Visiting the library

We’re so pleased you’re planning to visit us.
Please note that we are on the same site as Chetham’s School of Music, and therefore all visitor access is via the pre-booked tours and events. Due to the age and layout of the Library, we can only have a limited number of people in the building at any one time.  Library Tours can be booked online, or by telephone. We are open Monday – Saturday only, please see our tour booking page for dates and changes.

Children under 10 years of age (accompanied by an adult) can visit free of charge. Our Under 10 tickets can only be purchased alongside an adult, student or 65+ ticket. Please select the U10 ticket type, and this will be discounted to £0 during the booking process. Currently we offer one free U10 ticket per adult/concession ticket.

What can I expect to see?
Chetham’s has been in continuous use as a public library for over 350 years. It is housed in a beautiful sandstone building, dating from 1421, which was built to accommodate the priests of Manchester’s Collegiate Church. Join our expert volunteers on a tour packed with historical fact and fascinating stories: amongst the highlights are the gated book presses with thousands of books dating from as early as the 16th century, the historic furniture and paintings, a remarkable chained library, the desk where Marx and Engels studied, and medieval cat flaps!

Getting here
Located in the heart of Manchester’s Medieval Quarter, Chetham’s Library is easily accessible by road, tram, train and foot. This map of the city centre shows our location, just opposite the National Football Museum. Entry to the Library is through the main gate on Long Millgate, M3 1SB, just off Cathedral Gardens.  You can also find the entrance with What Three Words.

Parking
Ticket bookers can receive an offer for discounted parking with APCOA Printworks car parking when booking in advance via their website, which provides 30% off parking for any length of stay on the day of your visit. You will receive a discount code via our pre-event email. This car park has accessible spaces, and there are lifts in the bus station entrance to the car park, and at the Shudehill entrance and these entry/exit points do not involve steps. Should anyone require help/assistance at the car park, the site is staffed 24/7 and staff can be summoned by using the intercom on the pay machines and at the pedestrian entrances.

The nearest car park is Q-Park Deansgate North, M3 7WJ, which is a five-minute walk from The Stoller Hall, and is open 24/7. Unfortunately we are no longer able to offer discounted parking vouchers for this car park.

Other public car parking managed by Manchester City Council is available at within easy reach of Chetham’s.

How will my ticket work?
Tickets for all events will need to be booked in advance via our website. We operate a paperless ticketing system; please print out your tickets in advance or have them ready to scan on a mobile device.

Luggage
Please keep your belongings to a minimum and with you at all times. All visitors should arrive in good time to allow security at the gate to check the contents of any essential baggage. For security reasons, large bags and suitcases are not permitted on site (and bags larger than 35 cm x 40 cm x 19 cm). We recommend visiting Stasher.com to search for luggage storage locations in Manchester.

How accessible is Chetham’s site?
Chetham’s Library is located within a 600-year-old building, therefore all visitors must be aware that there will be uneven flooring, cobblestones and occasionally low lighting. The Library is across a cobbled yard and via a flight of eighteen steps, with seating provided in all areas of our tours. The staircase has a banister on the right-hand side, and a small landing halfway up.

Unfortunately, we have no lift and no disabled toilet facilities. Wheelchair users and others unable to manage the stairs can still enjoy full access to the collections as readers, but may be unable to join our regular tours.

We have no public toilets (the building is shared by Chetham’s School of Music), therefore we advise visitors to be prepared to begin the tour as soon as the guide arrives. However, our staff facilities will be available for those who require access for medical reasons. The nearest public toilets are located at Victoria Station, and The Arndale Centre.

To enable you to make the most of your visit, we have set up an access scheme for our audiences with any additional needs. Before requesting a free ticket for a personal assistant, we ask you to join our Access Scheme. As a member of the scheme, you will be able to make your own bookings online if you wish to do so.

To join the Access Scheme:

• You can fill out our online form, and a member of the Stoller Hall and Chetham’s Box office team will get back in touch with you. You can find the form here.
• Alternatively, you can download a word document version of the form and return it to us by post, in person or by email. Our postal address is The Stoller Hall, Chetham’s School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester, M3 1SB. You can download the form here.
• Email  eleanorridley@chethams.com receive the questions on the form by email.
• Call us 0333 130 0967 (Tuesday – Thursday 1.30pm – 4pm) and a member of the Box Office staff can complete the form with you.

What time can I arrive?
Please arrive at the gates a few minutes before the tour start time. Due to safeguarding regulations, the group will need to wait outside the gates for the guide to come to collect them. As there is no shelter outside the site, we would advise coming dressed appropriately for the weather.

Can I take photographs?
Yes! However, we ask for you to wait until your guide has arrived so that safeguarding procedures can be explained in terms of photography. In consideration for the guide and fellow visitors, we ask that you avoid using flash photography and wait for the guide to finish talking first. Please turn any sound effects off your camera, that would also be much appreciated. Our aim is to provide a quality guided tour for our visitors, therefore we advise those wanting to take professional photographs to make an appointment.