The John Rylands Library in Oldham

One of the most beautiful and underrated buildings in the UK. Take the opportunity to explore and embrace the quiet (respect those studying around you!).

An old public library with beautiful neo-gothic and Victorian architecture. The library was opened in 1900 and currently part of University of Manchester. It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John Rylands. The library contains collections of rare books and old manuscript.The ambient atmosphere with amazing scenery is the main attraction point of this place. Entrance fee is free of charge.

Definitely worth a visit as its free & you learn alot about its history & how books are made thanks to the information panels. You can watch the students studying there and theres a small shop. Its an inspiring story too of how a cuban woman, Enriqueta Rylands, and her rich, mancunian husband were so philanthropic after benefiting from slavery in gifting the library and donations to the city. Rightly so the first women to get the key to Manchester.

Very Neo Gothic library with amazing architectural references...with updated technology to guide through the untouchable books... Great experience...

One of the most historical and beautiful buildings in Manchester. Everyone who visits the city should visit it. Highly recommend but can get very busy

Really worth a visit and definitely one to take kids to. So much interesting architecture (look out for dragon carvings!And the curators there are super interesting to talk to.

A must see! And I would say… stay! The building is so full os detail and beauty. It invites you to pick a table and read, study or just feel quiet wonderful place. Full of historic books and explanations about printing. For you out there who love books and libraries it’s well worth a visit.

Worth a visit to know the history .Well kept library, free & quick access ; worth the time spent at the library!

A wonderful story! A truly marvelous place!!! A real working library with some of the rarest books on the planet! Our children were amazed at the treasures in the book shop downstairs. Wheelchair friendly throughout the building and the staff were most patient, informative and careful to point out certain features. Its been on our bucket list for a while and Im so glad we put it on our priority list this time!

Very disappointed. As a person with fibro I needed to sit for a few minutes. Was incredibly fizzy. Rain, wind and cold outside. Near to gift shop there was literally 20 so thing chairs and I was refused a seat. Very rude and uncaring staff. Also no signs for no food or drink allowed was refused Coke as only bottle of water is allowed! Really?

A unique and inspiring place. Not to be missed if you visit Manchester. The staff are very helpful. And it is free.

Fantastic building and the Pop Culture Archive exhibition was amazing for anyone interested in Manchester cultural history - it was informative but also quirky and humorous. Loved the handwritten letters from fans. The John Rylands staff were really helpful and knowledgeable - they couldn’t have been nicer even though the library was very busy with visitors. A Manchester must see.

The gothic atmosphere brings such chill in an enthralling way. There was a Dante’s exhibition during the time I visited this library, which was an additional intriguing thing to explore. I totally admire Enriqueta, the lady who built this library.

Must go....interior is stunning.

A gem of a library in the heart of Manchester. A great stop for getting some reading time and recharge

It looks like Hogwarts, very beautiful, very beautiful

One of the oldest library in Manchester, you can bring your book and read here as well

It was close temporary when I visited. So just saw it from outside. Liked the exterior of building, and also on deans gate so you can visit it during any time of day.

Beautiful architecture. Lots to see. Like stepping into hogwarts

Walk in silenceDont walk away, in silenceSee the dangerAlways dangerEndless talkingLife rebuildingDont walk awayWalk in silenceDont turn away, in silenceYour confusionMy illusionWorn like a mask of self-hateConfronts and then diesDont walk awayPeople like you find it easyNaked to seeWalking on airHunting by the rivers, through the streets, every cornerAbandoned too soonSet down with due careDont walk away in silenceDont walk away

First time here, very amazing place to go by yourself or as a group. Best option for school trips for education lessons. You can also get amazing gifts from the shop and have food and drinks from the cafe as well. The location is good and the outside of the building is very eye catching and amazing. Will go there again.

Free to Entry (Donation encouraged), great study halls. You can enter to read and study all year long.

A beautiful building for visit, which is free. Lovely architecture inside and the old books and printing machines on special display add to the charm. The staff are very friendly and were more than helpful when we posed them quite a lot of questions. The main section of the library, with many niches to sit in, felt like were back in old times. The overall decor and the old world charm is very nice. Might visit again during some quieter hours to enjoy the silence, and the ensuing opportunity for photography. And the place is quite accessible too, so everyone can get there and explore inside easily.

One of Manchesters must-see places, especially if youre a Harry Potter fan. Gorgeous architecture and lots of history.Its actually a working library as well.

IS STUNNING! Must visit now!1 its free of charge2 they have a limited amount of person that can get in so that tou can have room for moving and talking pictures3 Toilets available4 atmosphere is sublime. Cozy light guide you through the library creating a very Howards atmosphere5 you can fo and study there with no problem6 there is also a cute shop there.7 staff is super friendly and ready to help. You can see that they like working thereWhat else to add to convince you going there??

One of the best libraries I have seen!! Its beautiful architecture gives full Harry Potter vibes. A must place to visit in Manchester.

It is definitely worth seeing this magical library. The Gothic style architecture is amazing and everything is preserved well. You feel spooky while hanging around this beautiful library. Best tourist attraction in Mancheser in my opinion.

Beautiful building to have a wander in. We visited during an exhibition on Dante, and there was also an interesting selection of items highlighted from the library contents including Japanese culture, Jewish history, and midwifery. The central hall was stunning, and the exhibition inside described how the building came to be. A few students working inside, and friendly and helpful staff. Well worth a visit.

