Ten instagrammable spots in Manchester to take great pictures and have fun for FREE

Every week Manchester World will be bringing you the best places to eat, sleep and play on a budget - this week it is once again FREE fun
By Louisa Gregson
Published 26th Jun 2023, 17:03 BST
Updated 26th Jun 2023, 19:22 BST
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Every week Manchester World will be looking at the best places to eat, sleep and play on a budget - times are tough but that doesn’t mean with a bit of creativity there aren’t countless opportunities to have fun without spending a bomb - and in fact, sometimes - without spending anything at all.

Salford Lads Club

Salford Lads Club featured on the album sleeve for The Smiths third album The Queen Is Dead . Despite being released all the way back in 1986, it still remains an iconic sight in Manchester and a holy ground for Smiths fans. Rectreate the cover by moodily posing in the doorway or just take some arty snaps.

The club itself has been running since 1903 an is home to a wide range of activities for local young people. From outside, it’s a beautiful red-brick Victorian building while the spacious interior contains the Smiths Room – another bonus for rock fans that’s free to see (by appointment and on special open days only).

Location: St Ignatius Walk, Salford M5 3RX, UK

Salford Lads Club is still a working youth club, but it also welcomes music fans from all over the world. You can check out the Smiths Room, which is filled with photos of people recreating the iconic image. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)Salford Lads Club is still a working youth club, but it also welcomes music fans from all over the world. You can check out the Smiths Room, which is filled with photos of people recreating the iconic image. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)
Salford Lads Club is still a working youth club, but it also welcomes music fans from all over the world. You can check out the Smiths Room, which is filled with photos of people recreating the iconic image. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

Northern Quarter Street Art

Wander around the Northern Quarter for multiple instagrammable opportunities against a backdrop of street art.

Enjoy a downtown New York vibe as you take in the many murals and colourful graffiti. In the last couple of years Manchester has been treated to a mural of Harpurhey born author Anthony Burgess, who wrote A Clockwork Orange, a mural of Sir Captain Tom painted on the corner of Thomas Street and even musical artists such as Prince or Manchester’s own musical legends like Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.

Location: Northern Quarter, City centre, M1, M4

There are so many great murals in Manchester, it was hard to pick just one. What’s more, they are constantly changing so you never know what you might see. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes – including tributes to pop culture icons, advertisements and social justice-themed pieces. This one, created in 2017, was by local artist Qubek and created to commemorate the victims of the Manchester arena bombing.(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)There are so many great murals in Manchester, it was hard to pick just one. What’s more, they are constantly changing so you never know what you might see. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes – including tributes to pop culture icons, advertisements and social justice-themed pieces. This one, created in 2017, was by local artist Qubek and created to commemorate the victims of the Manchester arena bombing.(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
There are so many great murals in Manchester, it was hard to pick just one. What’s more, they are constantly changing so you never know what you might see. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes – including tributes to pop culture icons, advertisements and social justice-themed pieces. This one, created in 2017, was by local artist Qubek and created to commemorate the victims of the Manchester arena bombing.(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Afflecks Palace

The Victorian era red brick building of Afflecks dates from the 1860s, the more impressive part of its appearance is a selection of mosaics by Mark Kennedy, who returned after a brief absence in 2011. It showcases Manchester’s many sporting and cultural contributions, including the Coronation Street and The Suffragettes.

Inside the building there is a veritable Aladdins cave of unique artworks, jewellery, vintage clothes and loads of other oddities - perfect for some browsing. There’s even special Afflecks-brand merchandise available.

Location: 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW, UK

Open: Monday–Friday from 10.30 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm

Afflecks Palace Afflecks Palace
Afflecks Palace

Visit the iconic Victoria Baths for free and take an optional paid guided tour of the partly-restored swimming pools, Turkish Baths and Superintendent’s Flat.

The Grade II* listed building is home to sensational stained glass windows, amazing wall tiles and incredible mosaic flooring behind the breath taking exterior.

An informative Discover Victoria Baths tour is led by an experienced volunteer guide. Doors open at 11am for free general entry and the guided tour starts at 1pm, lasting approximately 1¼ hours.

