The John Rylands Library
There are several famous libraries in Manchester but the John Rylands Library is a particular gem. From the outside, this historic library looks like a medieval church with its turrets and stained glass windows, but inside it’s like something straight out of Hogwarts. This Victorian neo-Gothic building is home to over 200,000 books, including a first edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses, a fine paper copy of the Gutenberg Bible and an original fragment of the Old Testament. Walk up the spiral staircase to the magnificent reading room, or take part in any of the regular events and exhibitions. Bookworms should also visit the nearby Chetham’s Library, the oldest free public reference library in the United Kingdom.