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Chetham's Library

  1. Manchester
  2. Manchester Libraries

Reviews, get directions and contact details for Chetham's Library

Chetham's Library

About

Chetham's Library was founded in 1653 and is the oldest surviving public library in the English speaking world.

Address: Long Millgate , Manchester M3 1SB, XGM, GB
Phone: 0161 834 7961
State: XGM
City: Manchester
Zip Code: M3 1SB

opening times

Monday: 09:00-12:30
Tuesday: 09:00-12:30
Wednesday: 09:00-12:30
Thursday: 09:00-12:30
Friday: 09:00-12:30

Update Info

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Reviews
The tour guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. I was worried about this being a guided tour, as sometimes you get rushed through and don't get the chance to experience everything. However, this tour was comprehensive and the group were given ample time to explore the library independently too. My visit lasted about an hour and I got to take lots of photos, soak up the history and be surrounded by beautiful and old fashioned books! Would recommend highly to any book fans out there.
Library after Hours tour. Not really a tour. Gathered outside and escorted to building. Given tiny leaflet, told to wonder about on your own and speak to various staff members dotted about the place. Try to visit in dark winter nights as spring dusk is still too bright to experience the after hours atmosphere. The actual library, was quite small, only 2 corridors. No actual emphasis or descriptions of collections or specific books of note. Ask staff about it. Meeting of Marx and Engels was another highlight but a minor point in footnote of history, considering the various other libraries and locations they actually visited. The small alcove was strangely set aside from the library space, part of another room. Rest of building unremarkable and served many functions unrelated to being a library eg hospital, dinning hall etc.
This place is Hogwarts. It's awesome architecture spanning centuries. It's the original free lending library with books from the 1300s up to contemporary. It is possible to access the library to read these original works for anyone.Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedYes
Went on a lovely tour of Chetham’s, showing the history of the building, including monks and cat flaps. At the end of the tour got to spend some time the library which was wonderful, the smell of really old books. Will definitely come back again, would quite like the after dark tour next!Visited onWeekendWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedYes
We recently went on a guided tour of the building and library. Our volunteer tour guide, Barbara, was excellent. So knowledgeable and interesting. We visited a range of rooms and had plenty of time to absorb the history and atmosphere. Well done Barbara.Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedYes
I thoroughly enjoyed the private tour! I was able to see sections of the buildings that are not available to the general public without a reservation. I will include these pictures so you can see too. It's quite a fun and educational experience! I definitely recommend an RSVP in advance. I highly recommend this private tour! Majority of this private tour of the Library is NOT accessible. Sorry, but the building is 1,000 years old. Many steps, stairs and cobblestones, etc.
Please note that advanced booking is required and the website of the library explains it well. Our experience here was far from impressive though. We wanted to visit the library at 1pm on Tue, 16 May, but did not realise that advanced booking was required. So we went to the gate of the library and there was someone say P for person at the lodge next to the Cathedral garden. We: Hello, we’d like to visit the library please. P: You need to book it online. We: Oh, okay, thank you. Then we opened a mobile phone to find out the information. However, he came out of the lodge and said the following in an upset tone. P: I said! you needed to book it online! Also, you are not allowed to take pictures with children in it! He then banged the door of the lodge and we were rather puzzled - i we did not and still do not know why he suddenly got so upset ii we understood what he said in the first place and so were trying to browse the web to find the online booking form. Having lived in the UK for the last 20+ years, I have never seen a person that upset/rude. It is understandable that he may have thought that we were trying to take pictures and he wanted to stop it, but it was not necessary to yell at us especially when he did not know what we were trying to do. After all, our experience here was not pleasant at all and, despite the excitement to see this classic-looking library, we decided to just leave. Reflecting back, I could not erase an impression of racism where I expected to experience it the least - schoolyard. p.s. The pictures attached were taken outside the opening hours and I hope it does not break the rules - if so, please let me know and I would be more than happy to unload them.
Loved the guided tour around this beautiful historical library. The guide gave us an amazing insight into the history of the area, the Cathedral and of course the Library within the Music College. An absolute must for tourists but equally also for Manchester residents just to be aware and proud of this heritage.
Nice library. Nice and friendly tour guide. Interesting story and history about the building. Poor arrangement of gathering visitors. Visitors have to wait in the rain. *Bring your own umbrella* *Prior reservation required for a tour*
I am afraid my experience with this place wasnt very good. I wondered if i should share my experience since I didnt really get to visit this place, but then I decided I should. Unfortunately you have to make a booking online days before to get into the library. I was only two days in Manchester, so that wasnt an option. Other than that I didn't feel very welcome at the gate. I only got an information leaflet and a short goodbeye. I told at the entrance I didnt really need a guided tour, I just wanted to wander around and soak in the atmosphere, but I was told 'No, offcourse not.' This 'public library' didn't feel very public. All in all a very strange and uneasy experience.
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