Possibly my most favorite place in Manchester :beautiful architecture, the sence of antiquity just breaths on you.Entrance is free and you can just go in and study as many of our ancestors would haveJust the staff is quite rude, so try to avoid them

Such a stunningly beautiful library. The architecture is amazing

Such an incredible place so much history and so well kept. Lots of old books very well preserved. People at the reception very polite and friendly. Very well located within walking distance from the train station, Manchester Piccadilly. In my opinion this place is one of the ones to visit without a doubt.

One of the most beautiful libraries Ive ever seen. And Ive seen quite a few. Added bonus of having all the books locked behind plexiglass... thus you have a built in excuse for not reading them. What more could you want?

Wow, what a place. The building is incredible in its architecture and contents, the library and exhibitions are stunning. The walls seem to ooze a sense of the interesting and important discoveries that no doubt have been made here. Very much worth a visit

Very good library the best one in Manchester in my opinion good for the family and to bring people with you would highly recommend a visit

Beautiful library, really interesting architecture and lots of really old (and bigbooks. Well layed out. Its supposedly active, but I didnt see any students working at any of the desks

Beautiful architecture and detailed stonework. Very organised in terms of numbers allowed in, wasnt as big as I thought it was but still impressive. A nice exhibition on journalism and cute shop. Cafe is closed and there is no luggage storage.

Please, include this library/museum in your visit to Manchester. It’s commonly used to film images that remind Westminster but also Victorian times for the beautiful architecture. In the main room, ease take one of the mirrors and take a moment to see the roof; its just shocking. This is a secret hidden inside Manchester, with lots of history, is free to visit and if you even needed, you can ask to review the books that they have because after all, its a library.

If you are in central Manchester, dont forget to see this amazing building. Beautiful architecture and great history. The highlight is the historical reading room - see my photos. There is free entry to see this and the staff are very friendly and helpful. When we were there, Netflix was filming The Crown in the main exhibition space. Lights set up outside to give the impression of a sunny day inside the building!

Lived in Manchester my whole life & only visited here for the first time in Feb 2020. Absolutely stunning building and beautiful architecture. Cant help but draw similarities with Hogwarts but of course this is very real. Free entry but happily made a donation as worth paying to see inside. Will definitely visit again.

The most beautiful building i have had the pleasure of stepping in, in Manchester! I took my 7 year old daughter as she loves to learn, she was in her element, 1000s of books some centuries old! There is plenty to see over several floors (lift accessbut if you are able take the stairs they are stunning. It reminded us of hogwarts! There is a lovely shop and cafe at the entrance too. Entrance is free but they accept donations (although they dont pressure you into like other places on Manchester)

What an iconic library. The more I look up, the more spectacular it is. Beautiful corridors and statues. Such an amazing time in the library. It would be great to put up signs of "silence" because I saw people studying and families who kept talking out loud in the same room.

One of the finest buildings in Manchester. Gothic style with modern extension done sympathetically to bring you in from Deansgate. Built to the highest standards and opened in 1900 it has been a library from day one and although envisaged as a lending library it is now a reference library only but anyone can register. The interior is almost cathedral like in nature and the attention to detail and level of craftsmanship is phenomenal. Often likened to Hogwarts and easy to see why if you visit.

Located tlin the center of Manchester, this represent one of the best place you should visit here. A full immersion in history of this city. Ancient library with a unique books, you could be lucky enough to get a free example of how to stamp in ancient way. Highly recommended. You can also study there because it is still a library.

Beautiful place if you like the atmosphere of a library. Impressive building and excellent conservation. Entrance is free and you have a coffee and a shop inside. I recommend you to visit also the toilets. Dont miss this place if you like to be peacefully surrounded by books. You can also sit there and read or work with your computer. They take care of the details here. A 5 🌟 treasure from my point of view

I really enjoyed the John Rylands library. It is a real beautiful building and it is worthy just to go there for seeing it inside. The historical reading room is amazing! There are even places for you to take pictures with old clothes and hats. But for me the most important thing was to be able to see old manuscripts like Biblical John and deutoronomy manuscripts. Johns manuscripts is the oldest being very close to when the original one was written and there are no changes between our bibles today and this writing

Great library to be visited while in Manchester. The design is amazing and support much history lays into it. Inside is wonderful and has many great historical items you are allowed to look at. Entrance is completely for free and library is op-ed every day of the week but only between Christmas and New Year is closed. Dont hesitate and check out this library, its one thing to see once you in Manchester.

This is not so much a working library during the day which is probably best as it allows the visitor to walk around knowing that they are not disturbing others. A beautiful building, hard to believe it wasnt a church. There are several displays on the theme of books (unsurprisingly). Free to enter and its location means that its easy to visit. The contrast of old and new outside is also impressive.

An excellent Neo Gothic sand stone building housing the John Rylands library collection. People can join and able to read on request the books therein. Regular tours are available (book in advanceboth general and behind the scenes where you gain privilege access to the book depository in the cellars that have glass floors and the upper reading rooms. Staff are helpful and informative. The tours are well worth booking.

An amazing space right inside the city centre, you can spend hours here reading the names and titles of the massive collections of books in the libraries reading rooms. Regular changes to exhibits also keep you coming back.

Great neo-gothic architecture in the Victorian built part. The extension is also worth a few minutes, modern But attractive as well. The library is filled with collections of old books & special exhibitions too. An easy place to find in the centre of Manchester & not to be missed. Free entry.