I think I've found the perfect way to get to know Manchester - and it's completely free
I have been told that a part of my responsibility as a new Manchester-based journalist, is to know as much about the city as possible.
I have recently started a series where I go into the history of some of Manchester’s statues, which has been really fulfilling and engaging, but it wasn’t enough. So I enlisted the help of an expert.
Josh Martin has been operating Free Manchester Walking Tours for 10 years, and they do exactly what it says on the tin - each day in the late morning, a group meets in Sackville Gardens by the statue of Alan Turing and set off around the city.
The tour is completely free, although there is a hope that if the guides perform well enough, punters will be content to tip as a little thank you.
It’s a wonderful concept and, the fact that Josh has kept it completely free for 10 years despite an average of more than 15 people taking the tour each day, and he sacrificed a few hours of his time to show me some sights that I had no knowledge off at all, says a lot.
From Vimto to Turing, the exchange of goods to the exchange of ideas, here is just a part of the history of Manchester.
Watch our video report above to get a taste of the tour - and maybe learn something new about our fine city.