Oxford Road Corridor has a number of historic parks and contemporary green spaces to enjoy.
Tours
Oxford Road Corridor has one of the UK’s most concentrated, diverse and distinctive collections of cultural attractions. Home to many of Manchester’s iconic music venues, auditoriums and exhibition spaces, a vibrant nightlife, and an abundance of cafés, restaurants and bars. Several historic parks and contemporary green spaces are nestled between beautiful architecture and significant landmarks and memorials.
Whether you are walking, wheeling or cycling, there’s a lot here to uncover, and we’ve pulled together some tours to guide you. We recommend our very own self-guided tours, which are available below as print-at-home maps, but there are also several other excellent alternatives which you can find at the bottom of the page.
Whichever way you choose, get out there and explore Manchester’s knowledge quarter. We would love to see your photos, so don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
Self Guided Tours
Oxford Road Corridor has partnered with Jonathan Schofield, one of Manchester’s finest tour guides to take you on a fascinating routes through Manchester’s knowledge quarter.
We’ve been working with Jonathan Schofield, Blue Badge Guide since 1996 and Editor-at-Large of Manchester Confidential, to create routes around Oxford Road that reveal the area’s fascinating history.
Three 45-60 minute self-guided walks are available to below and include links to printer-friendly PDFs of the tour with a map to follow.
These walks are designed to fit around a lunch hour or short visit to the city. You can join at any point on the map and complete it at your own pace.
Route One –
Beginning at the northern end of the Oxford Road Corridor, this tour reveals the history of some of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, cultural spaces and historic pubs. Learn more about Manchester’s industrial roots, the slums of ‘Little Ireland’ and the fascinating story behind the city’s most ‘sinister building’. Download
Route Two
From the serene surroundings of All Saints Park to the imposing sight of the biggest university building in the North, this route takes you around Manchester Met’s campus and back again via new neighbourhoods and advanced materials. Download
Route Three
This route will guide you through the University of Manchester and NHS Foundation Trust campuses to Whitworth Park. On your way, you’ll tread in the footsteps of numerous Nobel prize winners, cross paths with cultural giants and enjoy some of Manchester’s most beautiful architecture. DownloadMore Tours
Here is a selection of alternative, third-party tours:
The University of Manchester’s Trail Trail is designed to be used on any smartphone and takes you on a self-guided, route and branch tour of the university campus.
Haunted Walk: Echoes and Ghosts of the Past is an audio tour. A history walk with a hint of ghosts, crime and the gritty underbelly of life in early Manchester by Skyliner.
Discover Manchester with experienced, qualified guides from Manchester Guided Tours. North West England guided walks, themed tours, coach sightseeing and illustrated talks delivered by professional Tour Guides.
Jonathan Schofield’s Manchester Tours is some of the busiest and most well-loved in the city. As well as writing our own self-guided walks, Jonathan has numerous tours exploring Kimpton Clocktower, Mayfield Depot and much more.
Explore the city with Manchester Walking Tours, hosted by a local professional guide who will show you the main attractions as well as quirky and hidden places. Listen to the stories, history and tales from the Romans, cotton, music, football, politics and modern-day life.
On The Free Manchester Walking Tour expect to hear about: Political trailblazers, Architectural wonders, Street art and Urban legends, Historical stories, Rave culture, Football giants, Industrial innovation, Musical heroes, and much more.
The food and drink in Manchester is some of the best in the UK with many of the finest offerings found here on the Oxford Road Corridor.
Some of the best Galleries & Museums in Manchester are here on Oxford Road Corridor. Explore a diverse programme for all cultural enthusiasts.