Join us for an exclusive tour of Manchester’s historic Victoria Baths, followed by a guided walk through the Whitworth Street/Princess Street Conservation Area.
Victoria Baths:
Discover the history, architecture, and restoration of this landmark building. Opened in 1906 and designed by Henry Price, Victoria Baths was hailed as ‘a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester can be proud’. Its striking stained glass, decorative tiles, and mosaic floors made it one of the country’s most impressive municipal swimming pools.
After closing in 1993, the building fell into disrepair. Since 2000, the Manchester Victoria Baths Trust has led efforts to restore and repurpose the site, with phased conservation work beginning in 2007. Today, Victoria Baths is a thriving venue for events, arts performances, and fairs.
Walking Tour:
Explore the Whitworth Street/Princess Street Conservation Area, tracing its transformation from a hub of Manchester’s industrial past to the home of the city’s Chinese community in the mid-to-late 20th century, and its more recent evolution as the heart of Manchester’s gay village.
This walking tour will be led by Kate Martyn, Chair of The Victorian Society Regional Group and Practice Director at Donald Insall Associates.
This event is being held in partnership with the Historic Towns and Villages Forum (HTVF). We will be meeting at the Victoria Baths on the day. The tour at the Baths will be from 12pm-1pm. We will then break for lunch and reconvene from 2:30pm – 4pm for the afternoon walking tour. Lunch is not provided. More information on how to get to the Victoria Baths is available here.
Tickets: £29 HB&P and HTVF members / £37 non-members.
Cancellation policy: Refunds can be provided for cancellations 7 or more business days prior to the event.
Access Information: Please note that this is a walking tour and may include climbing some stairs. The main event entrance to Victoria Baths, the Females Entrance, features steps and an accessible ramp and can be found on the right side of the Baths (on Hathersage Road). The main area of the Ground Floor of the Baths is accessible – although as a historical site, there are some uneven floors and narrow spaces. The two pool spaces (Gala Pool and Females Pool) can be entered via a small set of steps but can be viewed from pool sidings, which are at ground floor level. The Balconies and Superintendents Flat (on the first floor) are accessed by a staircase. At the moment there is no lift access. The Baths have one accessible toilet and baby changing facilities.
