When it comes to walking routes in the UK, what areas come to mind? For most people, the answer is national parks. The Peak District, Lake District, and the York Moors offer challenging walking trails and stunning views of the North.

But what if you’re looking for something closer to home? If you’re a Manchester resident, you’re in luck. The city offers an unbeatable fusion of urban living and natural beauty, with countless walking routes to explore.

If you’re looking for the best places to walk in Manchester, the following are at your doorstep! 

 

1. Heaton Park

As the North West’s biggest park (and the largest municipal park in Europe), Heaton Park deserves our top spot.

From 8am to dusk, you can wander around 600 acres of greenery and explore manicured gardens and secluded woodlands. While you’re there, put your endurance to the test and climb the hill near Heaton Hall.

At the top, you’ll find the grand 18th-century neo-classical building once home to English nobleman Sir Thomas Egerton. The vantage point near the hall offers a stunning view of the city’s skyline, a rewarding end to a challenging walk. 

 

2. Worsley Village

Take your next walk past the mock Tudor homes in Worsley Village.

Nestled in the heart of Salford, this quaint town will make a peaceful walking route for history lovers. Walk alongside all three miles of the Bridgewater Canal; a route historians consider England’s first true canal.

Increase your step count as the boats float by, and once you’re feeling tired, take a seat in one of Worsley Village’s traditional pubs. Grab a bite to eat, refuel, and continue exploring! 

 

3. Macclesfield Forest

Macclesfield Forst is, without a doubt, one of the best places to walk in Manchester.

If you’re itching to move away from the city centre, this beautiful reservoir is just an hour away on the western edge of the Peak District. Here, you have free access to a working forest that provides residents of Macclesfield with drinking water.

The area is home to species of birds, waterfowl and even red deer! See if you can spot one as you walk along several of the forest’s easily accessible public footpaths. If a long day of walking has left you parched, head over to the Leather’s Smithy pub for a cold drink. 

 

4. River Irwell And Peel Park Route

The Peel Park route is one of the best places to walk in Manchester because it starts directly in the heart of the city: in front of the Salford Museum and Art Gallery, to be exact!

However, the best part about this route is that you can start anywhere that’s most convenient. Head off from Blackfriars and trot along the River Irwell course, following on until you reach The Meadow and, later, the University of Salford and David Lewis Sports Grounds.

 

5. Tegg’s Nose

Return to the Western area of the Peak District, and you’ll find Tegg’s Nose, an impressive country park just outside of Manchester.

Strap on your hiking boots at Tegg’s Nose visitor centre and prepare yourself for expansive views of Cheshire County. If you look closely, you may spot the Welsh hills and Liverpool’s cathedrals!

Learn about the rich history of Tegg’s Nose as you walk its trails. Once home to Bronze Age settlements and a functioning quarry, this landscape offers challenging walking routes and a chance to learn more about the city. 

 

6. Lyme Park

As the backdrop for BBC’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, you can expect nothing less than grandeur from Lyme Park.

This National Trust-owned estate is surrounded by impressive 1-400 acre grounds, with every kind of walking trail you could imagine.

From rocky moors to age-old woodlands, formal gardens to waterfalls, Lyme Park is one of Manchester’s best places to walk because everything is on offer. You can even treat the family on your next trip and visit Lyme Park’s Timber Yard Cafe.

 

7. GM Ringway

Manchester’s GM Ringway should be on every walker’s bucket list. 

This long-distance walking trail covers an astonishing 186 miles and takes you through all ten boroughs of the city region. First established by the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and the Super League rugby team ‘Salford Red Devil’, the GM Ringway takes walkers through four main areas. 

During the ‘Southern Start-Up’, you’ll take the scenic route through Greater Manchester and walk alongside some of the best hidden green spots in the city centre. 

Once reaching the edge of the Peak District, you’ll reach “The Exhilarating East’. Be prepared for hills because this section sees walkers explore the hills lining Oldham, Stockport and Tameside. 

Then, you’ll have the third area to contend with! “The Noble North” forces you to contend with Bolton, Rochdale and Bury’s rising peaks and valleys. “The Western Wind-down” give your legs a rest and, as the final section of your journey, allows you to enjoy the mosslands of Salford, Trafford and Wigan.

