Manchester Women’s History Walking Tour with Tea & Cake
Discover Manchester through the women who challenged it. This walking tour takes you beyond the surface into stories of courage, resistance and change. From early feminist thinkers to modern voices shaping the city today, you’ll experience Manchester through a different lens. Expect powerful storytelling, hidden histories and a perspective you won’t find in guidebooks.
Tour Highlights
- Discover women who shaped Manchester, past and present
- Visit landmarks connected to activism, culture and social change
- Explore the origins of feminist thinking and political movements
- Learn about Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community and its influence
- Experience engaging storytelling that connects past and present
- Finish with tea and cake in a unique local venue
Detailed Itinerary:
We begin in St Ann’s Square, a historic space at the heart of Manchester, surrounded by elegant architecture and centuries of stories. Here you’re introduced to the city through the people who shaped it, setting the tone for a journey focused
on voices, ideas and change.
From there, we walk to the Royal Exchange Theatre, once the centre of Manchester’s global cotton trade. Today it stands as a cultural landmark. This is where we bring in the story of Maxine Peake, a powerful contemporary voice whose work reflects themes of class, identity and opportunity in modern Britain.
A short walk brings us to the striking John Rylands Library, one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Built by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, it reflects both personal legacy and ambition. Inside, we connect with the ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft, widely recognised as the first feminist. In 1792, she argued that women’s inequality came from lack of education, a bold and transformative idea that still resonates today.
We continue to the Peterloo Massacre Monument, a place of reflection tied to one of the most important moments in British political history. Here we uncover stories of protest and sacrifice, including those of women who stood for reform and whose voices are often missing from traditional narratives.
From here, we move into St Peter’s Square, home to the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst and central to the story of women’s suffrage. Alongside her, we explore
the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, who broke away from both the movement and her family in 1914. She went on to become a leading voice in anti-colonialism and global
social justice, a story often overshadowed by her surname.
The journey then takes us to Canal Street, at the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village. This vibrant area has long been a space for visibility, resistance and community. Here we share stories of pioneers and contemporary voices who helped shape Manchester’s LGBTQ+ identity and continue to influence it today.
We finish at Richmond Tea Rooms, a characterful and welcoming space. Over tea and cake, there’s time to pause, reflect and connect the stories you’ve heard throughout the walk. You leave with a deeper understanding of Manchester and the women who helped shape it.
Additional Information
Cancellation policy: Cancellations more than 2 days before departure will receive a full refund. Cancellations within this period attract a 100% cancellation fee.
Accessibility: This tour is mostly flat and step-free, but some venues may have narrow entrances or limited space inside.
Dietary restrictions: We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests.
Dress code: Wear whatever feels comfortable for the day. We recommend supportive shoes and weather-appropriate layers.
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