Hidden Gems for Manchester

Find great things to do in Manchester

One of the most exciting cities in the UK! When traveling to Manchester, you will find a great mixture of music, sports, culture, history and great food. This city is especially known for its diversity. Highly contemporary buildings share Manchester’s skyline with imposing Neo-Gothic structures. In our travel guide you will find great things to do in Manchester.

1. Hidden Gem Manchester: John Rylands Library

This library is one of Manchester’s most beautiful Neo-Gothic buildings. It is home to one of the world’s richest and most unique collections of books, manuscripts, maps, works of art and objects. The highlight of the library is the stunning, historic reading room with beautiful stained glass windows and intricate ceilings. It’s the perfect place to curl up with a new book from the gift shop and get lost for a couple of hours. The entrance is for free and the library is open 7 days a week.

John Rylands Library / © Instagram: n.degiovanni

2. Hidden Gem Manchester: Federal Cafe & Bar

This cafe is definitely the place to go if you are a brunch lover. The brunch menu is on a whole different level at Federal and the baristas serve up some of the best coffee in Manchester. When you enter the café, you will dive into an atmosphere of baristas cracking jokes between latte art, the smell of fresh baked banana bread and buzz of quiet chatter. The best part is that they offer brunch all day until 6 pm. So how about a delicious smashed avocado sourdough bread with poached eggs and smoked salmon on top?

Federal Cafe & Bar / © Instagram: wangamazing

3. Hidden Gem Manchester: Whitworth Art Gallery

This gallery is famous for its collections of British watercolors, drawings, prints, modern art, and sculpture, along with a large textile and wallpaper collection. The gallery is devoted to the work of artists spanning Dürer and Rembrandt to Lucian Freud and David Hockney. As it is located in a scenic park, there is also a sculpture garden to explore. The museum has no entrance fee, so make sure to stop by. The nearest public transport stop is Oxford road.

Whitworth Art Gallery / © Instagram: cheshirelifemag

4. Hidden Gem Manchester: 20 Stories Rooftop

20 Stories is a restaurant, rooftop terrace and cocktail bar in the heart of Spinningfields. The beautiful terrace contains actual trees, outdoor fireplaces and lots of places to bask in the sun with a couple of cocktails. It offers panoramic views of the city from an enviable 19th-storey setting. The drinks are a bit pricey but the view is totally worth spending an hour here and drinking one glass of wine or a cocktail.