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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Manchester

34 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Manchester, England

Updated January 4, 2023

Unusual Attractions in Manchester

Manchester, England

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

A Victorian Gothic masterpiece housing a world-class collection of rare books and manuscripts.

Manchester, England

Chetham's Library

Dating back almost 400 years, the oldest public collection library in the United Kingdom was once the study hall of Karl Marx.

Manchester, England

The Washhouse

This Manchester laundromat is hiding something.

Manchester, England

Manchester Museum

19th century museum with an eclectic mix of curiosities, from Egyptian artifacts to items on archery history to the skull of the world's oldest horse.

Manchester, England

Victoria Baths

These lovely Turkish-styled baths were brought back to life after winning a reality show competition.

Salford, England

Lark Hill Place

This dreamy street will transport you to wintertime in Victorian England.

Manchester, England

Victoria Arches

Hidden on the urban banks of a Manchester river are a series of abandoned waterside industrial sites.

Manchester, England

Alan Turing Memorial

Have a seat with the father of modern computing at this Manchester monument.

See All 34 Things To Do in Manchester

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Manchester

Manchester, England

A Monument to Vimto

A giant wooden soda bottle pays homage to a distinctly British drink on the very spot where it was invented.

Manchester, England

Circus Tavern

This tiny watering hole claims to have the smallest bar counter in Europe.

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Recent Manchester Activity

A

ArywnnMoon

wants to go to Mamucium Fort
G

grinnyh

has been to Circus Tavern
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noldreive

wants to go to Chetham's Library
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Miss Elby

has been to Mamucium Fort
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naelar

has been to The Manchester Bee

Stories About Manchester

How Arrow-Wielding Men Mapped Britain in the 1940s

Recently unearthed photos show beleaguered surveyors in suits holding pointy wooden markers.

Listen to the First Computer-Generated Christmas Carols, From Alan Turing's Lab

"Jingle Bells" and "Good King Wenceslas" haven't sounded like this in a long time.

by Natasha Frost

December 20, 2017

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