Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
Northern Quarter Manchester: Street Art & Highlights Walking Tour & Escape Game
4.43Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 82 min 3 km Manchester, UK App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
Explore the vibrant Northern Quarter of Manchester with this immersive walking tour and escape game. Walk through the city’s most diverse streets, discover flagship pieces from the 2016 Cities of Hope street art project, and marvel at the work of local and international artists.
Along the way, visit the ever-changing art in Stevenson Square and stumble upon historic bars and boutique shops that define Manchester’s artistic culture.
In this creative adventure, you are a worker bee tasked with recruiting artists to create the ultimate exhibition for the 500 Day Jubilee of Queen Beetrix of Manchester NQ. Search for inspiration throughout the city’s artistic hub, gathering ideas and assistance to honor the Queen with the greatest celebration ever seen.
Perfect for art lovers, explorers, and puzzle enthusiasts, this self-guided tour offers an exciting blend of exploration, street art, and interactive challenges.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Couples, families and anyone who likes photographing murals get a daytime walk of about 3 km through the Northern Quarter, past Nevercrew's Inhuman Barriers, the NHS Mural and the Cities of Hope pieces, with puzzles hidden in the artwork itself. Plan on just over two hours. If you want a live guide to quiz about the artists, or an indoor plan for a wet day, pick something else.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Walk through some of Manchester’s most diverse and vivacious streets
See flagship pieces from the 2016 Cities of Hope street art project
Spot the work of Manchester’s own artists alongside international creators
Visit the ever-changing canvas of Stevenson Square
Find some of the most historic bars and boutique shops of the city.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.43 / 5
121 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Manchester, UK
A · Start
Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LU, UK
B · Finish
46-50, Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE, UK
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Russ Carlton.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Russ CarltonWHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Good to know before you play
- Best during the day
- Best for couples
- Recommended activity for families
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is this a street art tour of Manchester's Northern Quarter?
Yes. The route covers about 3 km of Northern Quarter murals, including flagship pieces from the 2016 Cities of Hope project, Inhuman Barriers by Nevercrew, the Birds Mural, the NHS Mural, the Back Piccadilly Bee and Serenity, with the app telling the story of each one.
Is the street art walk self guided?
Yes. You play on your phone, and the app leads you from stop to stop, explains each place and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. There is no guide and no group to join, so you can start any time and pause to continue later.
Where does it start and finish, and how long does it take?
It starts at Queen Victoria's Statue and finishes at Frank Sidebottom. Most players take just over two hours for the 3 km, including walking and puzzles, and you can pause for a drink or a browse along the way.
Does the route pass Afflecks?
Yes. Afflecks is one of the stops, reached after the Anthony Burgess and Hyuro Cities of Hope piece and before the Back Piccadilly Bee, so you walk right past it in the heart of the Northern Quarter.
Is it good for families and groups?
It is recommended for families and couples, and it is best played during the day when the murals are easy to see. One ticket covers the whole group playing together, so children old enough to manage a 3 km walk can join in solving the puzzles.
Is Northern Quarter Manchester: Street Art & Highlights Walking Tour & Escape Game self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. You can start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does Northern Quarter Manchester: Street Art & Highlights Walking Tour & Escape Game start and finish?
It starts at Queen Victoria's Statue, Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LU, UK and finishes at Frank Sidebottom, 46-50, Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE, UK. The route is approximately 3 km and includes 12 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
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Northern Quarter art context
Murals created to make public issues visible
Manchester’s Northern Quarter is known for art that changes with the streets around it. The Cities of Hope initiative brought international artists to the city to create large works connected with social issues, leaving a concentration of murals around the quarter. This quest uses that real creative landscape for a fictional worker-bee mission to recruit artists for Queen Beetrix. The royal exhibition belongs to the game; the murals, independent culture and evolving public canvas are the neighborhood story you explore. Playable languages: English.
