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Part of a series of architect-led walking tours that read the city’s evolution… tracing change from Roman and medieval beginnings through to post-industrial reinvention and today’s new skyscrapers.

Highlights

• Market Place & Shambles Square - the birthplace of the modern city
• The Royal Exchange - where the city grew through it's cotton trade
• The Corn Exchange - a place that has evolved hugely over the decades
• The Palatine Building & Chetham's Library - Medieval vs Victorian heritage

Description

Using archival photos and maps alongside today’s streets, we’ll reveal what changed, why it changed, and what those decisions mean for people and place. Walking from market stalls to marble halls, we trace how trade, resilience, and reinvention have continually reshaped Manchester’s core. For this particular tour, we’ll begin at Manchester’s original Market Place, once the hub of trading life, before tracing the city’s rise through the great halls of the Royal Exchange and the railway stations that powered its global reach. Along the way we’ll pass the Cathedral and the medieval buildings of Chetham’s, places that have witnessed centuries of change. This walk follows a city shaped by commerce, industry, and upheaval… where bombs and tragedies have scarred the streets but also brought people closer together. We’ll end back at Shambles Square, home to timber-framed survivors that have defied planners, disasters, and time itself, standing as symbols of Manchester’s resilience and reinvention.

Includes

Guided walking tour led by a qualified architect Use of archival maps, photos and diagrams during the tour Insights into Manchester’s architectural and urban evolution Small group size for an interactive experience Start and end point clearly marked on the tour webpage Follow-up details with key references and recommended reading

Important Information

• This tour involves a 2-hour city walk, covering around 2km, so a moderate level of fitness is required.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund