uk
Manchester Ship Canal Cruises Relax and enjoy a fascinating six hour, 35 mile journey along this famous inland waterway with Mersey Ferries. Regular cruises run April to September from Salford Quays to Liverpool. Tickets include return travel by bus. Adults £36, Seniors/Child £34. T: +44 (0)151 330 1444 W: www.merseyferries.co.uk
Walk Talk Tours Hear about Manchester’s Roman and industrial past; discover a Hidden Gem, colourful characters at the Cathedral and more. Download or hire a preloaded MP3 player from MVIC. T: +44 (0)1625 612 564 W: www.walktalktour.com
Wiseguides Wiseguides provide customised guided tours and group events throughout the North of England in all European languages. T: +44 (0)161 773 0692 W: www.wiseguides.co.uk Blue and Green Badge Guides are self-employed, freelance guides qualified with the accrediting body, ITG (Institute of Tour Guiding). The tourist board, Visit Manchester and the Manchester Visitor Information Centre cannot be help responsible for any non-fulfillment of obligations by individual tour guides or companies mentioned. Cover image: Town Hall Clock