Location: Hathersage Rd, Manchester M13 0FE

Victoria Baths Victoria Baths
Victoria Baths

Located right next to the old Vimto factory on Sackville Street (a stunning building itself), Vimto Park has been a firm favourite place for many to relax and watch the world go by.

The park is home to a rather large bottle of Vimto celebrating the heritage of the famous drink - fun for some silly snaps.

Location: 39 Sackville St, Manchester M1 3WE

Here's a novel photo opportunity. Vimto was first created in 1908 in Manchester as Vim Tonic - the purple drink is commemorated by a monument carved in wood that takes the form of a giant bottle surrounded by coloured grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants. It can be found in 'Vimto Park' off Granby Row in Manchester city centre.Here's a novel photo opportunity. Vimto was first created in 1908 in Manchester as Vim Tonic - the purple drink is commemorated by a monument carved in wood that takes the form of a giant bottle surrounded by coloured grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants. It can be found in 'Vimto Park' off Granby Row in Manchester city centre.
Here's a novel photo opportunity. Vimto was first created in 1908 in Manchester as Vim Tonic - the purple drink is commemorated by a monument carved in wood that takes the form of a giant bottle surrounded by coloured grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants. It can be found in 'Vimto Park' off Granby Row in Manchester city centre.

Walk through Barton Arcade - a stunning, listed Victorian-style shopping arcade built in 1871.

A striking structure of iron and glass, the arcade was extensively restored in the 1980s and is home to a very small number of exclusive shops and a number of office suites.

The original shop fronts have disappeared, as has the original decorative tiled floor, but Barton Arcade remains a stunningly restored piece of Victorian architecture and a perfect backdrop for pictures.

Location: 48 Barton Square, off St Ann’s Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 2BH

Barton Arcade Barton Arcade
Barton Arcade

Take a stroll to George Leigh Street - a residential street of Victorian terraced houses so instagrammable that it is often the chosen location for adverts and various other filming. It feels more like London than Manchester and watch out for the residential statue of a sweet old couple in one homeowner’s garden.

Location: George Leigh Street, Manchester, M4 5DR

The bright, rainbow colours of Canal Street are an instagrammable dream. Check out the hundreds of upside down umbrellas forming a multi coloured ceiling above the famous gay and LGBTQ+ street.

Location: Canal Street, M1

Canal Street in ManchesterCanal Street in Manchester
Canal Street in Manchester

The John Rylands Library is a late-Victorian neo-Gothic building that today is part of the University of Manchester Library and is worth a visit ifor the amazing architecture alone.

Stroll through the Reading Room and make sure to look at all of the ornate wooden carvings and designs throughout the site. Don’t forget to look up at the ceilings as well - there are lots of angles to find here for impressive photo opportunities.

Location: 150 Deansgate, M3 3EH.

The old entrance to the John Rylands Library - designed by Basil Champneys - is architecturally stunning, featuring soaring stone vaulting, columns, a sweeping staircase and Art Nouveau light fittings. The library, off Deansgate, is filled with rare books and manuscripts and is part of the University of Manchester.The old entrance to the John Rylands Library - designed by Basil Champneys - is architecturally stunning, featuring soaring stone vaulting, columns, a sweeping staircase and Art Nouveau light fittings. The library, off Deansgate, is filled with rare books and manuscripts and is part of the University of Manchester.
The old entrance to the John Rylands Library - designed by Basil Champneys - is architecturally stunning, featuring soaring stone vaulting, columns, a sweeping staircase and Art Nouveau light fittings. The library, off Deansgate, is filled with rare books and manuscripts and is part of the University of Manchester.

Heaton Park

Heaton Park has more than 600 acres of parkland and is home to the Grade I, 18th-century country house, Heaton Hall. It also features a children’s play area, an animal centre, a boating lake and land train as well as three full-sized football pitches. Lots of places to have loads of free fun and get some amazing pictures too.

Location: Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW.

Related topics:ManchesterVictorianBudget