Manchester Histories Festival 2026 | Guided Tours – FREE
Explore Manchester’s histories through a series of guided tours and lively discussions taking place across the festival weekend.
From the stories of the Windrush Generation and Manchester’s waterways to behind-the-scenes access at Manchester Central Library, these events invite audiences to discover how heritage connects people, places and communities.
Free to attend, with donations welcome. Book your tickets here.
Please note: each event is ticketed separately but on one page, giving you the flexibility to book one or several sessions as part of your festival experience.
*Thursday 4 June, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Guided Tour: Heritage in Action – Wade in the Water. A Journey of Healing and Hope
A decolonial guided walk speaks to Manchester’s waterways, railways and connection to the transatlantic slave trade. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane’s book Is a River Alive?Wheelchair accessible (some cobbles).Meeting Point: Barberelli Square, The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley St, Manchester M2 3WS
*This event was previously listed in error to take place on Saturday 6 June, from 1.30 pm. Existing tickets will remain valid for the updated time and date. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Friday 5 June, 1pm – 4.45pm
Guided Tour: Heritage in Action – The Windrush Generation, with Historian Linford Sweeney
The tour around the residential areas of Moss Side and Hulme identifies links between Windrush generation, cotton, and the transatlantic slave trade. Meeting Point: Hulme Garden Centre, 28 Old Birley Street, Manchester M15 5RG
Saturday 6 June, 12pm & 2pm
Guided Tour: Behind the Scenes at Manchester Central Library
Go behind the scenes of Manchester Central Library, exploring spaces rarely open to the public. This tour reveals the building’s story and showcases selected archives and rare treasures celebrating civic pride. Wheelchair accessible. Meeting Point: Main entrance, Manchester Central Library.
Saturday 6 June, 1,30pm – 3.30pm
Discussion: Heritage in Action
Performance Space. Manchester Central Library
Join us for a two-hour session of lively discussion and tasty Mancunian food. Keisha Thompson (Legacies of Enslavemnt Programme, The Guardian) and Yussuf M’Rabty (Project Manager, This Is Us – Manchester Histories) will host a series of mini-panel discussions with heritage tour guides, artists and historians. Audiences will get a flavour of Manchester and what it means to keep our shared heritage alive and active.
