Amazing Instagrammable Places in Manchester (20+ photography spots)

In this post, I would love to share with you some amazing Instagrammable places in Manchester as well as the best photo locations and spots in the city. I just came back from Manchester a couple of days and over the weekend, I made sure to visit some of the most recommended places and also walked around the city a lot (despite the rain) to be able to compose this guide. Many thanks to Visit Manchester, who brought us to Manchester for a weekend and created the best itinerary for us.

If you’re interested in the best things to do in Manchester for millennials, you’ve got to read this post that I just published here >>>

Before we start with the best photography spots in Manchester, I must tell you that you shouldn’t expect a polished, picture-perfect city. Manchester is an ex-industrial red brick city, but it has its unique atmosphere and it has a lot of amazing Instagrammable spots. Manchester could be compared to Shoreditch in London, so if you never visited Manchester before, expect something like Shoreditch.

If you haven’t booked a place to stay in Manchester yet, these hotels are amazing: King Street Townhouse, Native Manchester and picture-perfect pink Whitworth Locke.

The best tours of Manchester 

Before we start, I just wanted to quickly share with you some of the best tours in Manchester! I’m a huge advocate of tours and think that hearing from the local about the city & being brought to the places you wouldn’t have found yourself is the best way to explore the city!

So here are some of the best tours of Manchester:

Manchester private tour with a local

Manchester City river tour

Manchester Street Art walking tour

Amazing Instagrammable Places in Manchester (20+ photography spots)

Hampton and Vouis

31 Princess St, Manchester M2 4EW

The first Instagrammable place that we visited in Manchester was a trendy coffee and breakfast spot called Hampton and Vouis, which reminded me of a show home in a luxury property development. I really liked the pink colours and beautiful designs and if you’re looking for a perfect photo spot in Manchester that is not so busy in the morning, head there!

Gong Cha 

City Tower, Mosley St, Manchester M1 4AH

The international boba tea giant Gong Cha entered Manchester not so long ago, but It already won the hearts of the residents of the city. Unlike most of bubble tea spots in London, Gong Cha in Manchester has a decent space with a lot of seating and it looks very stylish and instagrammable inside. However, the bubble tea cup itself looks great, so you can take a nice photo with it.

Planning to travel to some other cities in the UK? Read this guide to the Instagrammable spots in London >>>

John Ryland’s Library

150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH

John Ryland’s Library is my personal favourite photo location in Manchester. It’s a working library of the University of Manchester, so make sure to keep quiet and not disturb students that are preparing for their assignments.

Street art of Manchester

Mainly Northern Quarter

If you like street art, you will enjoy Manchester. There is so much amazing street art in the city and some of the works are really Instagrammable. Some of my favourite paintings were the one of Arya Stark and, of course, Eleven from the Stranger Things. Some other street art in Manchester that I loved included these works in the photos below.

Street art spots in Manchester are a really great location for a photoshoot, so keep in in mind, if you’re thinking of a place where to take photos in Manchester. 

Affleck’s

52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW

Affleck’s is a perfect spot for a stylish and unusual photo. It’s also a place, where you can buy a lot of unusual things for a photoshoot or just for yourself. There are some amazing dresses, jewellery and other items that I have never seen anywhere else! I even regret not buying a dress with a pattern of Alpacas. 

Albert Schloss

27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR

One of the most traditional Instagrammable places in Manchester is Albert Schloss. Albert Schloss has a fabulous storefront decorated with Wisteria and I can guarantee you, that you won’t miss the restaurant, as there is always a group of people taking photos of this incredibly beautiful Instagrammable restaurant in Manchester. Albert Schloss is a German restaurant as you might guess from the name, so expect the German menu and some really great desserts.

Northern Flower

58 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG

Northern Flower is a picture-perfect flower shop in Manchester, where you can buy flowers as well as take some nice photos in front of the shop. Northern Flower is located in the Northern Quarter and it’s very close to some other Instagrammable places in Manchester, so you don’t have to walk for long. 

Deadstock General Store

46 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HN

Deadstock General Store is a unique store with a very beautiful pastel pink facade. However, don’t be fooled by the facade – what’s inside the shop is actually very serious – you can buy some unique things for your home. Deadstock is located steps away from the Northern Flower, so you can combine visiting it with walking around and exploring the Northern Quarter.