If you’re drawn to discovering these hidden gems in the city and wish to make Manchester your home, reach out to us at New Cross Central today. Let us help you find the perfect property to complement your adventurous spirit and embrace all that Manchester has to offer.

The number of vegans has quadrupled in the last eight years, and they’ve left a delicious range of plant-based restaurants, cafés and bars in their wake. Finding vegan food in Manchester is now easier than ever!

Take a trip down Canal Street and enjoy an all-day vegan breakfast: the perfect way to start your day. Spend your shopping break with a stone-baked vegan pizza, or tantalise your tastebuds with Asian-inspired cuisine.

Trust us for the five best vegan restaurant recommendations:

 

1. Lotus Plant-Based Kitchen

If you love traditional Chinese and Asian dishes but struggle to source plant-based replacements, Lotus Kitchen has everything you need. 

Established in 2014, this gorgeous little restaurant has put its mark on Taiwanese, Malaysian and Japanese cuisine with recipes that pay homage to Asian culture. 

They offer customers a range of crispy dim sums, soups, sizzling mains, noodles and rice that you can wash down with a beverage from their drinks selection. Due to religious beliefs, none of Lotus Plant-Based Kitchen’s meals contain onion or garlic. 

 

Address – 536 Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 4BY

Opening Hours: 

Mon 16:30 – 21:30

Tues-Weds CLOSED

Thurs 16:30 – 21:30

Fri-Sat 16:30 – 22:00

Sun 16:30 – 21:30

 

2. Purezza

Purezza is tucked away in Manchester’s Northern Quarter neighbourhood, the ideal place for a hidden gem. This Italian-inspired restaurant is every pizza-lover’s dream and has a small-plate menu with over 16 different vegan pizzas.

If you’re dining in the evening, Purezza has a roster of nibbles, organic sourdough pizzas and delectable desserts to satisfy your appetite. Sample their famous “Mac & Cheese” (vegan, of course) and keep an eye out for their flavourful “Courgette Spaghetti”.

Dining with children? Purezza has that covered: you can get a kid’s pizza free with every paying adult. They even offer poochy pizza slices so your dog can experience the wonders of vegan food in Manchester.

 

Address – 75-77 High Street, Manchester, M4 1FS

Opening Hours: 

Mon-Sat 12:00-21:00

Sun 12:00-18:00

 

3. The Allotment Vegan

Afternoon tea has never felt so organic. The Allotment Vegan, opposite Manchester’s famous Shamble’s Square, is a vegan eatery so fresh your tastebuds will be forever changed.

Stop for afternoon tea and nibble on sweet and savoury afternoon delights. At just £18.50 per person (with a bottle of Prosecco included), we think this culinary delight is something all vegans should experience at least once.

But if you’re more peckish, they also offer small and large plates and a set menu of three courses for £28. Take all the thinking out of plant-based dining with The Allotment.

 

Address – 1-3 Cathedral Gates, Manchester, M3 1SW

Opening Hours: 

Mon-Sat: 12:00–23:00

Sunday: 12:00–20:00

 

4. Via Manchester

Located in the heart of Manchester’s world-famous gay village, Via is the place to come for dinner and a show. This cabaret bar is dedicated to exceptional customer service, offering diners a large menu that’s, frankly, too hard to choose from. 

Start your day with a vegan breakfast loaded with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms and veggie sausages. 

You can also choose a sharer plate and invite a friend to indulge. Via offers everything from vegan pizzas to hot dogs, desserts to burgers, all made with fresh plant-based ingredients.

 

Address – 28/30 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ

Opening Hours (food serving times) 

Mon-Sun: 12:00-22:00

 

5. What The Pitta

What The Pitta makes the finest Turkish and German-inspired vegan food in Manchester. Putting a spin on the traditional donner kebab, brothers Roj and Kem specialise in making meat-centred dishes more accessible to plant-based diners.

Grab a fully-loaded gyros packed with fresh vegetables and smothered in What The Pitta’s signature vegan tzatziki. Pair it with a side of waffle fries, onion rings or their ‘Chick’n’ nuggets. 

