Skyliner: Alternative Walking Tours of Manchester
WHERE
Manchester
What it’s like
A guided walk round the Northern Quarter's street art and political murals, with the real story behind each one.
This isn't a stroll past some paintings, it's a proper walking tour with someone talking you through the modern history behind the Northern Quarter's murals and street art, including the politics a lot of people walk straight past. The Modern History of the Northern Quarter tour runs 2 hours, and there are others too: Invisible City and Women of the Arts are shorter at around 90 minutes, Follow the Buddleia runs 2.5 hours, and There Was a Bench Here Once is another 2-hour outing.
Babes in arms are welcome on the regular tours, and there are occasional mini-tours aimed at parents with babies and toddlers, so it's really adults and older kids who'll get the most from the history and the messages in the murals rather than a toddler in a buggy. It's a city centre walk too.
Booking ahead is sensible since each tour caps at 25 guests, though you can sometimes walk up if you check availability first. One thing to know before you commit: cancel yourself and there's no refund, you can only rearrange with 24 hours notice, so don't book if your plans are shaky. Wheelchair users are welcome on every tour and the route can be adjusted if you mention it ahead of time, and dogs can come along too, though they sit out a brief stop at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre unless they're an assistance dog (Sundays are easiest for that since the centre's shut anyway).
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Adults and older kids who can follow the history, not toddlers in buggies
- Booking
- Advance booking advisable as maximum 25 guests per tour
- How long to allow
- 2 hours for Modern History of the Northern Quarter
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair users welcome on all tours
- Dogs
- Always welcome but must skip the brief visit to Manchester Craft
- Private tours can be arranged by email if you want your own group or a work outing
- Most tours finish by lunchtime
- Tours run in English; for other languages you'd need to sort your own translation or book a private group for an extra fee
- There's an accessibility advisor, Em Carrol, who works with the tours if you need extra support
Plan your visit
How long does a tour take?
Depends which one. The Northern Quarter and Bench tours run 2 hours, Invisible City and Women of the Arts are about 90 minutes, and Follow the Buddleia is 2.5 hours.
Do we need to book ahead?
It's advisable since each tour only takes 25 guests. Walk-ups are sometimes possible but ring or message first to check there's space.
Can we bring a baby or toddler?
Babes in arms are always welcome, and there are occasional mini-tours pitched at parents with babies and toddlers.
What if we need to cancel?
No refund if you cancel yourself, think of it like a cinema ticket. You can swap to another date if you give 24 hours notice.
Is it accessible for wheelchair users?
Wheelchair users are welcome on every tour. Email or message ahead so the route can be tweaked for you.
Can dogs come along?
Dogs are welcome on all tours, though they skip a brief stop inside the Manchester Craft and Design Centre unless they're an assistance dog. Sundays work well for dog owners since that centre is closed anyway.
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