1.Chetham's Library

Over 60,000 of the library’s titles date back to the early 1800s, showed on crumbling and beautiful leather-bound folios. 

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels visited to the library, sitting in the medieval surroundings and thinking their theories deeply.

2.The Washhouse

There is a hidden bar behind This Manchester laundromat.

It is unexpected that the washing machine is the door of another world-a bar!

3.Lark Hill Place

This dreamy street will transport you to wintertime in Victorian England. 

Visitors can learn what daily life was like for those living in the area under the rule of Queen Victoria.

4.Victoria Arches

Those abandoned waterside industrial sites are a crumbling secret of the city’s underground. 

So far they are simply the field of urban explorers. 

Very hard to visit. Old entrances visible from Greengate Square.

5.Godlee Observatory

This tiny observatory has existing for over a century with a dome made of made of little more than wood and papier-mâché.

It is a place suffered war, weather, and neglect.

6.Circus Tavern

“The smallest bar in Europe, the biggest welcome in the world!”

The building itself has over 200-year history.

The name is related to a lot of clowns in the past.

7.Peterloo Memorial

The city of Manchester quietly unveiled this tribute to a 19th-century massacre. 

The memorial is visible from the plaza and there is a ramp to the interpretive panel. A handrail provides access to the top of the stepped area.

8.Gnome Island

Since 2017, the remains of Stretford's industrial past have been occupied by a collection of gnomes. 

As with many family homes, the island is visited yearly by its very own gnomish Santa Claus over the Christmas period and the pintsized colony continues to grow. 

9.Out House

The remnants of a depressing public toilet are now a hub of ever evolving street art. 

A depressing piece of urban blight with a literally crappy history has been turned into a community centerpiece. 

10.Southern Cemetery

The largest municipal cemetery in the United Kingdom and the second largest in Europe contains some of Manchester’s biggest characters.  

There are lay-bys with parking points adjacent to the cemetery.

11.Mamucium Fort

Once it is used to protect important Roman trade routes. 

Highlights include a reconstruction of a gatehouse, the remains of the original Roman roadway, along with numerous other stone building foundations.

12.St. Michael's Flags and Angel Meadow Park

It was once a small parish churchyard became the largest cemetery in Manchester.

Now, it is now a popular and peaceful greenspace within the growing city.

13.Tower of Light

 A “Shell Lace Structure.”

It is now not only part of the city of Manchester’s solution to becoming energy efficient but also a notable landmark in its own right.

14.The Great Hall within the Royal Exchange

 "The biggest room in the world"

This Victorian-era hall is so large that it contains a smaller 1970s heptagonal theatre.

15.RNCM Collection of Historic Musical Instruments

Over 300 historical instruments from around the world can be found in the Royal Northern College of Music's basement. 

They are in old age. Be careful~

16.The Haçienda Apartments

This building's name and a plaque are all that's left of what was probably the most important nightclub of the Madchester music scene. 

 This is a habitational building, please be respectful of residents

17.Boardman’s Entry

Curious umbrellas are in fact an unusual tribute to one of Manchester’s most famous sons. 

A tiny, hidden alleyway dedicated to the father of meteorology.

18.Hanging Ditch Bridge

 It is a rare example of architecture from the Middle Ages.

It dates back to 1421, listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

19.People’s History Museum

It has amassed an extensive collection of politically-oriented historical items covering over 200 years of British history.

Now it covers both the right and left sides of the political spectrum.

20.Mr Smith's Dream

A tiny, heartwarming piece of art hiding in plain sight. 

It is a true hidden gem and brings a smile to everyone who stumbles across it.

FAQs

Q: Are these activities suitable for youth?

A: Yes! These places are not common, but special and educational. So, it is a good way for youth to get knowledge about history, art, nature and so on.

Q: What is the best season to visit Manchester?

A: If you prefer warm and festival, summer is the best season to visit. But if you want to avoid crowds and enjoy the mild climate, spring and fall are good choices, too.

Q: How is about the transportation in Manchester?

A: The transportation in Manchester is convenient, including bus, tram, train, taxi, etc.

Don’t forget to see these 20 uncommon places!

Planning for more fun?  Please subscribe to our website FuninManchester to get the most fun Manchester event information every day.