Evelyn’s Cafe and Bar

44 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB

Another Instagrammable spot in Manchester that is located in the heart of the Northern Quarter is Evelyn’s. Evelyn’s is a perfect place for brunch and it has a wide variety of dishes with a twist and a big plant-based section. I don’t know if I already told you in the previous posts, but Manchester is actually a vegetarian capital of the UK, so if you’re a vegan or a vegetarian, you will love going out in Manchester!

Mackie Mayor

1 Eagle St, Manchester M4 5BU

Mackie Mayor is an indoor food market and restaurant space located in a gorgeous historic building that was built in 1858. There is only a handful of restaurants and a lot of seating, however, all the restaurants/stalls are amazing. I’ve tried food from 3 of them and it was delicious! It’s best to head there around the opening time, so you can get it empty in the photo. 

Hatch 

Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED

Hatch is a hip and trendy box park located on Oxford Road, close to the University of Manchester. You can head there for drinks or food or shopping. Moreover, you can take some nice photos there. 

The University of Manchester

Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL

The University of Manchester is not only one of the best universities in the UK, but it’s also a range of gorgeous buildings, where you can take some really good photos. I even saw some wedding photoshoot happening there at the same time I visited, such a pity it was raining. However, even during the rain, the university looks stunning. 

The Refuge

Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA

The Refuge is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the entire Manchester. The entrance is stunning and the overall environment is great. I also liked the menu – it seemed pretty unique with a lot of small plates from all around the world. If I were ever to open my own restaurant, I would open something similar to the Refuge. 

Barton Arcade

48 Barton Square, Manchester M3 2BH

Barton Arcade is a Victorian shopping arcade that has shops and restaurants on the ground floor and offices and administrative spaces on all the other floors. The architecture style is really beautiful and the stairs between floors are stunning as well. Barton Arcade is especially beautiful when it’s empty in the morning hours (just after opening), so you can capture it without the crowds. 

George Leigh Street

George Leigh Street is quite a unique street in Manchester that looks like something straight out of a different city (London, for example). Buildings like these are not common in the city centre of Manchester, so if you’re local, you must have noticed, how they pop out from the overall city landscape. I also liked the amazing statue in front of the houses – it makes George Leigh street even better spot for taking photos. 

Sunset Manchester by Australasia

1 The Avenue, Manchester M3 3AP

Sunset Manchester is probably the most Instagrammable place in Manchester with its pink sofas and decorations that reminded me of Mama Kelly in Amsterdam (read my guide to the most Instagrammable places in Amsterdam). Sunset MCR also has some flower decoration and offers a nice selection of photogenic cocktails. All that makes Sunset bar the most Instagrammable restaurant in Manchester. Reservations are essential and people DO dress up a lot there! 

Cafe at Selfridges (San Carlo Gran Cafe)

1, Exchange Square Central, Corporation St, Manchester M3 1BD

You’ve heard me right – there’s Selfridges in Manchester as well. However, it’s not as big as it’s London store. Nonetheless, Selfridges in Manchester has a very beautiful and Instagrammable cafe on the lower ground floor, so you can head there for some photos. 

The Mitre & The Old Wellington

1-3 Cathedral Gates, Manchester M3 1SW

Another place for the Instagram guide to Manchester are two of the most beautiful pubs/bars in the city – the Mitre and the Old Wellington. Located in the city centre, close to main shopping amenities and very close to Manchester Cathedral, both are is a highlight of Manchester with their beautiful design using timber frames. The Mitre is also a hotel, however, hotel reviews are not great.

Manchester Cathedral

Victoria St, Manchester M3 1SX

As I mentioned just before, Manchester Cathedral is located in the city centre, so you don’t have to walk far. Actually, most of the photo locations in Manchester are located very close to each other, so at no point, you have to walk for more than 20-25 minutes. However, there are free buses in Manchester, so if it rains, you can definitely hop on one and head to Manchester Cathedral. Manchester Cathedral is really stunning, however, keep in mind, that it’s closed on Sunday morning for a mass (and during some other times too, you need to check the schedule).

The red-brick streets of Manchester

All around Manchester

And the last and probably the most important photo location is what makes Manchester – Manchester, a modern ex-industrial city with a rich history – red brick houses. Manchester is full of streets with red brick houses and some of them are very photogenic, especially if you like urban photography.

Okay, that was the complete guide to the Instagrammable places in Manchester. I tried to list all the spots I visited and thought that they would be a great photo location. If you have any suggestions or recommendations for places that are not on the list, please let me know in the comments below! 

If you like travelling around the UK and exploring different Instagrammable places, check out my Instagram guides to London, Edinburgh, York, Bristol and Nottingham!