Alexandra Park and Whalley Range Tour

Johnny James, Managing Editor

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Jonathan Schofield Tours: Alexandra Park and Whalley Range

Alexandra Park, Manchester
8 March 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Foggy trees in Alexander Park, Hulme.
JJ.
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One of the earliest of Manchester’s suburbs, Whalley Range comes with a fascinating story, incorporating one of the earliest and most complete of the city’s Victorian parks.

Get to the heart of this story with Jonathan Schofield Tours, with whom you’ll explore both Alexandra Park and wider Whalley Range, uncovering the tales that lie within its mighty buildings, its churches and its people.

There are tales of bravery and tales of farce. There is drama and – being a Jonathan Schofield Tour – there are plenty of laughs. From lost aquariums to pleasure gardens and mighty mansions, this walking tour has a little bit of everything, including music, which will help to tell some of the stories.

Originally conceived as an upscale development for wealthy families in the 1830s, Whalley Range has undergone some surprising changes over the years, and your knowledgeable and experienced tour guide will inform and entertain you as they bring this history to life.

Starting at the north-eastern gates of Alexandra Park, and threading your way through Whalley Range towards the Hilary Step bar, you’ll peel back the layers of this storied suburb as you tread its streets.

If you live in the area or are looking for a tour that’s a bit different and whose focus lies outside the city centre, you’ll not be disappointed.

Where to go near Alexandra Park and Whalley Range Tour

Manchester
Music venue
The Carlton Club

The Carlton Club is a social club with a fully licensed bar, snooker tables and dance floor in the South Manchester suburb of Whalley Range.

British Muslim Heritage Centre
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British Muslim Heritage Centre

The British Muslim Heritage Centre, or BMHC as it’s also know, was formerly the GMB National College. This 18th century Grade II listed building is located in the heart of Manchester and situated within 8 acres of attractive greenery.

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The Old Abbey Taphouse

STEAM focused – pub, hub and event space, food, local ale, recording studio, rehearsal room, urban farm + micro-brewery. Food served 11.30am-3pm and 5-10pm.

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Hulme Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, originally known as the Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 6 October 1902. In 2018, the historic venue was relaunched as a community arts centre by NIAMOS – a collective of artists, musicians and local residents.

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Niamos Centre, Manchester

Niamos is a co-operatively run exhibition, arts, and performance space with a micro bakery, music studio’s, a kitchen and a holistic well-being space in the midst of transformation.

The Giving Tree
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The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a cafe and community hub based in Rusholme, a short walk from the city centre.

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MyLahore

Modern cafe and restaurant on Manchester’s Curry Mile. encouraging

19 May – 1 July
Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-4pm
Free entry, tickets are available to book online

Please use the Parkside entrance to enter the gallery and café.

We are currently open for film screenings of our new exhibition, Imran Perretta: the destructors.

The Whitworth Café, Art Garden and Collections Care Centre are also open from May to June. The rest of the gallery remains closed while we install our next exhibitions, following COVID-19 safety guidelines.

We look forward to welcoming you back again when we re-open fully on 2 July with new exhibitions, and extended opening times, as part of Manchester International Festival, #MIF21

Visit our website and follow us on social media for updates.
manchester.ac.uk/whitworth 
@WhitworthArt

Winner of Visit England’s gold prize for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year in 2016 and winner of the Art Fund’s Museum of the Year in 2015, the Whitworth was originally founded in 1889 as the first English gallery in a pa
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The Whitworth

This much-loved gallery-in-a-park is open for business, showcasing some of the city’s finest contemporary and historic exhibitions.

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