Castlefield Viaduct

Yes, it is free to visit Castlefield Viaduct, and there is no need to book tickets in advance of your visit. There is a maximum capacity on the viaduct, so you may need to queue during busy times.

Castlefield Viaduct is 1,082 feet (330 metres) long. We recommend spending at least half an hour exploring the sky garden at Castlefield Viaduct. It’s a good spot to add to a self-guided walking tour of Manchester’s sights.

Castlefield Viaduct was built in 1892 by Heenan and Froude, the same engineers behind the creation of Blackpool Tower. The viaduct was used as part of the railway line into and out of Manchester Central Station and the Great Northern Warehouse until it closed in 1969.

It was opened as a temporary garden in the sky in 2022, and there are now plans to extend it in the future, keeping it as a fantastic celebration of Manchester. The Castlefield Viaduct gardens were inspired by the High Line park in New York City, where historic industrial infrastructure was transformed into a natural environment.

The viaduct is a Grade II listed structure in Castlefield, which is one of the oldest parts of Manchester. Castlefield was the site of Mamucium, a Roman fort made from timber, and later played a key part in the Industrial Revolution. 

At Castlefield Viaduct, there are three different garden areas to explore:

• The Welcome Area: An introduction to the plants you’ll see
• The ‘Naked’ Viaduct: An area left untouched for nature to reclaim
• The Secret Garden: Seasonal planting with a range of colours and textures

The garden looks different throughout the year as it changes with the seasons. In summer, you’ll find dense ferns and grasses, whereas autumn and winter foliage and berries add stunning colours to the viaduct. It’s the perfect subject for those Instagram pics.

From the garden, you can enjoy the views over Manchester’s city skyline and spot the trains and trams as they go past. There are seating areas throughout where you can chill out with a good book, listen to music, or eat a packed lunch.

Partner plots

Castlefield Viaduct has partnered with local organisations. These organisations have created their own unique garden areas here. These partner plots include:

• Sow The City: A sensory nature garden and pond
• City of Trees: Focussed on bringing together people and organisations to restore woodlands for the people and wildlife of the city
• Castlefield Forum: A modern sculptural pocket garden exploring the essence of Castlefield
• Hulme Community Garden Centre: An urban forest garden for personal wellbeing and the local environment

Castlefield Viaduct Visitor Centre

At the end of the sky garden, you’ll find the visitor centre which has activities for children, as well as a film and a small-scale model of the site.

Accessibility features at Castlefield Viaduct include:

• Accessible toilet
• Induction loops at the welcome area and inside the visitor building
• Level access throughout with a slight incline to the visitor building
• Main route is smooth bonded gravel
• Lifts
• Seating available throughout
• Wheelchairs available to borrow