The Portico Library
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Manchester
What it’s like
Free exhibitions of books and contemporary art in a Georgian library, with a café under a domed roof.
This isn't a hands-on museum with buttons to press, it's a working library from 1806 that puts on free exhibitions mixing old books with contemporary art. Kids who like looking rather than climbing will get more out of it than toddlers wanting to run about. There are online activity sheets too, things like designing hats or naming portraits, plus downloadable colouring pages if you want to prime them before you turn up.
The building itself is the catch and the charm both at once. It's up on the first floor, 32 steps up with no lift at the main entrance, so a buggy means a proper carry or using the stairlift at the rear via Back George Street, and that needs arranging in advance. There's no accessible toilet either, which is worth knowing before you commit to a visit with a wheelchair user in the group.
The café sits under a Georgian dome and does proper homemade food from local produce, though lunchtimes get busy and they'd rather you booked ahead by phone. Hours are short and a bit fiddly: shut Sundays, shut most bank holidays, and open only 12 to 4 on Saturdays, with some Saturdays lost entirely to private hires. Thursday's your best bet if you want a longer window, open till 7, though it can occasionally close early if there's a ticketed event on.
Entry to the exhibitions and café is free, which makes it an easy one to fit around something else in town. The adult tours on Wednesdays are a different thing entirely, £6 a head for groups of 8 or more, an hour long, and not really pitched at children.
What’s on here
- WED7
Slow Reading: Byron's Don Juan for Banned Books Week
16:00 - 17:15 · from £5
- THU8
Witches & Healers. Something that was Ours - New Work by Rosie Reed Hillman: Launch
17:30 · Free
- SAT10
Something That Was Ours Dir. Rosie Reed Hillman
15:00 - 16:00 · Free
- WED21
Wheel of the Year: Yoga Flow
17:00 - 18:30 · from £8
- THU22
Portico Ubuntu: Crafting Your Own Book of Inspiration
A Black History Month workshop at The Portico Library on crafting a personal book of inspiration.
- SAT24
Femina Cupla: Poetry Readings
Poetry readings exploring women's agency through history, by Northern Irish collective Femina Cupla.
- THU29
Portico Ubuntu: Diaspora Dine and Discussion - 100 years of Black History Month
A dine-and-discussion evening in the Reading Room marking 100 years of Black History Month.
- SAT31
Samhain: Something That Was Ours Screening and tour of Witches & Healers
A Samhain screening of Something That Was Ours plus a tour of the Witches & Healers exhibition.
- FRI6
Mother Earth | Myths & Realities
Philosophy, conversation, stories and creativity at the Portico Library as part of Hinterland Festival.
- SAT7
Literary Afternoon Tea: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
A literary-themed afternoon tea at the Portico Library inspired by Shirley Jackson's novella We Have Always Lived in the Castle.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Kids who like looking and reading over climbing and running about
- Parking
- Six pay-and-display spaces on Charlotte Street outside Library
- Food
- Portico Kitchen café serving high quality homemade food from local produce, open Monday-Saturday for drinks/cakes 10am-4pm
- Wheelchairs
- Stairlift at rear entrance via Back George Street (requires prior arrangement)
- Getting there by bus or train
- Free Metroshuttle bus Charlotte Street/Chinatown (outside)
- Thursday's the long day, open till 7pm, though ticketed events can close it early
- The stairlift at the rear needs arranging ahead of time, it's not a walk-up option
- Some Saturdays are closed entirely for private hires
- Free Metroshuttle bus stops right outside on Charlotte Street
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
Yes, the exhibitions, café and bookshop are free to visit.
What can kids actually do there?
Look round the free exhibitions of books and contemporary art, and there are online activity sheets and colouring pages if you want to give them something to do.
What are the opening hours?
Mon-Wed 10am-5pm, Thursday till 7pm, Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday just 12pm-4pm. Closed Sundays, bank holidays and over Christmas and Easter.
Is there a lift or step-free access?
It's 32 steps up to the main entrance with no lift, though there's a stairlift at the rear entrance on Back George Street if you arrange it in advance.
Are there accessible toilets?
None available at the moment.
What about parking?
Six pay-and-display spaces right outside on Charlotte Street, free for Blue Badge holders.
Can we get food there?
The Portico Kitchen does homemade food from local produce, drinks and cakes most of the day and hot food over a shorter lunchtime window. It's busy at lunch so booking by phone is a good idea.
Do we need to book to visit?
No booking needed for the exhibitions and café, just turn up in opening hours. The adult library tours on Wednesdays do need booking.
Is it open every Saturday?
Mostly, but some Saturdays are lost to private hires, so it's not guaranteed every week.
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