When you think of Manchester, it’s possible you might think of its musical heritage, the alternative Northern Quarter or perhaps its iconic architecture. Without doubt, any trip to Manchester wouldn’t be complete without visiting the cobbled streets of The Coronation Street Tour, Manchester. As a local and a long-time fan of Corrie, Manchester’s Millennium and Copthorne Hotel invited me to visit The Coronation Street Tour and review my experience as part of their handy guide to Manchester. 

For over fifty years, Coronation Street was produced on the Quay Street set before moving to Media City. What remains is a unique glimpse behind the scenes of one of Britain’s best loved soaps. Arriving early, we were whisked straight onto a guided tour alongside 30 other people. Starting undercover, we discovered the dressing rooms of Corrie stars past (each with their own decor and furnishings) and wandered inside the costume department whilst our guide told us facts about different outfits. Before entering the studio, we were shown a short clip of iconic Coronation Street story lines. Undoubtedly, the most moving were Anne Kirkbride’s scenes.

Once inside the studio, we were able to visit the sets of Carla’s flat, the Webster’s front room, the factory floor of Underworld and my favourite, The Rovers Return. Whilst inside the studio, we weren’t allowed to take photographs so we decided to buy this photograph from the gift shop as a lasting memory.

The guided tour lasts for approximately 45 minutes: interesting, concise and never boring, however, as photography lovers, we were eager to reach the infamous cobbled street and start snapping away. Entering the street via Nick’s Bistro, the view was breathtaking and exactly as we’d imagined. We were able to stroll down the cobbles, enter back gardens and visit the iconic back streets.

Once on the street, you are free to wander for as long as you like and take photographs as you wish. Naturally, the street becomes busier as each guided tour ends, however it’s easy to take clear shots as long as you’re patient. Overall, our experience lasted for approximately 2 hours. Tickets are priced at £16.50 each, and even though our tour was purchased for us, we felt the experience was good value for money and thoroughly enjoyable. We would have happily paid the cover price as the tour is unlikely to be around forever- the land has been earmarked for redevelopment! If you’re ever up north, it’s a must!