See & do · Landmarks & architecture
Chetham's Library
Images provided by Google Places
Public library since 1653 housing thousands of books & manuscripts in a dark, medieval atmosphere.via Google
The oldest public library in the English-speaking world, founded in 1653, where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels studied.
- Good to know
- Entry by pre-booked guided tour only. Essential to book weeks in advance.
Reviews from Google
Exquisite library! 📚 Beautiful atmosphere, great tour guide, and breathtaking history. Definitely recommend going for the guided tour - every penny goes to support and maintain the library for years to come.
During my trip to Manchester, my host recommended a tour of Chatham Library, one of the oldest libraries in England. I booked the tour online three days in advance and visited. I toured Chatham Library with guide, Angela. We were able to enter the medieval building and see the wooden furniture used during that time, as well as the many ancient books. It felt like I was stepping back in time. I was even able to see the books and seats where the famous Marx and Engels once sat. It was a truly meaningful library tour.
One of the most beautiful library in Manchester! This one isn't free, you'll need to book in advance and you can only visit with a guided tour. The library is located inside a working musical school but during your visit you'll only see the library area because the other parts are private. Our guide was really lovely and spoke clearly which was helpful as English isn't my first language. The visit took around an hour or maybe a bit more. To be honest, it was too long for me and I was starting to get bored in the end. The explanations were sometimes too specific and not what I was looking for. However the library is amazing! The main part with the booksheleves is impressive. It reminded me of the forbidden library of Harry Potter.
Absolutely amazing place. Very atmospheric from the first step inside. The yard, the exterior, the interior - everything feels authentic and preserved with care. I booked the tour a month in advance and it was worth it. John and Angela were a delight, informative without being boring, and the whole thing flowed so naturally that I didn’t even notice how an hour passed. They gave us time to explore, take photos, and ask questions. Properly done. Loved it.
I know Manchester very well and visiting this library for a second time after many years was great. Several of us took the tour with Patrick who was excellent. So this was the first free public library going back a few hundred years. I guess few could take advantage all those years ago as few people were literate. And I was surprised to learn how few locals from greater Manchester actually visit!