5 Best Walking Trails In Manchester City Centre

Manchester is massive. The city alone is around 2.14 square miles, with Greater Manchester covering 1,276 kilometres squared in the UK. In Manchester city centre, there are several walking trails and routes that offer a mix of urban exploration, historical landmarks, and cultural experiences. 

We've picked out 5 of our favourite walks in Manchester. And whenever it's not raining in the city, you can take some time to soak in the architecture, great eats and everything the city has to offer. For more natural walks, you can look into Greater Manchester's hiking spots.

Our 5 Scenic Walks In Manchester City Centre

Read on below to explore some of the best walks in Manchester City. 

Northern Quarter's Art Trail

Northern Quarter is full of art installations outdoors, making it one of the best walking trails in the city. You'll be met with a variety of visual stimuli, from modern artwork to graffiti-style depictions of nature. Start off at Steven Square, where the streets are adorned with diverse street art, then make your way towards Ancoats  on the stretch of Port Street to find one of the best-kept secrets of artistic design. 

Ancoats Urban Village Trail 

Ancoats and New Islington provide a more modern, yet equally beautiful walking trail for those looking to explore the city. The New Islington Marina is a perfect example - walk from Old Mill Street and start your walk around the great urban space (and it's much more beautiful during a dry evening or sunny day!). Ancoats, on the other hand, has a lot of beautiful modern buildings to set your eyes on during your walk.

Castlefield Trail

Park up or make your way to Deansgate station, and enjoy a leisurely walk through Castlefield's heritage trail. Start from the station and through the path to the canals (it's right next to Castlefield Gallery) - arguably one of the best canal walks in Manchester. From here, you can enjoy a nice stroll through a variety of paths that overlook the Castlefield canals - you can even go further out and, if it piques your interest, check out the Castlefield Viaduct and Castlefield Bowl. 

Manchester Cathedral to St. Peter's Square

Not far from us is Manchester's beautiful Cathedral (before you start this walk, don't forget to check out the mesmerising interior and architecture of this cathedral!). Start from the cathedral itself, then walk through Deansgate where you can look through the myriad of historical buildings, including John's Library.

Take a left at Dalton Street where you can find a street of bars and make your way to St. Peter's Square, where you can also take a look at various attractions - such as Manchester Gallery and Manchester Central Library.

St. Peter's Square to Sackville Gardens

St. Peter's Square to Sackville Gardens is a great path because it offers a mix of both historic and modern sightseeing. Starting at St. Peter's Square, you can start by making your way towards Mosley Street, then take a right to Nicholas Street where you can find Chinatown, a cultural block right at the heart of the city.

From here you can then find various modern buildings, and a short walk to Sackville Gardens, where you can also explore the Gay Village!