RunCity

Manchester on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 10 of Manchester's best-known sights, including Beetham Tower, Science and Industry Museum, John Rylands Library and more. It is about 4 km on foot, roughly 1.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Manchester leaderboard.

  • 10Stops
  • about 4 kmDistance
  • 1.5 hoursWalking
  • about 44 minRunning
Play Manchester in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Manchester
Photo: David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0

Manchester's centre is compact and flat, and this route covers it in about 4 km, from the canals of Castlefield to the cathedral. It starts at the bonus stop, Castlefield Basin, where the Bridgewater Canal meets Victorian railway viaducts, and passes the Beetham Tower and the Science and Industry Museum, built around the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station. The neo-Gothic John Rylands Library on Deansgate has a reading room like a cathedral.

The Town Hall's clock tower over Albert Square, the round Central Library on St Peter's Square and the Chinatown arch lead to Piccadilly Gardens. The route ends at the National Football Museum and the medieval cathedral beside it. Free buses loop around the city centre, and the Northern Quarter, just north of Piccadilly, is the place for cafés and independent shops.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Castlefield Basin

    Castlefield Basin Bonus

    The canal basin ringed by Victorian viaducts.

    Photo: David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. Beetham Tower

    Beetham Tower Photo

    The tall glass tower rising above Deansgate.

    Photo: sykerabbit77 · CC BY 2.0

  3. Science and Industry Museum

    Science and Industry Museum

    The old Liverpool Road station and warehouses.

    Photo: Science Museum Group · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. John Rylands Library

    John Rylands Library Photo

    The neo-Gothic library façade on Deansgate.

    Photo: Burkhard Mücke · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Manchester Town Hall

    Manchester Town Hall Photo

    The Gothic clock tower seen from Albert Square.

    Photo: Mark Andrew. · CC BY 2.0

  6. Manchester Central Library

    Manchester Central Library

    The domed, rotunda-style library on St Peter's Square.

    Photo: habiloid · CC BY-SA 2.0

  7. Chinatown Arch

    Chinatown Arch Photo

    The ornate paifang arch at the entrance to Chinatown.

    Photo: Delusion23 · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Piccadilly Gardens

    Piccadilly Gardens

    The central city garden with its fountains and curved wall.

    Photo: Peter McDermott · CC BY-SA 2.0

  9. National Football Museum

    National Football Museum

    The glass-fronted museum on Cathedral Gardens.

    Photo: Ank kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Manchester Cathedral

    Manchester Cathedral Photo

    The medieval cathedral tower seen from the churchyard.

    Photo: 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Manchester in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Manchester on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 10 stops on this route add up to about 4 km, roughly 1.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Manchester is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Manchester?

    Open Manchester in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Manchester leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Castlefield Basin and finishing at Manchester Cathedral. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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