John Rylands Library

The John Rylands is a beautiful building I could spend hours in! It’s late Victorian, so younger than it looks, commissioned by Enriqueta Ryland in memory of her husband John. The library merged with the Manchester University library in the 70’s (I think — I wasn’t born!)
There’s no entrance fee and at the minute the have an exhibition on about magic and witchcraft, which was interesting. There’s a little café next to the gift shop with a variety of books and nicknaks for sale. It’s great for unusual gifts.

A beautiful building with a grand façade you cannot help but notice when walking down Deansgate. Although ultra-​modern Spinningfields sits alongside it, the stunning architecture contrasts nicely, and means it doesn’t get forgotten about by visitors to the city.
Despite working alongside John Rylands for over a year now, it was only on a cold and wet lunchtime recently that I ventured in with a colleague. We’d heard a lot about the current Magic, Witches and Devils exhibition and thought it would be a good place to stretch our legs.
You enter through a modern extension but don’t let this put you off; just upstairs are the seemingly endless hallways and huge dark wooden doors your gothic heart dreams of. Maps are available at the front desk — you could easily get lost — and there’s no limit to the amount of time you can spend here.
The exhibition itself was interesting, hosted in one of the hallways upstairs, but it really was the architecture and intricate detailing that caught my eye.
They often have small events or interactive sessions for children; this half term it was ‘magical’ creatures such as owls and lizards which you could sit with and have a photo taken (we were assured that adults were more than welcome, but the queue sadly meant it was not to be!)
Well worth an explore if you’re in the area.

Been meaning to visit for the last few years and finally made it on Sunday afternoon. It was free entry and they had an exhibition about Magic, Witches and Devils in the Early Modern World on. The mini exhibition was interesting but not why we went. The building is as beautiful as they say. The late Victorian architecture is stunning and well maintained. As well as being one of Manchester’s hidden gems of a tourist site, it’s still a library so if you fancy a quite day of revision or course work then get down here and connect to Eduroam and you’re away. They also have a café and a small gift shop!

What an amazingly beautiful building. I took a day trip from Leeds to see the library and hang out in Manchester for a bit. It’s very peaceful and quiet– of course a library but still more than your typical library. Have your cameras ready.

Just stunning.
A touching and grand tribute from Mrs John Ryland to his memory is this epic library and museum space.
So Gothic and opulent with changing exhibitions and a big olé library this is a must do when visiting the city. It’s free to visit and utterly charming.
Watch out you don’t get in the way of all the armature photographers!

What an amazing place, one of Manchester’s hidden gems. I went to the John Ryland’s library for the first time today and can’t believe I have left it so long to visit. I went on one of their free tours which was an excellent introduction to the library. Our guide explained the history of the place and we were able to go into some of the rooms which aren’t normally open to the public. The Gothic style architecture is amazing and I will definitely be back to make use of their public space.
There is also a shop that sells really lovely gifts and a nice little café too. A great way to spend a rainy afternoon in Manchester.

A true Manchester hidden gem, so many people walk past this soot-​stained sandstone building everyday, but so few seem to venture inside.
This is always a peaceful place for me, somewhere to find a quiet corner for reflection in the middle of the city. There are so many wonderful and rare books on display, and I’ve seen some brilliant exhibitions here too.
The historic loo’s are not to be missed, and if you can get yourself on one of the photography tours you get to see a lot more of this fabulous building. The main entrance to the library is not as spectacular as it used to be (pushing those heavy wooden doors open was very Harry Potter) but once up the modern glass stairs you feel like you’ve crossed over a boundary into another time.
I’ve been to a few talks and presentations but I’ve yet to try the little café. This place has always been one of my favourite places to visit, ever since my college days where the reading room became a study room for me. It’s a stunning venue, and well worth your time.

