Heritage Open Day Highlights Tour: The Material City- water, air, and stone
A mini historical walking tour covering concepts from all three other tours: there'll be some stone, some air, and some water. you'll get to hear some key ideas/fancy words from across the Material City's portfolio and gaze upon examples not part of the Big Three tours. It's a tasting platter, something to whet your appetite, a smorgasbord even. And its also part of the Heritage Open Days event 2026 and only on for a limited time, AND its free! Incredible. Book now.
The Material City project aims to make you stop and think about the everyday things that go into our urban environment. This is about the stuff we walk past and over all the time; stuff like brick, sandstone, and river water.
This special Heritage Open Day walking tour will cover just over half a mile in the centre of Manchester. It brings together information and stories from all three Material City walking tours to give you a taste of how humans have worked with (and against) all kinds of materials to build the city. We'll cover air pollution, flooding, imported stone and more, and ask ourselves how people have tried to shape Manchester over time, and what happens when materials fight back. There'll be urban theory made accessible, and an introduction to why humans should pay more attention to the material environment we pass through every day.