Whether you’re a tourist exploring Manchester for the first time ever, or even a seasoned local who’s just looking for some good Instagram shots, these five spots are guaranteed to offer you some of the best views in Manchester. And you may even get some great food or drink into the bargain too.
Beetham Tower (Cloud 23)
Let’s start out with the most obvious one, shall we? The Beetham Tower dominates the Manchester skyline towards the end of Deansgate and is home to both the Hilton hotel and a range of luxurious penthouse-style apartments. Judging by the notoriety this 47-storey landmark skyscraper has gained, it’s no surprise that crane hire in Manchester is one of the most booming businesses right now, with unusually-shaped buildings popping up all over the city.
Unless you’re completely loaded and can afford to purchase one of the top floor apartments in the Beetham Tower, you’ll have to instead enjoy the wonderful view of the city rooftops from the hotel’s Cloud 23 Bar, the highest bar in Manchester that serves afternoon tea, champagne, and cocktails.
Harvey Nichols / Selfridges
Manchester’s two most famous department stores happen to both be located opposite each other in Exchange Square and each has its own restaurant with commanding views over the square and its historic buildings. San Carlo Bottega, located on the second floor of Selfridges, and Harvey Nichols’ imaginatively-titled Second Floor Brasserie are both great vantage points from which to enjoy food and drinks with a bustling Manchester city backdrop. I’ve had afternoon tea at Harvey Nichols several times, so can definitely vouch for the view from the window seats there
Air Shard at the Imperial War Museum North
Out in Salford Quays, the Imperial War Museum North is not only a historically fascinating museum showing visitors how war impacts on peoples’ lives, it is also one of the funkiest-looking buildings in the city. It is clad in aluminium and was designed by a world-renowned architect to depict three shards as the three aspects of war (on land, in the air, and on the water).
Admission is free, and once inside you can climb to the top of the Air Shard for a wonderful view over the Quays.
Lounge on 12 at Manchester House
Taking a leaf out of Cloud 23’s book, this swanky cocktail bar and lounge may be located on a slightly lower level but still boasts panoramic views of surrounding Spinningfields. There’s also a roof terrace, so when (or should that be if?) the weather is good, you can enjoy the sultry sounds of the in-house DJ from an al fresco perch.
Castlefield’s Many Bars
These may not be aerial vantage points, but you still can’t say you’ve seen the best views in Manchester without taking a walk around the canals and locks of Castlefield. Castlefield is home to numerous bars and restaurants (most with outdoor terraces which are packed in the summer months) and features Roman ruins, a modern-day amphitheatre for outdoor music gigs and plenty of opportunity for some Instagram-worth shots of canal boats and tranquil cobbled streets.
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