Free Manchester Walking Tours

About

The daily Free Tour of Manchester: this entertaining and comprehensive free tour, led my locals, covers Manchester's main attractions and lesser-known quirks. We run Every Day at 11am, from the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Gardens (M1 3HB).

On this tour, we tell the story of Manchester. We share our famous characters, political movements and musical legends. It is an adventure through Manchester’s many terrains including hidden backstreets, opulent interiors, canal walkways and industrial infrastructure. We don’t just point and give facts - this tour is poignant, funny, poetic and political. Plus, our local guides will offer you insider tips and suggestions of what to do with your time in the city.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION 

Start Time: Every Day, at 11am

Length: Approximately 3-hours, including a 15-minute break.

Meeting Point: Alan Turing Memorial, Sackville Gardens, near Canal Street (M1 3HB)

End Point: Exchange Square, near Oyster Pub and the National Football Museum (M3 1BD)

Bookings?: Required: (Monday - Thursday) Not Required: (Friday - Sunday). Bookings can be made via email: josh@fmwt.co.uk or from www.freemanchesterwalkingtours.com - bookings must be made at least 12 hours in advance.

COVID19: We can only accept groups of up to 6. As rules and restrictions are changing quite often, we recommend that you check our Facebook/Twitter/Instagram for the most up-to-date information.

FAQS

How can I contact you? 

Phone/Text: 07478277293
Email: josh@fmwt.co.uk
Website: www.fmwt.co.uk
Twitter: @FreeToursMCR
Instagram: @FreeTours_MCR
Facebook: /FreeManchesterWalkingTours

Is the tour definitely running? 

Yes. The free tour of Manchester runs every day, in all weather! The only days we do not run are Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Is the tour accessible? 

It's important to us that our tour is accessible to everyone. Our tour is wheelchair accessible, and we welcome all ages. We also love accommodating pets! If you have any specific needs or concerns, simply let us know before or at the beginning of the tour.

Who are your guides?

My name’s Josh. I’m from Manchester, and I attended the University of Manchester as an undergraduate, and also as a History MA student. Aside from the tours, I keep myself occupied writing for Theatre and TV, and as a parent to Alan the Beagle / Cocker Spaniel puppy. I founded the original free tours of Manchester back in the September of 2015. Over five years later, we are a small team of local guides, who take pride in sharing the city’s unique story with the world.

Free? How is this tour free? 

We are an independent tour group that believes everyone should be able to discover Manchester. This ‘free’ walking tour model is popular all around Europe because it means we have to work our hardest to deliver the best possible tour! Tips are invited by the guide at the end, but you will never be pressured to tip.

Do I need to book? 

Currently, we do NOT require bookings at the weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) - you can just turn up. We usually require bookings mid-week (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday). These bookings usually must be made at least 12 hours in advance, however get in touch, as sometimes last minute bookings are possible. Bookings can be made via email: josh@fmwt.co.uk.   

Do you run any other tours? 

Yes. We also run the 'Alternative Manchester Walking Tour'. This tour focusses more on street art, music, and specifically the Northern Quarter neighbourhood. Information for this walking tour can be found at www.AlternativeManchesterWalkingTour.com

Do you do private tours? ​​​​​​

Yes, we regularly deliver private tours. We've run special tours for all sorts of groups including businesses, U3As, stag and hen parties, special interest societies, as well as treasure hunts and school visits - we've even collaborated with The Sunday Boys, Manchester's gay men's voice choir.

Large parties (8+) and school groupsmust contact us in