For a cost-effective dinner, sure to hit the spot, pick one of their meal deals. You’ll get a filling main course, a side and a soft drink of your choosing.

 

Address – What The Pitta, 42 Back Turner Street, M4 1FR

Opening Hours:

Mon-Thurs: 12:00-21:00

Fri-Sat: 12:00-22:30

Sun: 12:00-21:00

Manchester is famous for its legendary music scene, with some of the biggest and most iconic names and sounds having emerged from here.

It’s no wonder, then, that Manchester and Salford, the neighbouring city, continue to be a cultural and musical hotbed of talent and new discoveries.

Here we recommend some of the best small Manchester gig venues, where you can discover a thriving grassroots music scene and see raw talent before it’s snapped up by the mainstream.

 

Soup Kitchen

Just off Stevenson Square in the hip Northern Quarter, Soup Kitchen is a canteen by day and a laid-back music venue by night.

It boasts a jam-packed events schedule, full of electronic club nights and innovative live music, with just a 200-person capacity giving an intimate air to the experience.

Many up-and-coming artists choose Soup Kitchen as a pit stop on their first international tours, as do many more established acts.

This venue has seen Sub Pop band Metz, Stones Throw rapper/producer Jonwayne and XL’s enigmatic King Krule all pass through. 

Most acclaimed independent artists of the last 10 years have played at Soup Kitchen.

 

Eagle Inn

Next up on our list of small Manchester gig venues is the Eagle Inn, a lovingly-restored Victorian pub located off Trinity Way, and now a crucial part of Manchester’s DIY music scene.

Its tiny 80-person capacity performance space means that you get up close and personal with whoever is playing on any given night.

The decor of the performance room is distinctive too – there’s a fireplace halfway up the wall, a mezzanine balcony and a sculptured eagle bas-relief, definitely giving off some cool Victorian chic vibes.

The Eagle Inn has a stacked events calendar all year round, with local and international underground punk and garage bands touching down here. The Eagle also regularly hosts alternative electronic nights, comedy, theatre, and spoken word events. 

 

Band on the Wall

When you mention small Manchester gig venues, it’s likely that Band on the Wall will come to mind, as it has one of the best reputations in the city for shows and club nights. 

One of the more spacious small gig venues, the music programming here is more experimental – in fact, the venue has won acclaim for its support of jazz.

It has a curious history too – when it first opened back in the 1930s, musicians would perform on a ledge halfway up the wall of the venue – hence the name, Band on the Wall.

Its long history makes it Manchester’s home of jazz, soul and funk, having witnessed legendary performances from Robert Glasper, Bill Evans, Lalah Hathaway, Snarky Puppy, and PJ Morton.

These days Band on the Wall also hosts some fantastic club nights, like Craig Charles’s Funk & Soul and Mr. Scruff’s Keep It Unreal.

 

AATMA

AATMA, once a derelict former textile mill, stands behind an unmarked door down a narrow alleyway off a side road in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

This hidden-away style tells you everything you need to know about the vibe of AATMA and what kind of artists grace its stage.

It’s very much a grassroots, DIY, community-led venue, and one of the most interesting and exciting small Manchester gig venues out there.

They routinely host abrasive electroacoustic sound-design installations, as well as dream-pop art rock, alongside any other subgenres you can imagine.

 

YES

If you’re looking for a new favourite band, chances are you’ll find them performing here at YES.

The venue is spread over four floors, with two of them being performance spaces and the other two a cafe-bar and rooftop terrace.

Old favourites usually play in the 250-person capacity Pink Room, where you can bop along with a pizza and hang out afterwards. Newcomers tend to play in the basement.

YES was opened by Now Wave, one of the most trusted discoverers of new artists, with an astonishing talent for putting a spotlight on new cool artists.

Now Wave booked thousands of artists and curated stage line-ups for Parklife and Warehouse Project over their 10-year tenure, before opening YES in 2018.

What kind of artists can you expect to see at YES? Think Tim Burgess, Hot Chip, Mike Skinner, Gilles Peterson, and Mercury Prize 2019 nominees Black Midi.

