Stone Roses singer Ian Brown famously said that “Manchester’s got everything except a beach”, and it is true - this city has so much to offer. We’ve got a buzzing food and drinks scene, a host of independent businesses and amazing music venues.
Yet you don’t have to spend a single penny to have a good time in the city as there’s so much you can do here for free. Head to a skyline park located in the industrial heart of Manchester, or immerse yourself in culture at one of our incredible museums.
Whether you're just visiting and are looking to keep your trip budget-friendly, or a resident looking for something new to do, then read on for some of the best free things you can do in Manchester this year.
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Visit an urban park
You don’t even have to leave the confines of the city centre to find some incredible green spaces in Manchester. In 2022 the city welcomed not just one but two new urban parks, breathing new life into overlooked areas.
Mayfield Park, tucked away behind Piccadilly Station, opened to the public in September. The 6.5 acre space has everything you could want, from a fun play area (with some very cool-looking slides for kids) to quiet spots where you can relax and enjoy the greenery around you.
Over on the other side of the city you can have a stroll along Manchester’s first skyline park. Last year the National Trust transformed a Grade II-listed Castlefield Viaduct into a tranquil garden where you’ll find an array of plants and flowers growing against a backdrop of rusted metal beams.
Visit a museum
There are dozens or museums and galleries scattered across the city, several of which you can visit for free. From the Museum of Science and Industry to The People’s History Museum, there’s enough to keep you informed and inspired throughout the year.
This year will see Manchester Museum reopen its doors for the first time since 2021 following an extensive £15 million transformation. Among the renovations is a brand new Exhibition Hall, which will host the Golden Mummies of Egypt exhibition when it opens.
At Manchester Art Gallery you can catch the Dandy Style exhibition, open until May 2023, which features work from artists including David Hockney, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Or immerse yourself in music at the Science and Industry Museum’s Turn It Up: The power of music exhibition, also on until the spring.
Visit a library
Whether you’re a hybrid or home worker looking for somewhere new to go for the 9-5, or you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to read more, then head to a library. With its an impressive building dominating St Peter’s Square, Central Library is hard to miss and it's certainly worth popping inside.
If you’ve never stepped through its magnificent doors then you’ve been missing out as it has a gorgeous reading room underneath the domed ceiling. For a slice of neo-Gothic grandeur, visit the John Rylands Library. It's impressive interior feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Deansgate outside.
Explore the city
There’s no better way to see what Manchester has to offer than by exploring it on foot. If you’re not sure where to begin then join a free walking tour - there’s one which takes place every morning from the Alan Turing Memorial at Sackville Gardens.
But if a walking tour isn’t for you, or you simply fancy a relaxed wander around the city, then there are lots of areas you can explore by yourself. Discover the colourful street art of the Northern Quarter, take a stroll along the canal or even visit a Roman fort in Castlefield.
Experience a festival or parade
Throughout the year the city comes alive with events and celebrations. Check out the Chinese New Year Parade at the end of January which will see a 175ft dragon take to the streets. In the spring the city is full of colourful blooms for the Manchester Flower Show.
Manchester International Festival will return this summer with several free events taking place across the city. And keep your eyes peeled for those inflatable monsters lurking around town at Halloween.
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