Famous for its football team and for being the location of Coronation Street, Manchester is a great place to bring your grandparents for a weekend outing.
Here are the top five places they’re most likely to enjoy, so take notes and be inspired.
Victoria Baths
The Victoria Baths were built at the turn of the 20th century during the reign of King Edward VII, and in its heyday they formed some of the most impressive and luxurious public baths in the country. It was a symbol of Manchester’s wealth and prominence, and was described by the Lord Mayor upon its opening as a “water palace”.
Alas, the Victoria Baths are no longer open as a public bathing facility. After the building’s restoration in 2008, the building found a new lease in life as a venue for numerous events and festivals held in the city, such as the Independent Manchester Beer Convention. Otherwise, there are also antique fairs and markets that offer a fantastic opportunity for some shopping. Be sure to see if anything is being held upon your visit, and get a chance to see this stunning building.
Manchester Football Museum
If your grandparents are especially into their football, be sure to drop by the Manchester Football Museum. With an obvious focus on Manchester United and Manchester City, the museum details the extensive history of football within Manchester, showing everything from the first days of the sport, all the way to how football has been shown in modern media, to interactive games and exhibits. There is an admission price, but seniors get a discounted ticket.
Football fans will not want to miss a chance to visit!
Guided tours are offered through the museum at regular times throughout the day, and induction loops and wheelchairs are available at the reception desk, but wheelchairs do need to be requested in advance. Disabled parking is provided on nearby streets and facilities.
Coronation Street: The Tour
Go behind the scenes of Britain’s longest-running and most beloved soap opera, Coronation Street, operated by Continuum Attractions. Manchester has been the setting and filming location of the soap since it was first broadcast in 1960, and has helped cement the city’s reputation nationally and internationally. Visitors are taken around the various sets and streets that they probably know all to well, and detail the history of the programme and its production.
Although undoubtedly exciting if your grandparents are fans of the show, keep in mind the tours only operate on specific weekends that tie in with downtime for filming. For this reason, availability is strictly limited, and you may need to book in advance to get a spot.
The tour takes place on the outside sets, so be mindful of the weather. There is a fair amount of walking involved, but wheelchairs are able to accompany the tour.
Manchester Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Sightseeing Tour
Looking for a way to get about the city without sacrificing important tourist time? Take a ride on the Manchester Hop-On/Hope-Off Bus Tours.
Offering routes through all major parts of Manchester, the Bus Tours are a great way to get a good look at the city while still travelling from A to B. The Bus Tours offer a 24-hour ticket that allow holders to embark and disembark whenever they wish, all while giving them a great chance to see the main sights with your grandparents without losing time. English commentary is provided on the main tour route, voiced by Dominic Monaghan, and all the buses are accessible to wheelchairs.
The whole tour line takes an hour and a half to complete, and you can join the tour or leave at any stop you please for as long as the tickets last.
Manchester Museum
Boasting a collection with over four million items, including twenty human Egyptian mummies, the Manchester Museum offers an exciting place to learn about world history. The building dates back 1824 and formed a repository of history collected from across the burgeoning British Empire.
The Museum has everything from Ancient Egyptian and Sudanese artefacts, to a vivarium where rare species of South American frogs are bred, to colossal dinosaur skeletons. There’s a lot to see and do within the building, and fortunately the museum offers plenty of seating, should you and your grandparents decide to spend an entire afternoon there.
The Museum is completely accessible to all visitors, and large print media is provided.
Tours are offered at 2pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as a special vivarium guided tour at 12pm on Thursdays. While the regular tours can be joined at any point free of charge, the vivarium tour does require booking in advance. Cost of attendance is free, though.
At SuperCarers, we can help you find an experienced local carer in Manchester to meet your home care needs. Whether you need support a few hours a day or live-in care in Manchester, we will match you to the best carer for you. Feel free to give us a call on 020 8629 1030 if you have any questions. You can also download our Elderly Care Guide for free.