 

The Deaf Institute

Another iconic small Manchester gig venue is the Deaf Institute, located just off Oxford Road. The building was once home to the Victorian ‘Deaf and Dumb Institute’, and if you look closely, above the door frame you’ll see stone relief artwork of Jesus curing a deaf man.

These days, the only deafening thing about the historic Institute is the incredible music played here!

On the ground floor, you can eat and drink at the bar, while on the upper floor, you’ll encounter a larger music hall with enough space for around 300 people.

One of the best music spaces in Manchester, it regularly hosts live acts like The xx, Grimes, Johnny Marr, Omar Rodríguez-López, Todd Terje, Tame Impala, The 1975, HAIM and Caribou.

The Grade II listed building has some quirky throwback features like a glass dome in the music hall, and bleachers seating at the back, as well as a balcony overlooking the dancefloor, where a giant mirror ball is suspended.

Small but mighty!

 

Islington Mill

This place is unique among small Manchester gig venues, as it is more of a community than a venue. Here the boundaries between the artist, venue and fan are seamless

Run by the Arts Council in Manchester and Salford, the venue is the hub for over 100 artists, 50 independent creative businesses, a peer-led art school, an artist-run B&B, and multiple performance spaces – the largest of which is their 300-capacity ground-floor performance room. 

Islington Mill is located outside of the city centre, but it never fails to attract a loyal crowd who love to party until sunrise (and beyond – Islington Mill has that rare thing, a 24-hour bar licence!).

Punters can expect regular parties like Bohemian Grove for house and techno, as well as Gesamtkunstwerk, dedicated to boundary-pushing experimental noise.

Some of the near-mythical artists that have performed at Islington Mill include Death Grips, Oneohtrix Point Never, Sunn O))), Tim Hecker, Earth and Shabazz Palaces.

A truly unique space!

 

New Century

Manchester’s New Century Hall is a truly iconic, if somewhat overlooked, music gem in the city.

This 800+ capacity, recently-renovated venue, close to Victoria Station and Shudehill, has witnessed performances from some incredible famous artists, including Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, The Troggs, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Small Faces, and a small local Chorlton band you may have heard of called…The Bee Gees.

Reopened in 2022, New Century maintains the original sprung dance floor and wooden panelling, with newly-installed ‘disco ceiling’ overhead lighting.

These days it’s not just a music venue. The ground floor serves as a bar and live events space, where you can enjoy an eclectic programme of live entertainment while tucking into grub from five different food operators at the New Century Kitchens.

Not only that but there’s a basement floor which is home to the dBs Institute. From here, new talent is nurtured and students learn Music Technology and Games Design at degree and postgraduate levels in a state-of-the-art facility.

 

The Night & Day Cafe

Once a fish and chip shop, Night & Day evolved into one of the best small Manchester gig venues in existence!

Situated in the funky Northern Quarter, this venue hosts a steady stream of alternative bands and live acts filling the bill almost every night of the week, and there’s plenty of local talent on display too.

It’s more than possible that you could discover future superstars at this venue, as it was here that big names like the Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons, and Jessie J performed before they were famous!

The ticket prices are reasonable and there are a wide range of events aside from performances, including dance-happy DJ nights.

 

The Castle Hotel

Also to be found in the Northern Quarter is one of Manchester’s most popular pubs, The Castle on Oldham Street.

Originally founded in 1776, and refurbished in 2009, it regularly hosts indie rock bands and was once the site of the legendary interview between John Peel and Ian Curtis in 1979.

Although it may seem like a tiny pub, there’s a charming music hall on the first floor where there are several weekly gigs to be enjoyed – not to mention a great atmosphere!

Gullivers

Yet another Northern Quarter pub, this place has an upstairs gig room which is perfect for indie bands, club nights or even live theatre. 

Going to a midweek gig here is a real temptation, as tickets are dirt cheap, normally costing between five and ten pounds.

Local promoters Now Wave (remember them from YES?) showcase new and promising international acts here, with around three or four bands on the bill of each gig.

It’s also the place to be if you enjoy the occasional punk or ska all-dayer!

 

These are just a small sample of the best small Manchester gig venues, but there are so many more to explore from your New Cross Central base! Enjoy, and as the Gallaghers would say, go mad for it!