Manchester walk – Photo supplied by David Dixon
| Start/Finish | Category | Distance | Estimated Walking Time |
| Victoria Station / Chinatown | History and Architecture, Tourism | 3.0 km | 45 min* |
Summary
Beginning at Victoria Station this walk winds through the city centre of Manchester, exploring some of its most impressive buildings including the Manchester Cathedral, the John Rylands Library and Town Hall before finishing in Chinatown.
Public transport
Catch the train to Victoria Station.
Directions
Starting Point – Victoria Station
The Manchester walk starts outside Victoria station. From the train station entrance walk down the Victorian Station Approach in a southerly direction and turn right down Long Milgate, which borders Cathedral Gardens.
The Long Milgate path connects with Cathedral St. Continue down Cathedral St past Manchester Cathedral. Manchester Cathedral is a Gothic style church with its origins in the 13th century. Since this time a number of additions to the church have been made, including its first tower in the 14th century, and more recently, alterations to repair damage from WW2 when the church was bombed.
Manchester Cathedral
Image: Inside Manchester Cathedral, photo supplied by Michael Beckwith
At the end of Cathedral St, turn right down Exchange Square, continue down New Cathedral St and walk along Exchange St past the Royal Exchange Theatre. From here, continue down St Anne’s Square, turn right up St Anne St and left down Deansgate heading in a southerly direction. On Deansgate you will pass the John Rylands Library. The John Rylands Research Institute and Library is a late Victorian building, which opened to the public in 1900. It became part of the university in 1972, and now houses the majority of the special collections of the University of Manchester Library. The main reading room in the library includes stained glass windows and other ornate features, making it well worth a visit if you have the time.
From the library continue down Deansgate in a southerly direction, turn right into Quay St, left down Lower Byron St and then cut through St John’s Gardens. From the Gardens walk down St John St and left up Deansgate heading north.
Along Deansgate walk through the Great Northern Square, up Watson St and turn right down Peter St. From Peter St turn left up Mount St and walk in a northerly direction. Continue up Albert Square and then turn right into Princess St past the Manchester Town Hall. Built in 1877, the Town Hall is the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments.
Finish- Chinatown
From the Town Hall continue in a south easterly direction along Princess St, past the Manchester Art Gallery and turn left up Faulkner St to Chinatown, which is where the walk ends.
Manchester walk – GPX file
To access to the GPX file for this walk click on the download button below.
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Manchester walk – Map
Start – Victoria Station
- Manchester Cathedral
- Royal Exchange Arcade
- John Rylands Library
- St John’s Gardens
- Albert Square
- Town Hall
- Manchester Art Gallery
- China Town
End – China Town
