
An accessible break in Manchester
Need ideas for accessible things to do in Manchester? The home of English football, Oasis, Coronation Street and the Industrial Revolution beckons for accessible and wheelchair-friendly breaks. Embrace the northern spirit with a gin-tasting distillery tour, rock out to live music and sample delicious scran in buzzing bars, markets and restaurants. Manchester is as much a state of mind as it is a city – and these are our top picks for an unforgettable accessible break.
Day 1
Take a Manchester Taxi Tour
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Start your accessible break with a deep dive into the city’s history and heritage on a Manchester Taxi Tour with Mancunian black cab driver John Consterdine. One of the most accessible ways to see Manchester, his state-of-the-art electric taxis are wheelchair-friendly and include a fully fitted hearing loop. The perfect tour to explore the city’s top landmarks, which you can completely tailor to your interests.
Grab snacks at Ducie Street Warehouse
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
Relax at Ducie Street Warehouse with a speciality coffee and a cheeky doughnut (or two) from Gooey, a sweet-filled kiosk located at the entrance. If you stay longer, the lounge transforms into a buzzing restaurant complete with a DJ spinning tunes, and cocktails are served at the outdoor terrace which backs onto Manchester’s famous canal.
Go behind the scenes at Etihad Statium
- Guided Tour
- Suggested time at location: 1.5 hours
The home of Manchester City, a tour of Etihad Stadium is fully suitable for accessible breaks, with lift access between all levels and touch experiences for those with visual impairments. Visit the players’ tunnel, peek inside the changing rooms and explore the history of the club brought to life in the museums. You can even quiz Pep Guardiola in the press room using AR technology.
Dim sum at Tattu
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
Filled with cherry blossoms, glowing lanterns and Asian artworks, Tattu in the Spinningfields district is a spectacular spot for dinner. Admire the award-winning interiors while sharing dim sum and small plates – such as sticky short ribs and pan-seared dumplings – or treat yourself to one of the gourmet tasting menus. Ask for a table beneath the faux cherry trees on the wheelchair accessible ground floor, and soak up the intimate atmosphere.
Sleep in New York style
- Accommodation
- Suggested time at location: Overnight
One of the city’s top accessible hotels, voco Manchester - City Centre has proper New York vibes. Decked out like a Brooklyn joint with bleachers (tiered benches), exposed brickwork and cans of Brooklyn Beers available at the bar, the hotel also has an enviable collection of adapted ‘Liberty Rooms’, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, ensuite wet rooms, eco-friendly toiletries and retro bedside radios.
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Day 2
Explore Manchester Museum
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2.5 hours

Ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Sudanese treasures, live reptiles and giant dinosaur fossils are all part of the collections housed in Manchester Museum – and what’s more, it’s accessible for wheelchair-friendly breaks on all levels, with adapted toilets and lifts to make your visit stress-free.
Lunch at The Refuge
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 1.5 hours
Owned by DJ duo Unabomber, Refuge Manchester serves up an eclectic range of sharing plates – think cactus tacos and halibut ceviche – in a roomy 1920s-style restaurant on Oxford Street. The street-level access and roomy interior is suitable for wheelchair-friendly breaks, and you can easily spend an afternoon here playing games or listening to live music.
Get back to nature
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours

RHS Garden Bridgewater is one of the wildest places to visit in Manchester. Opened in May 2021, this year-round garden is located on the former site of Worsley New Hall, delicately blending history with impressive gardening and community projects. You can pre-book a wheelchair or mobility scooter for use on the day, and there’s a wheelchair-friendly route you can follow with the help of a downloadable map.
Try artisan gin on a tasting tour
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 3 hours

Explore the gin-making process and tickle your tastebuds on a distillery tour of The Spirit of Manchester. Set in Grade-II listed arches in Deansgate, it’s fully accessible for wheelchair users. You can enjoy a guided gin tasting, take part in the Gin School (2 to 3 hours), and afterwards enjoy a meal (and more cocktails, perhaps?) in Three Little Words, the adjacent bar and restaurant.
Rock out at an iconic venue
- Show
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Round off your accessible break at Band on the Wall, one of Manchester’s top live music destinations. This accessible venue has been a cornerstone of the city’s thriving music landscape for 200 years. It features lowered counters for wheelchair users and a hearing loop that you can connect to via your mobile phone and plug into the PA system for private listening.
Top Tip - Fazenda
- Eatery
Fazenda brings Brazilian theatre to its dining experience, with its juicy churrasco meats served tableside and impressive work-of-art cocktails. The ideal spot for date night, with a great accessibility policy and wheelchair access throughout.
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