An accessible break in Manchester

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.