Manchester is an amazing city with an electric atmosphere, tons of great nightlife, rich cultural heritage and some beautiful nature spots. In short, it’s one of the best cities in the North for that ever-elusive perfect romantic break. Some of the UK’s biggest and best inventions came from Manchester, and it’s always been a place famous for free-thinkers, breathtaking romantic trips and all things unique!
Finding that special spot to share with that special someone doesn’t have to cost the Earth, if you’re #InnTheKnow with us. We’ve put together some of our favourite free spots for couples in Manchester below.
Don’t spend your whole trip worrying about how you’re getting home, or worse, rushing a magic moment because you’re worried about getting the last train back! Book one of our great value Premier Inn Manchester hotels and enjoy more of what matters.
Best free romantic trips in Manchester
Castlefield Canals
Castlefield Canals
There’s something about a gentle stroll over a moonlit canal that just perfectly sets the scene when you’re on a romantic break. Manchester has a lot of scenic, historic canals, and the Castlefield Canals, made up of Bridgewater Canal, Rochdale Canal and great walks along the canalside are some of the best places to explore the city.
Our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Arena/Printworks) hotel is only a 15-minute walk away, straight down Deansgate road. We’re also right next to scenic Manchester Cathedral.
Fletcher Moss Gardens
Fletcher Moss Gardens
With everything from wild tulips to bamboo and majestic birch trees, there’s few better scenic spots to have a romantic picnic than Fletcher Moss Gardens.
There’s also a real sense of community in maintaining the grounds, the Friends of Fletcher Moss Gardens do a fantastic job and make this a wonderful place to spend some quality time together.
Our Premier Inn Manchester West Didsbury hotel is just an 8-minute drive or a 12-minute bus ride away from Fletcher Moss Gardens.
Chorlton Water Park
Chorlton Water Park
More than just a local nature reserve, Chorlton Water Park is like a grassland oasis, surrounded with playgrounds, picnic areas and, of course, glistening lakeside views.
Ideal if your romantic trip involves a few kids tagging along, you can’t go wrong with a splash at Chorlton Water Park (though please note, you can’t actually swim in the lake no matter how tempting it looks!)
Again our Premier Inn Manchester West Didsbury hotel is in the most convenient spot for visiting this brilliant park. Only an 11-minute walk away from the glistening lakes of Chorlton Water Park.
Canal Street
Canal Street
The famous Manchester Canal Street is a vibrant village welcoming all with the biggest LGBTQ+ community in the UK outside of London.
The whole area is a celebration of love, with buzzing bars, trendy restaurants and boutique shops. It’s the perfect setting for couples looking for a great night out in the city.
Our Premier Inn Manchester City (Piccadilly) hotel is only a 7-minute walk away and right in the heart of the city. Perfect for late nights out without worrying about how you’ll be getting home.
Levenshulme Market
Levenshulme Market
Levenshulme is something of a hidden gem in Manchester, a tight-knit community built around traditional red brick houses and people who care about each other.
Levenshulme Market carries that same spirit, it’s a lovely day out in the best of Manchester’s community. Perfect for a weekend trip with your partner to find that one-of-a-kind gift.
Our Premier Inn Manchester (Denton) hotel is only about a 10-minute drive from the centre of Levenshulme, perfect if you’re planning a romantic trip out of town.
The Lowry Gallery
The Lowry Gallery
Showcasing the best of Manchester’s art, theatre, dance and, well, anything and everything cultural and brilliant about the city, at its heart the Lowry Gallery is a celebration of youth culture in Manchester.
It’s an electric and exciting place to visit on a romantic weekend and really helps liven up your trip.
Our Premier Inn Manchester Salford Quays hotel is a 10-minute stroll along Manchester Ship Canal away from the Lowry. A lovely walk to get your head in the right place for some world-class performances.
Cloud 23
Cloud 23
Cloud 23 is an ultramodern, gorgeous skyscraper that brings a magical touch to any couple’s getaway. This one isn’t free, but it’s hard to think of a more dramatic spot in the city.
While you can pre-book and pre-pay for a table, you can also just walk in and go to the bar, order one drink and then enjoy spectacular views across the whole of the city.
Our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Deansgate Locks) hotel is just a gentle 10-minute walk away from Cloud 23 and some of the most exciting places to visit in Manchester City Centre.
Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Whether you’re a couple who love football, or you just want to see a major part of Manchester’s history up close, Old Trafford is the world-famous grounds of Manchester United and a buzzing place to visit. You’ll have to pay if you want a full tour or if you want to watch a match, but even just the energy of being around the stadium makes for an exciting romantic day out in Manchester. There’s plenty to do around the grounds too, and it makes a great backdrop for selfies!
Our Premier Inn Manchester Old Trafford hotel is the most convenient base for walks around this world-famous stadium and the area nearby. We’re less than a five-minute walk away from the stadium itself, and close to some brilliant things to see nearby.
Ordsall Hall
Ordsall Hall
Nothing says romance like a luxury Tudor renovated exhibit. Ok ok, well maybe the Tudors weren’t exactly the most romantic of families, but this scenic exhibition, wonderfully colourful garden and re-enactment of Tudor society is a lot of fun and a beautiful place to visit on a romantic trip to Manchester. It’s completely free to enter all year round, and the shows are great for learning some history on your break.
Our Premier Inn Manchester Salford Media City hotel is only a 15-minute ride away on the Blue Line metrolink train, it’s a scenic journey alongside some of Manchester’s best canal views.
So that’s some of our favourite romantic spots in Manchester. As one of the North’s biggest, liveliest cities there are sure to be plenty more, like the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Manchester Opera house, but this should give a great head start to any romantic break in this amazing city. Make sure to take a look at our guide to Manchester for more top tips when you’re in town, it really pays off to be #InnTheKnow!
Let’s face it, it’s hard to think about romance if you’re worried about how you’ll be getting home or rushing around trying to see everything in an afternoon. Staying at one of our Premier Inn Manchester hotels takes all the stress out of your trip to Manchester, so you can focus on each other instead of the clock.