Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Manchester Mr Smith's Dream

Mr Smith's Dream

A tiny, heartwarming piece of art hiding in plain sight.

Manchester, England

Added By
na7m0
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Mr Smith’s Dream.   na7m0 / Atlas Obscura User
Manchester Craft & Design Centre.   na7m0 / Atlas Obscura User
Manchester Craft & Design Centre.   Dave Croker/cc by-sa 2.0
Close up of the artwork   Liam Mook / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Detail.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Built into the brickwork of the Manchester Craft & Design Centre, this tiny piece of art is easily missed. The off-the-beaten-path artwork is practically hiding in plain sight, only spotted by eagle-eyed walkers or those who already know where to look.

Mr Smith’s Dream is a true hidden gem and brings a smile to everyone who stumbles across it. Look at the piece, and you’ll see a miniature staircase spiraling out of sight. The soft glow of the installation’s backlight makes you wish you could shrink and enter the enticing secret world to which the stairs lead.

The artwork was inspired by the many pet shops that once filled Manchester’s Northern Quarter. It pays homage to a man named Mr. Smith, who once ran a pet shop in the area and often dreamt of his animals. It was designed by ceramicist Liz Scrine and commissioned by the Manchester City Council.

Recently, a small window has been added to the staircase. Three times a day, bells can be seen ringing, with their pealing sounding out into the street. 

The building Mr Smith’s Dream is set into is also worth checking out. The Manchester Craft & Design Centre, an old Victorian building that once served as the city’s sole retail first market, now houses two floors of modern art studios and exhibits.

Related Tags

Art Public Art Hidden Miniatures

Know Before You Go

The artwork is on the Copperas Street side of the building and is visible at any time. If you're approaching from Oak Street, you'll see it beneath the fourth window you pass. It is opposite the tone MCR salon.

The building itself is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and its cafe is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

na7m0

Edited By

Gareth Hacking, jooniur, Kerry Wolfe, rbenn250...

  • Gareth Hacking
  • jooniur
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • rbenn250
  • Liam Mook
  • Fred Cherrygarden

Published

October 1, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • www.lizscrine.co.uk
  • https://www.lizscrine.co.uk/work/commissions/mr-smiths-dream/
  • https://www.creativetourist.com/articles/art/manchester/behind-closed-doors-ceramics-by-verity-howard-at-manchester-craft-design-centre/
Mr Smith's Dream
Manchester Craft & Design Centre
Copperas Street
Manchester, England
United Kingdom
53.484317, -2.235742
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'A New Broom'

Manchester, England

miles away

Afflecks

Manchester, England

miles away

Out House

Manchester, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Manchester

Manchester

England

Places 49
Stories 2

Nearby Places

'A New Broom'

Manchester, England

miles away

Afflecks

Manchester, England

miles away

Out House

Manchester, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Manchester

Manchester

England

Places 49
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Notice the magic carpet rider can be seen in the top right.

    New York, New York

    Flying Carpet Over Isfahan

    A controversial magical figure is hidden within a diorama of the city.

  • One of the figurines.

    Borås, Sweden

    Figurines of Borås

    These miniature works of art are hiding in plain sight on buildings around the city.

  • Detail of the church’s right aisle

    Pratantico, Italy

    The Mosaic of Andreina

    The largest ongoing mosaic project in Europe.

  • A large sculpture in a field with a rainbow behind it.

    Chattanooga, Tennessee

    Sculpture Fields at Montague Park

    Stroll among more than 50 large-scale sculptures created by world-class artists.

    Sponsored by Chattanooga Tourism
  • Basel, Switzerland

    Hammering Man

    This 42-foot tribute to the workforce still reminds us to pause and recharge.

  • Tiny Parks at St James’s Park.

    London, England

    St James’s Tiny Park

    These former ticket office windows in London's underground now house pocket-size parks.

  • An easter egg through magnifying glass. The actual height is  4.5 mm, the beads 0.15-0.35 mm

    Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Russkiy Levsha (The Russian Lefty Museum)

    Home to artworks so small you need a microscope to see them.

  • Say hello to Bemik, the sports and recreation bear.

    Warsaw, Poland

    Bemisie

    A group of tiny bears has occupied various spots across Warsaw's Bemowo district.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.