This is a pretty cool historical library with fascinating architecture and a great collection of important texts and artifacts.
Thanks to Manchester CM Johnny Q. for the suggestion to check this place out.
The staff members are really friendly and helpful. As I was exploring on my own, Wayne offered to give me a private tour. He led me on a personalized tour of the library telling me all about the building and describing some of the cool items they had in their collection. He showed me private rooms and the back hallways and the inner-​workings of the library that most don’t get to see. He was so knowledgeable too.
In their collection is a fine paper copy of the Gutenberg Bible and St John Fragment, believed to be the oldest extant New Testament text.
If you’re into history, literature, or architecture, this is a must see. This is also really great if you’re in Manchester and up for a quick wander as it’s free to enter and explore. You could spend 15 minutes roaming around to take in the building, or longer to explore the exhibits in detail.
Don’t miss out on seeing the Victorian toilets in the basement!

A fantastic architectural gem in the heart of Deansgate, the John Rylands library is somewhere that’s perfect to chill out in for an hour or so, browsing the shelves, exhibits and just generally taking in the super relaxed, peaceful environment.
If you’ve a relative or friend in town then it’s a «must show off» must and with free entry you can just dip in and out of it — while maybe enjoying a bite to eat or a drink before or after in next door Spinningfields.
There’s a nice café and gift shop downstairs — and you are allowed to take snaps in there so get a snapping if you’re in there!

The John Rylands was one of the first places in Manchester that I visited. And now I keep popping back in just to experience being in such a beautiful space surrounded by such glorious books. It is wonderful that you can just come and hang out here whenever you want — it is my go-​to place when the Manchester drizzle has set in.
Make sure you check out the Victorian toilets in the basement and the reading room. The exhibitions are always interesting and informative although it would be great to have more information about the library itself. There is very little signage about its history and you have to buy the book to find out more.

We wanted to go on the explorer tour but it was booked full… a little bummed we went to look around on our own. Then we met Neil who was amazing and took us up a few secret stairways and gave us a 20 minute impromptu history on the building. I felt like belle in beauty and the beast. It was awesome! Keep a lookout for all the hidden dragons and other creatures, say hi to Neil and enjoy!

Stunning building and credit to UoM for keeping it so well looked after!
The gent on reception immediately approached us and asked us if we needed any help. Was so sweet and nice .
Opted to just mosey around and have a gander. Very nice. Not somewhere I would recommend taking children below 14 ish

What an amazing library. I wanted to check out the Central Library, but it is closed on Sundays — but the John Rylands is open! And it’s an amazing library too. Even more impressive on the inside than the outside — there is stained glass and old statues everywhere, ornate detailed wood carvings on the walls and doors, and several exhibits of various old texts, similar to the British Library if you’ve been there — for example an original copy of the Canterbury Tales in the kind of English that is barely recognizable it’s so old. Make sure to check out the Historic Reading room, a grand room filled with shelves of old books that made me feel like I was in a Harry Potter movie. And it’s free, as any good library should be! There’s also a fun book nerd-​y shop that I enjoyed browsing around. Definitely a gem of Manchester, a city that doesn’t half-​ass libraries.

A lovely welcoming feel to the library with friendly helpful staff, good facilities (I particularly liked the lockers in the basement) and great actives and facilities for children. We had a lovely afternoon hunting for dragon eggs and looking at the exhibits. I particularly liked the portraits and the textile designs around the theme of grief. I highly recommend a visit.

