VISIT US

To discuss holding your wedding or any event at The Monastery, contact Kate or Fran to arrange a personal welcome tour.

Call 0161 223 3211 or email Kate or Fran now.

We would love you to visit us at The Monastery! You’ll be sure of a warm welcome, and we know you’ll enjoy the time you spend with us.

For more information, click here.

Keep up to date with the amazing array of events we hold all year around.

**The Monastery is open to the public 10am-4pm, Sun-Thu with free entry, parking, secret garden and an onsite café. All welcome!**

Talks & Tours

Browse The Monastery
for yourself with our
interactive virtual tour

Taste of the Monastery Tour

Discover the history of E.W. Pugin’s neo-gothic treasure and walk in the footsteps of the Franciscans. This guided tour offers insight into the life and work of the friars who created this much-loved place of worship and important example of Manchester architecture.

Learn about the rise, decline and fall of The Monastery and its magnificent restoration.  Our guided tours bring this incredible story to life. Come and find out what makes this famous Manchester landmark so special.

Find out more here


Hidden in Plain Sight Tour

Join our resident Franciscan scholar, Gill Harbach for a fascinating tour of the Monastery, to find out the Hidden Secrets , but actually In Plain Sight, of this amazing building. You will be going down a rabbit hole to discover all about sacred architecture, symbolism, mysticism, the real story of St Francis & St Clare, plus the Monastery’s connection with the Knights Templar.

Find out more by clicking on the links below.

Upcoming Tours

Hidden in Plain Sight Tour (1st Tuesday of each month)

Hidden in Plain Sight Sunday Tour (Usually the last Sunday of each month)

Upcoming Illustrated Talks

Secrets of the Knights Templar & the Franciscans (Sunday, Feb 25th, 2024)

Sacred Architecture and Earth Energies (Sunday, March 24th, 2024)

What's On Hidden in Plain Sight Tour with carved angel


Heritage Club | Belle Vue Zoological Gardens

The Showground of the World

Come and listen to a fascinating talk which looks back at the history of Belle Vue Zoological Gardens. The Zoological Gardens were only a short walk from The Monastery and played a big part of East Manchester’s past social history. The talk starts with a look back at the early years of the zoo in Adswood, Stockport before moving to Hyde Road, Gorton in 1836 – through to its closure in September 1977.

Each talk will include a special feature section allowing us the opportunity to reminisce plus find out more about those people, animals and events which shaped The Zoological Gardens once known as The Show Ground of the World.

Tickets are £5 each (includes tea / coffee and biscuits) and are available in person from The Monastery reception desk, either in advance or on arrival.

Find out more here

Belle Vue Day


Print Pattern Archives Tour (as featured on ITV)

The Print Pattern Archive is an exceptional private collection of over 50,000 antique fabric swatches and wallpaper books spanning from the mid-18th century to the 1980s.

Visitors are mesmerised by the collection of handwoven, heritage, conversational, florals, geometrics, mid-century, bark cloths, scenic, heraldic, jacquards, damasks, foliage, novelty, ornate, chinoiserie, juvenile and baroque prints from all over the world. From Japanese silks to beautiful British florals, it’s a treasure trove of historical and global design inspiration.

The archive owner, Cheryl O’Meara, is a designer and talented master of aesthetics. Join her for an exploration of her archive.

  • This tour is £10
  • This tour takes place in the Print Pattern Archive and takes around 45 minutes
  • Tours take place on the first Monday of the month at 3:00pm
  • Recommended for adults and children aged 12+
  • Each tour has a capacity of 6
  • This event is fully accessible for wheelchairs. Just let us know if you will need wheelchair access and we will make sure that we can accommodate everyone

Book tickets here


Large Group Visits & Coach Tours

Large groups (20+) can book a private tour of The Monastery. Please note that large groups may be split into separate tours.

The Monastery is fully accessible for wheelchair users and there are accessible toilets available throughout the building.

The Monastery is less than a fifteen-minute drive from Manchester City Centre and a large, free, on-site car park. The Monastery is also accessible by bus or train from Manchester Piccadilly.

For more information or help booking any of our tours or talks, please call 0161 223 3211 or email events@themonastery.co.uk.

Please don't hesistate to contact us if you are interested in organising a private event at the Monastery.

Send us your contact details and we’ll be in touch immediately to arrange for you to have a personal tour of The Monastery, so we can discuss your needs. You'll be able to see for yourself how the spectacular Nave, the fabulous cloisters and the delightful garden combine to offer a unique space for the classiest of events.

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