Tours of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and The Pankhurst Centre

Joint Tours of Elizabeth Gaskell's House and The Pankhurst Centre at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester, Until 25 February 2020, from £17 - Book now

Manchester has been producing radical individuals for centuries. The city has a large alumni of artists, activists and politicians who’ve made their way into the history books by thinking differently and speaking out. Explore the houses of Manchester’s infamous Suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst as well as one of the city’s notable authors, Elizabeth Gaskell.

See the building in which the first meeting of the Women’s Social and Political Union took place

Tours of these two houses are bookable in groups with a minimum of 15 people. Although the houses are only open to the public on certain days (Thursdays and Sundays), when you book a tour in advance you can access the buildings outside of normal opening hours. The day usually starts at Elizabeth Gaskell’s house where, as well as seeing the beautiful mid 19th Century house, you can learn about the servants who worked there in their current exhibition Household Commotion. It was while living in this house that Elizabeth wrote her most famous works such as Cranford and North and South.

The two tours are broken up with a light lunch or tea and cake served on vintage china.

It is then a short walk to the Pankhurst Centre. As well as telling the story of the suffrage movement, this iconic site of women’s activism is now also home to Manchester Women’s Aid, a charity that provides much needed services for domestic abuse survivors. You will see the building in which the first meeting of the Women’s Social and Political Union took place.

Each tour lasts around 45 minutes and is led by knowledgeable volunteers from the separate houses. Both homes are also open to the public on Thursdays for those who would prefer a self-guided tour.