Manchester Cathedral and area tour
10.30am Saturday 9 May 2026
£20, under 12s free
One of the most remarkable buildings with one of the most remarkable stories in the United Kingdom spanning more than 600 years.
We will look at the Gothic architecture of the building in detail paying particular attention to the woodwork pointing out features such as the choir of angels (Manchester’s oldest band perhaps?), the utter beauty of the choir screen and then the glory of the choir stalls with their misericords enlivened with snapshots of life in the late Middle Ages or with symbols and morality tales. There’s almost contemporary satire involved in that carving.
We’ll describe how the building was terribly damaged during WWII by Nazi bombs and explain why there is no old stained glass but spectacular modern glass.
Then there are the stories: the dedication of the Cathedral, Thomas de La Warre, James Stanley, Robert Lever and his moving elegy, Madame Malibran and so many others including the sermon by Thomas Clarkson that led to the first petition to Parliament from a UK town or city demanding the end of the slave trade.
We’ll finally spend a short time outside the Cathedral exploring its external details, the site of the building and other local landmarks.
Meet: Outside west porch, Manchester Cathedral, M3 1SX.
Finish: Same place as we started.
Duration: most tours last between ninety minutes and two hours
Fully accessible
Totally fascinating
Tickets:
£20 adults
Under 12s free
We will look at the Gothic architecture of the building in detail paying particular attention to the woodwork pointing out features such as the choir of angels (Manchester’s oldest band perhaps?), the utter beauty of the choir screen and then the glory of the choir stalls with their misericords enlivened with snapshots of life in the late Middle Ages or with symbols and morality tales. There’s almost contemporary satire involved in that carving.
We’ll describe how the building was terribly damaged during WWII by Nazi bombs and explain why there is no old stained glass but spectacular modern glass.
Then there are the stories: the dedication of the Cathedral, Thomas de La Warre, James Stanley, Robert Lever and his moving elegy, Madame Malibran and so many others including the sermon by Thomas Clarkson that led to the first petition to Parliament from a UK town or city demanding the end of the slave trade.
We’ll finally spend a short time outside the Cathedral exploring its external details, the site of the building and other local landmarks.
Meet: Outside west porch, Manchester Cathedral, M3 1SX.
Finish: Same place as we started.
Duration: most tours last between ninety minutes and two hours
Fully accessible
Totally fascinating
Tickets:
£20 adults
Under 12s free