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ManchesterCulture & history

Our most recommended Manchester Culture & history

From Manchester: Lake District and Windermere

1. From Manchester: Lake District and Windermere

You leave manic Manchester behind and head straight for the lovely Lake District. Your first stop of the day is at Bowness that sits on the shores of Windermere. You have time here to take a leisurely cruise upon the lake and admire the sublime views of the landscapes. You travel around the southern tip of Windermere and towards Coniston Water. You enjoy the views of this body of water before arriving in the picturesque conservation village of Hawkshead. This is where the poet William Wordsworth attended Grammar School. After exploring the cosy village, you take the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, a place Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. There's free time to visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, taste the legendary gingerbread, or enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. We then take in spectacular views of Ullswater Lake as we head along country roads to its southern shores before returning to Manchester in the early evening.

Manchester: National Football Museum Admission Ticket

2. Manchester: National Football Museum Admission Ticket

Your ticket includes admission to all four floors of the museum. On the ground floor, see the various trophies and enjoy the latest pop-up art exhibition. Level 1 is where you'll discover the must-see memorabilia — look out for the trophy won by England in 1966. You'll also uncover some fascinating history, like in England on the World Stage, which looks at the ups and downs of the England team. Level 1 is also the meeting point for guided tours. On Level 2, you'll find all the interactive challenges including Penalty Shootout. Temporary exhibitions on Level 3 change twice a year and take an in-depth look at soccer through art, photography, and technology.

From Manchester: North Wales, Snowdonia, and Chester Tour

3. From Manchester: North Wales, Snowdonia, and Chester Tour

The tour leaves Manchester in the morning and heads straight for the border of Wales. Conwy is the first stop of the day, one of the most picture-perfect harbor towns in the world. Here you can see a castle perched by the sea, the world's smallest house, and lots of cute restaurants serving up the best fish and chips. Venture along the winding, scenic roads of the Snowdonia National Park before arriving in Betws-Y-Coed. This quaint town is known as the gateway to Snowdonia and is famous for its alpine trees and cozy cafes. Chester is your next stop. This is one of England’s most historic towns and there is plenty to do here. It's advised to go straight to the ancient cathedral and learn about its remarkable past.

From Manchester: North Wales Sightseeing Adventure Day Trip

4. From Manchester: North Wales Sightseeing Adventure Day Trip

Leave the bustling city of Manchester and travel to Wales on a 90-minute fully-narrated journey arriving at Llandudno. Visit the 12th-century hidden chapel of St. Tudno on the Great Orme. Next is the walled town of Conwy, constructed in 1283 with a fabulous 3/4-mile wall circuit. Go inside Conwy Castle, a gritty, dark-stoned fortress built by James of St. George in partnership with the french Richard The Engineer. Head into Snowdonia National Park using carefully-selected, off-the-beaten-track routes with a stop at the “capital of North Wales”: Betws-Y-Coed prayer house in the woods. Finally, take the unique opportunity to experience the Pontcysyllte Canal Aqueduct, built by Sir Thomas Telford between 1795 and 1805. Prepare to be entertained and informed by your experienced guide and driver.

From Manchester: 3-Day Tour of Snowdonia, Wales, and Chester

5. From Manchester: 3-Day Tour of Snowdonia, Wales, and Chester

Day 1: Manchester to the border of Wales Depart from Manchester by coach for your first stop of the day, Conwy. Explore the town and its award-winning, picturesque harbor. View a castle perched by the sea, the "world’s smallest house", and traditional restaurants boasting the best fish and chips. Travel to the Llanberis Slate Museum, after you've soaked up the sea air, and learn about the history of the second largest slate mine in the world. Continue to Beddgelert, known as the "loveliest" village in Snowdonia. Admire the beautiful architecture of the stone houses and arched bridges. Travel through the heart of Snowdonia as the evening comes, arriving at your overnight stop in Aberystwyth. Day 2: Aberystwyth to New Quay Set off from Aberystwyth in the morning for the colorful seaside town of New Quay. Enjoy a relaxing stroll along the picturesque beach or grab an ice cream. Visit Laugharne, and stand in awe before this village’s towering castle. Carry on towards Carreg Cennen, an imposing fortress perched on top of a hill, nestled within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Roam across the ramparts and experience stunning views of the surrounding natural landscape. Make your way to Newton House, a palatial building that boasts rich gardens, unique architecture, and famous ghost stories, before returning to Aberystwyth later on that evening. Day 3: Harlech Castle and Chester Watch Snowdonia’s mountains fly by as you make your way to Harlech Castle, one of the most popular castles to see in the whole of the UK. Take the chance to witness the sea views and learn about its war-torn history. Stop for lunch in the little village of Betws-Y-Coed before journeying to one of England’s most historic towns, Chester. Head to the cathedral, rebuilt in the Gothic style from 1250 onward. Arrive back in Manchester in the early evening.

3-day Yorkshire Dales and Peak District Tour from Manchester

6. 3-day Yorkshire Dales and Peak District Tour from Manchester

Day 1: Travel to the Peak District. In the late morning, you will arrive in Castleton. This quaint old town attracts travelers from all over the world for its quintessential English charm. Nearby, there are caves, a beautiful view up a valley, and an insightful information center. Venture to the beautiful valley at Monsal Head. There’s an old rail line viaduct that emerges from the green hills. It’s a gorgeous structure with an impressive history. If you’re hungry, then you’re in luck, because you’re stopping for lunch in Bakewell. Not only is this town delicious to look at, but it’s also the home of one of England’s most famous desserts, the Bakewell Pudding. After savoring every last crumb, head over to Chatsworth House. This luxurious stately home is incredible; you can admire the architecture, get lost in a massive maze, or praise precious art. Finally, head off in the early evening to your overnight stop in York. Day 2: Full-day Tour of York Spend your morning in York. Visit a chocolate museum, find out about the Vikings, or just stroll around the ancient walls. Around midday, leave York and head to Goathland. This town was used in the Harry Potter movies and is situated in one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the UK. Your next stop is Whitby. This is the type of town everyone dreams of retiring in. There’s a beautifully-located, ruined abbey; old stone steps curving around viewpoints; and a lovely little beach to play about on. After exploring all the nooks and crannies of Whitby, travel to Robin Hood’s Bay. They doubt if the real Robin Hood ever came here, but there are still plenty of smugglers tales dotted around this remarkable harbor village. Finally, arrive back in York in the early evening. Day 3: Touring, Lunch, and Returning to Manchester Take the road to Fountains Abbey. This is one of the largest ruined abbeys in England and part of an important UNESCO Heritage site. Then find yourself surrounded by some of England’s most lovely waterfalls at AysgarthEnjoy a delicious lunch of Wensleydale's famous cheese and crackers. After lunch, travel past the epic Ribblehead railway viaduct before having a short snoop around the old castle-topped town of Clitheroe. In the evening, arrive in Manchester.

From Manchester: North Wales & Snowdonia Day Trip by Minibus

7. From Manchester: North Wales & Snowdonia Day Trip by Minibus

Drive along the seaside and enjoy views of craggy peaks on this day trip from Manchester to North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park. Along the way, admire the sparkling waters of Llyn Ogwen lake and the impressive fortifications of Conwy Castle. Hop aboard a climate-controlled minibus at the centrally-located meeting point in Manchester and relax on the drive to the Snowdonia National Park where incredible views await passengers. Travel towards the grassy Great Orme headland and the charming coastal town of Llandudno. Leaving Llandudno, catch your first glimpse of the world famous Conwy Castle as the tour heads towards the honeypot village of Betws-y-Coed via Ros on Sea. Have time here to find a cozy spot to purchase some lunch and to explore. Continue to the majestic Snowdonia National Park on a stunning mountain road with a stop at Llyn Ogwen, a beautiful lake with amazing mountain views that is rumored to be the final resting place of King Arthur's sword Excalibur. Finally, stop at Castle where there will be an opportunity to take in views and photograph the famous Conwy Castle. After leaving Conway the tour returns back to Manchester.

Manchester’s Rebirth and Renewal: A Self Guided Audio Tour

8. Manchester’s Rebirth and Renewal: A Self Guided Audio Tour

Journey into Manchester’s recent past and see how the city has rebuilt itself, sometimes literally, from the ashes. This walking tour takes you through the city center, Spinningfields, and Castlefield where you’ll hear key stories about Manchester’s journey from industrial relic to modern metropolis. Our tour begins in front of Mackie Mayor food hall in the NOMA district, where dangerous slums have been replaced by ground-breakingly modern buildings like the National Football Museum. As you wind your way through the city centre, seeing the wonderful Mancunian mix of old and new, you’ll learn about the factory owner who wanted a worker’s revolution, Manchester’s most terrifying days and nights, the scruffy statue of Abraham Lincoln, and what happened to the Hacienda night club. On the way to the Midland hotel where our tour ends, I’ll show you a perfectly adequate Manchester Cathedral, and a theatre hidden inside the Royal Exchange Building. Along the way you’ll have the chance to: • Visit Sadler’s Yard and hear about James Sadler, the first Englishman to take to the skies in a hot air balloon, who once brought a cat with him • See the desk where Karl Marx worked while writing the communist manifesto in Chetham's Library • Have a drink in the bustling Shambles Square • Do some shopping in the Arndale centre or Market Street • Take in Manchester City Council, our townhall, while enjoying a drink on Albert Square • Sip on refreshing cocktails in Spinningfields • Shoot your own atmospheric thriller movie • Walk along an old railway with the best views of the modern city • Spot hidden horses along the canal • Find Old Granada Studios where Dragons’ Den and RuPaul's Drag Race UK are filmed By the end of this 75 minute tour, you’ll be left with a sense of excitement – not only for what Manchester is now, but what it might become.

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What people are saying about Manchester

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 1,162 reviews

Great tour, beautiful scenery and great information from the your guide Clive. Extremely enjoyable tour and very comfortable to have a day long tour where all location information is sorted for you.

Very enjoyable day with beautiful scenery and picturesque towns along the way.Clive our driver was great with his knowledge of history and tips for things to do at each stop.A great day out

A wealth of material with something for everyone from 11 year old grandson to my age group who began our life sentence at Vale Park in 1954

It was a very exciting day. We had an excellent guide/ driver. There was ample time to explore in several places.

Rabbies tour was excellent. James, our tour guide, was fantastic! Highly recommend!