Manchester is a city famous for its canals, its industrial history and a certain world-famous stadium you may have heard of called Old Trafford. And while those are all great, today we wanted to shine a light on some of the more unusual, the more unique and the more mind-blowing spots to visit in Manchester for free instead.
Stopping by the most unusual and unique spots in Manchester doesn’t have to be a mad rush either – when you book at one of our great value Premier Inn Manchester hotels you can spend more time exploring the city and less time worrying about getting home.
Make the most of Manchester on a budget by being #InnTheKnow with our top unusual (and free to visit!) places in Manchester.
Best free unusual places to visit in Manchester
Bee-spotting
Bee-spotting
Bees are an important symbol to people in Manchester – they represent the core of what Manchester is. It’s a city built on hard-work, community and a history of industry. So it’s no surprise how vital beekeeping and conservation is to Manchester, where a large community of our fuzzy friends can be found buzzing around the city centre. In fact, some of the best urban hives can be found at Manchester Cathedral, the PrintWorks and Manchester Art Gallery. Heaton Park is another great spot for seeing these glorious swarms thrive, all lovingly maintained by community beekeepers in the city.
There are a few spots to choose from when it comes to bee-spotting in the city. Our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Deansgate Locks) hotel is probably one of the most convenient for bee-spotting in the city centre. Our Premier Inn Manchester (Heaton Park) hotel is literally opposite Heaton Park – you’ll be buzzing off on your adventures in no time!
Lark Hill Place - Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Lark Hill Place - Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Until we figure out time travel, Lark Hill Place is probably the best way to experience what life was like in Manchester in the Victorian era. Lark Hill Place is a faithful, incredibly detailed recreation of Manchester in the late 19th century, with genuine preserved items and exhibits over a hundred years old. Stop by Mathew Tomlinson’s General Store, get clogging with James Critchley the clogger or enjoy the ambience of the Blue Lion Tavern, all totally free of charge.
Lark Hill Place is an exhibit in Salford Museum and Art Gallery, right in the centre of the city. Our two best hotels for visiting this wonderful institution are our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre West and Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Arena/Printworks) hotels, both around a 15-20 minute walk alongside the scenic River Irwell or a 10-minute ride on the bus.
Chetham’s Library
Chetham’s Library
Chetham’s Library is the oldest library in Britain, originally built 600 years ago in 1421 for priests of Manchester’s Collegiate Church, it’s been in use as a library since 1653 – that’s potentially over 350 years of library fines! Jokes aside, if your idea of a good trip is being surrounded by books in a library that feels like it’s straight out of a fantasy TV show, Chetham’s Library is the place to be.
This is another one where our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Arena/Printworks) hotel just makes the trip so much easier. We’re under a 5-minute walk away from Chetham’s Library!
Boardman’s Entry
Boardman’s Entry
Not many people know this, but Manchester is full of a network of hidden passageways, alleyways and secret paths through the city. Finding them means being #InnTheKnow and really knowing your way around the city.
Fortunately, there are plenty of guides and tours to show people round these hidden gems in the heart of Manchester. Many of these hidden alleyways hide a deeper history and cross through amazing parts of the city. Boardman’s Entry is one of them – head to St Anne’s Street on South King Street and you’ll find this brilliant and iconic passage through to Princess Street.
There’s hidden passages throughout Manchester, and our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Portland Street) hotel is in one of the best places to get exploring.
Mr Smith’s Dream – Manchester Craft & Design Centre
Mr Smith’s Dream – Manchester Craft & Design Centre
It’s so easy to miss this one, hundreds of people walk past it every day without even realising. Mr Smith’s Dream is an intriguing artwork literally built into the side of Manchester Craft & Design Centre.
Mr Smith’s Dream is a miniature set piece, made up of a set of stairs backlit with a soft, warm light, and an adorable carved animal. The work is captioned ‘wandering minds this way please’, and really that sums it up. Wandering minds, wandering hearts – a masterpiece free to anyone who has the curiosity to look.
Our Premier Inn Manchester City (Piccadilly) hotel is only an eight-minute walk away from Manchester Craft & Design Centre and this not-so-hidden magical piece of art.
Vimto Monument – University of Manchester
Vimto Monument – University of Manchester
It’s a weird thing to know if you’re not from Manchester, but the delicious blackcurrant soft-drink Vimto was actually born in this fair city. To celebrate this fact, Manchester has a giant statue dedicated to the purple pop – a gigantic Vimto oak statue surrounded by fruit. Originally carved in 1992, the monument was restored in 2011 and now stands as a bizarrely majestic fixture on the lawn at the University of Manchester. It’s surrounded by plenty of other fascinating sculptures, carvings and exhibitions too – great for taking pictures!
You’ll be at the University of Manchester in no time with a stay at our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Portland Street) hotel – only a nine-minute walk away from Vimto Park.
Ice Age Boulder (Andesite Boulder) – Uni of Manchester
Ice Age Boulder (Andesite Boulder) – Uni of Manchester
Sticking with the University of Manchester, how about visiting a 20 000 + year hunk of lava that formed in the last ice age? Sat on a special stone display in the university’s Old Quad (open to the public, no trespassing required!), you’ll find a gigantic piece of the Earth’s history just sat there for you to marvel at. The Ice Age Boulder was found under Oxford Road in 1888, and at over 20 tonnes it’s probably going to stay in the city for a while!
While our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Portland Street) hotel is still our closest hotel to the University of Manchester, our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Deansgate Locks) hotel is a close second at only an 11-minute walk away. Perfect if you fancy a change of scenery!
The Snowman – MediaCity UK
The Snowman – MediaCity UK
Everyone has fond memories of the Snowman musical; it’s become a well-loved Christmas tradition. Every winter Manchester kicks that tradition up a notch with a series of beautifully crafted Snowman-themed sculptures. As you might expect, this one’s only available in the winter, usually from mid-November to New Year’s Day. But if you’re visiting Manchester around then, it’s definitely worth a visit.
The Snowman sculptures normally pop up around Manchester’s MediaCity, and our Premier Inn Manchester Salford Media City hotel is only a three-minute walk away.
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
And we’ll end on one of the most intelligent places you can find for free in the city, John Ryland’s Research Institute and Library! Full of ancient texts, rare maps and fascinating historical discoveries of all shapes and sizes, it’s almost impossible to walk into this fantastic building and not walk out having learned something amazing. Entry is free, but you’ll need to book a slot before you arrive.
Our Premier Inn Manchester City Centre West and Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Arena/Printworks) hotels are just a 10-minute walk away from John Ryland’s Research Institute and Library.
There we go, that’s some of our favourite unusual free or affordable places to see in Manchester for less. Trips like no other with things to see on a romantic adventure, to wow the kids with or just to do something different on a city break to one of the most interesting cities in the UK.
In the words of the great Tom Jones (who has no real connection to Manchester, sorry) - it’s not unusual to go out at any time… if you’re staying with us at Premier Inn! Be #InnTheKnow and save money with our brilliant value Premier Inn Manchester hotels. If you’re looking for more ideas for free trips in the city, make sure to take a look at our guide to romantic breaks in Manchester for less, free family trips in Manchester and finding famous faces and places in Manchester.