If, like me, you’re a bit skint but can’t bear to be sat on your jacksie doing nothing all day, there’s no need to despair when in Manchester, as there are a number of attractions which don’t require an admission fee — John Rylands Library being one of them. This pleases me immensely as one of my favourite pastimes happens to be wandering around historic sites and buildings.
This huge, gothic masterpiece, situated on Deansgate, could be mistaken for a church on the outside (I suppose it is a place of worship of sorts, if you’re into reading manuscripts from a long, long, LONG time ago) but once inside, this literary treasure trove will blow you away.
This vast space is home to not only some of the world’s oldest and most important archives, but some truly amazing architecture too. If you become a member, which I may well do, you can sit and study or read in the alcoves of the main hall, where you’re certain to find absolute peace and tranquility. Although, if I do sign up, I will be tempted to don a black cloak and prance around the place with a wand in my hand, pretending I’m on my way to class (at Hogwart’s, no less — I would be in Ravenclaw, just for the record).
I’m no history buff so I can’t give you dates and stats on the origins of the artefacts housed in John Rylands or the building itself, but that’s for you to find out when you go anyway — why should I do all the hard work for you? Just kidding! :-)
All you need to know is that it’s a fascinating place and well worth a visit if you want an injection of FREE culture.
There’s a lovely café just next to the reception which offers an assortment of good-​looking cakes (mmmm… cakes…) and a souvineer shop, which sells everything from over-​sized wands — sorry — I mean PENCILS, to postcards and books.
John Rylands is a must-​see for anyone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of the shopping streets and indulge in something a little bit different.

Admission is free and basically, i wish it was bigger. I absolutely loved it and wished it was larger so that i could have more to see. I can so feel that history and knowledge exuding from the walls. Or rather the ceiling (absolutely gorgeous). And the seating area where the public are allowed to seat… pity that it was that university students were having their exams soon as the place was swamped with students. I don’t blame them! I wanted to pick up a book and start studying too!

Fantastic.
Was taken there by a friend on a visit to Manchester. First thing to hit me was the actual building when approaching.
Built in the 1890s, the John Rylands Library is regarded as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, I have to agree.
A Victorian Gothic building, I was in my element.
The rooms and hallways are stunning.
The special collections, believed to be among the largest in the United Kingdom, include medieval illuminated manuscripts and examples of the earliest forms of European printing,
Just love it there, and love that you can take photographs.

Both the glassy and white new library extension and the original building are worth a look. And whilst the red sandstone gothic exterior looming over you on the Deansgate pavement looks a bit dark and intimidating, the interior is beautifully ornate and soothing so don’t judge a book by its cover!
Although John Rylands Library no doubt has hidden depths of knowledge for the studious, it is also perfectly delightful for an hour or even 30-​minute walk around inside. The dimly-​lit corridors feel a lot like a monastery, and the stonework, wooden and stained glass ornamentation reaches its fantastic crescendo in the old Reading Room.
There is a changing exhibition in the glass cases of the Reading Room, usually with a historical theme using JRL archive material. I’ve always found these exhibitions low-​key but fascinating, and they really manage to bring the themes, the people and their stories alive. The current exhibition is on the lives of orphans in Manchester back in the day. (Apparently Manchester did a better job than most cities of looking after children with nowhere else to go, and the refuge houses were 100% funded by private donations.) An earlier exhibition was on the lives of the rich ‘ladies of the house’.
A new feature that I noticed on my last visit is an interactive computer screen which allows you to turn the pages of a digital copies of what can sometimes be very old and fragile books — in this case, the JRL copy of the Koran.
One thing that makes me smile is the juxtaposition on Deansgate/​Spinningfields of three very different glass buildings — Armani, Australasia restaurant, and the JRL extension. ‘Who chooseth me…’

I love libraries and on a recent visit to Manchester I found the Holy Grail. The outside of the building is beautiful and inside the juxtaposition between the old and the new has been managed superbly. I was so overwhelmed by the combination of form and function and especially loved the study carrels in the main room. It made me regret giving up a life of research, I would visit here every day if I lived in Manchester.

As a student of the University of Manchester I’m proud to claim this piece of culture as one the gems in the crown. Go inside basically, recently redeveloped John Rylands has ancient texts of all kinds for you to take in and observe.
Most notably a piece of the new testament from the bible, no joke. Stare at it and you’ll question reality, and then even maybe go and get baptised. John Rylands is saturated in history with one of the biggest collections in the UK; this includes pieces from Karl Marx and ancient maps of the city. If none of this interests you (your mentally inert) JR is still an shelter from the hustle and bustle from central Manchester, somewhere you can breath as it were. Also got a little shop (standard) with the classic collection of museum bit nostalgic (rubbers with JR on etc).