FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the daily free tour?
An entertaining and informative introduction to Manchester. On our adventure you’lll visit Manchester’s must-see attractions as well as lesser-known quirks, as we share with you the story of Manchester. Loved by locals and first-time visitors alike!
How is the walking tour 'free'?
Free Manchester Walking Tours is an independant company of guides! We began in 2015, with the belief that Manchester’s story is for everyone. This model also means we consistently work our hardest to deliver the best possible tour. We do not receive any funding or subsidy. Therefore we only ask you pay what you feel the walking tour was worth at the end, relative to your budget. You will never be pressured to tip.
When does the daily free tour operate?
Days: Every Day (except Christmas and New Year’s Day)
Start Time: 11am.
Length: approximately 3 hours (including 15-min break)
All year in all weather.
Where will the manchester free tour start and end?
Begin: Alan Turing Memorial, Sackville Gardens, opposite Richmond Tea Rooms. (Postcode M1 3HB)
(Your official guide will be wearing a blue coat featuring our compass-shaped logo)
End: Exchange Square, opposite Oyster Pub near the National Football Museum. (postcode M3 1BD)
Is the walking tour definitely running?
The free tour of Manchester runs continually throughout the year on the days and times specified (including on bank holidays) unless otherwise stated on Twitter / Instagram: @FreeTours_MCR
Do you offer tours in other languages?
The daily free tours are only in the English language (we can sometimes offer private tours in other languages).
El tour es solo en inglés.
can i book a private tour?
Absolutely. We’ve experience running tours for schools, businesses, stag/hen parties, charities and social groups. If you’re interested in a private tour, please email josh@fmwt.co.uk with your group size, date and time, as well as any particular interests have.
For full private tour info, see the ‘Private Tours’ tab at the top of this page.
Is the tour accessible?
We strive to make the Manchester walking tour accessible for everyone.
We follow a step-free route.
If you have any other questions regarding accessibility needs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me, either by email, phone, or WhatsApp.
Anyone of any age is welcome.
Dogs are also welcome!
Do I need to book?
Please do NOT book for the 11am ‘free’ Manchester walking tour: we would prefer you to just turn up!
Should you still wish to book, please ONLY do so via our Eventbrite
Groups of 9 or more - and all school groups - must contact us in advance; larger groups arriving without prior arrangement may not be able to join the public 11am tour.
who are you?
My name’s Joshua Val Martin (or, just Josh)! I’m from Manchester, I’m a History MA graduate (specialising in Manchester’s history) and I also write for theatre and TV, which you can find out about here!
I founded the original free tour of Manchester in September 2015; we are now a small team of local Mancunian storytellers and historians.
What is the route of a ‘free Manchester walking tour’?
We like to keep the route of the daily free walking tour a secret, as there are some great surprises! But we can say that we take in the big attractions (Town Hall, Royal Exchange, Free Trade Hall) as well as Manchester’s lesser-known quirks only known by our Manc guides (such as a local fruit drink, an underground hideout, and hard to reach street art).
Do you run other themed tours?
Yes, we also run the LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour.
Public LGBT+ Manchester tours take place approximately once a month and cost £15 per person. Private LGBT+ walking tours are available throughout the year.
See our LGBT+ Manchester tour Instagram, or Eventbrite page, for upcoming dates and further details.
We also run other specialised themed tours, on a private tour basis.
One other thing...
The tour runs in ALL weather: an umbrella, a waterproof coat and shoes with a little grip recommended.
Privacy Policy
Free Manchester Walking Tours does not collect, store, or process any personal data from customers. We do not require bookings, memberships, or accounts, and we do not store customer details. Any communication via email or social media is used only for responding to inquiries and is not retained beyond what is necessary. We may use standard website analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to understand website traffic, but this does not involve collecting personal data. If you have any concerns in regards to our Privacy Policy, please contact Josh@FMWT.co.uk