Barton Arcade is a Victorian shopping arcade that offers a wide variety of shops and services within an intricately designed building of iron and glass. The arcade itself was built in 1871, but the iteration you'll visit today is the result of extensive restoration that occurred during the 1980s.
Whether you're interested in shopping or simply admiring the Victorian architecture, you'll find plenty to keep you entertained at this destination. Most visitors spend an hour or 2 here, but given the extent of the shops available in the arcade, you could easily spend your entire afternoon here.
Barton Arcade in Manchester - one of the highlights of 11 Best Places to Go Shopping in Manchester (Read all about Manchester here)
photo by Matt Harrop (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
Barton Arcade highlights
While there are quite a few shops in Barton Arcade, some tend to stand out. Several shoe retailers are especially popular. Jeffrey West offers men's footwear with unique styles, such as snake-print boots. You'll recognize the shop by the wooden doll in the window.
The R Store offers shoes as well, but you'll also find stylish coats and trainers mainly focused on sporty types. Among the brands on offer, you'll find the latest from Adidas and Nike, though you'll also find Red Wing, Lee Jeans and Champion shirts. Just keep an eye out since this store is tucked into an easily missable corner.
photo by tom_bullock (CC BY 2.0) modified
Good to know when visiting Barton Arcade
One of the most important things to remember is that Barton Arcade can be a bit tough to find for people who have never been there before. The glass doors at the entrance are fairly anonymous among the hustle and bustle of Deansgate. If you try to come in the back, you can reach the arcade by heading down an inconspicuous, narrow, single-lane road from St Ann's Square.
Given the location of this arcade, you'll find yourself close to quite a few exciting attractions. The Royal Exchange Arcade is just a short walk east, as is the rest of the Central Retail District.
photo by David Dixon (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
Bramall Hall in Manchester
Barton Arcade in Manchester
Location: 48 Barton Square, Manchester M3 2BH, UK
Open: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Phone: +44 (0)1612 193535
Start planning your trip
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