What You Will Do
Forget about crowds, schedules or lines! With this self-guided experience, your smartphone is your new private guide.
Stroll around Manchester at your own pace, having the opportunity to take astonishing pictures and enter any attraction you fancy.
You will learn about Manchester's history; from when it was founded as a Roman Fort until it became the amazing city it is today. As you walk through these streets, you will learn about its industrial past, encompassed mostly through its innumerable canals and storehouses all over. You will also learn the role this city played (and still plays) in football, culture, music, art, science, architecture, international relationships and even war; where you’ll get to know every important figure in this tale. Plus, you get a unique list of recommendations so you get the most out of your visit.
PS: when booking, you will get an email with instructions and a code for using our app (a different code from your booking reference number!).
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
All our tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app. Remember to check the "Before You Go" Section of your ticket and give Pandemic Tours App access to your location!
1
A Monument To Vimto
5 minutes
Here is where the tour starts. This is the first stop of 18! You will get a brief description of the whole tour and particularly at this stop, you will discover the amazing history behind the most famous soft drink the North has ever made, which was originally produced in this location.
2
Alan Turing Memorial
10 minutes
In this stop, we will tell you who was Alan Turing and why was (and still is) so important for the city. Also, you will learn some practical things about Sackville Gardens and all its monuments. You will start to get some perspective of the Gay Village and all its past in Manchester.
3
Gay Village
15 minutes
We will guide you around this beautiful and emblematic area of Manchester to teach you all about its history. Strolling around Canal Street you will hear about the dark past of the street and how people helped to turn the odds and worked to build the lovely sidewalk it is today.
4
Chinatown
10 minutes
Walk around the archway and discover the amazing shops and restaurants of this ethnic enclave. You will learn who's city is Manchester twin in China and why the archway was built here.
5
St Peters Square
15 minutes
We will guide you through the famous St Peter Square and you will learn everything you need to know about this place and its emblematic buildings: Manchester Central Library, the oldest free library in the country; The Midland Hotel, one of the first luxury hotels in the north; Manchester Town Hall, one of the most beautiful town hall in the country; and more. You will also hear every exciting story that happened here in the past and understand why it is called St Peter Square.
6
The Bridgewater Hall
15 minutes
Discover the incredible Bridgewater Hall and all its surrounding area charged with vivid history. We will also tell you two of the north's most horrible stories that happened in the past that haunts citizens until today: The first in 1819 and the second in 1963, both in the premises of Manchester Central Station.
7
Royal Exchange Theatre
15 minutes
Here you will learn all about the Cotton Industry, how it developed so strongly in Manchester and what were the consequences for the city. You will understand the pivotal role that this building played in the industrial past of Manchester. Here, we will tell you the story of the IRA Bomb as well and how it affected the entire city.
8
The Shambles
10 minutes
Definitely the most beautiful square around the city centre. Here you will see the oldest pub in town and learn about its history, so you understand why it is typically full (and relatively cheap). Also, you will learn about the boom of the cotton industry and how it made an opportunity to exploit the trade of other markets through the Royal Corn Exchange (another astonishing building in this square).
9
Manchester Cathedral
5 minutes
We will guide you around the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Manchester, the seat of the Bishop of Manchester and the city's parish church. Manchester Cathedral is one of the many emblems of the city, and it's a must-visit for every passer-by.
10
The John Rylands Library
30 minutes
Discover one of the best-kept secrets of Manchester, and probably one of the nicest libraries in the country, the Harry Potterish - John Rylands Library. We will tell you everything you need to know about this extraordinary building, which is grace is on the inside, so if you have time our recommendation is to venture inside.
11
Castlefield Urban Heritage Park
15 minutes
In our final stop, you will learn about the beggings of the city: its Roman Heritage. Feel like a roman exploring the reconstructed buildings of this amazing park. You will learn why the city is called Manchester. Then, we will let you stroll around the beautiful canals of Deansgate with a list of recommendations for things to do and places to eat around the city.
12
Guardian Telephone Exchange
Another interesting landmark of this area is The Guardian Telephone Exchange, called the "Best kept secret in Manchester". We'll help you unveil this secret hiding in plain sight.
13
The Midland
Discover the magnificent landmark of the city centre, The Midland Hotel, which has been part of life in Manchester for over 118 years, is worldwide renown for its beautiful architecture. We will tell you all about it, plus some incredible stories that have happened here during the years.
14
Manchester Central Library
Hop into the legacy of what once was the first public lending and reference library of the UK, provided by Manchester local council after the passing of the Public Libraries Act 1850. Of course, this isn't the original building, but we will tell you everything about its history and how it became the beautiful Greek structure it is today.
15
Manchester Central
10 minutes
What now is a convention centre, once was used as Manchester Central Train Station by The Midland Railway. Join us to discover everything that happened in this place, from one of the worst massacres the north has ever seen (before the train even existed) to the mysterious story behind a suitcase left in this same station in 1965.
16
The Corn Exchange
Come to discover what once was one of the most exciting market exchanges around the north, where the commercialization of other goods thrived thanks to the cotton industry in the city. The first Corn Exchange was built on this site in 1837 and we will tell you how it became a Listed Building which now houses a Food Court, a Hotel and more.
17
The Old Wellington
Discover probably the most famous and oldest pub in the city centre: The Old Wellington and Sinclair's Oyster Bar. Once famous for housing John Shaw's Punch House, during this tour you will understand why so many people visit this Pub on a daily basis.
Show 16 more stops