Albert Square, Manchester
Albert Square is a public square in the centre of Manchester, England. It is dominated by its largest building, the Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall, a Victorian Gothic building by Alfred Waterhouse. Other smaller buildings from the same period surround it, many of which are listed.
Albert Square, overlooked by Manchester Town Hall
Albert Square, as depicted in a 1910 oil painting by Adolphe Valette. The Albert Memorial (left) and Gladstone statue (right) can be seen in the foreground.
Albert Memorial (Thomas Worthington & Matthew Noble, 1869)
Close-up of the Albert Memorial
Manchester Town Hall is a Victorian, Neo-gothic municipal building in Manchester, England. It is the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments. The building faces Albert Square to the north and St Peter's Square to the south, with Manchester Cenotaph facing its southern entrance. Both the building and the adjacent Albert square have been closed since 2018 for refurbishment and are scheduled to be reopened in summer 2026.
Manchester Town Hall
The original Manchester Town Hall
Detail of façades by Alfred Waterhouse
Cross section drawing by Waterhouse