Rochdale Town Hall tours

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FEATURED EVENT: Rochdale Town Hall tours

Various dates and times depending on your tour

Time: 9 AM - 3 PM

Venue: Rochdale Town Hall

Address: The Esplanade, Rochdale

Postcode: OL16 1AB

Price: Varies depending on your tour. Short tours take 1 hour and full tours take 2.5 hours.

Suitable for: Families, Adults, Teenagers

Facilities: Parking, Wheelchair accessible, Toilets

Contact:

Event organised by: Rochdale Borough Council

Booking required for private tours only.

In light of the current situation Rochdale Town Hall is closed. It will reopen on government advice when safe to do so. Tours are currently unavailable while the town hall is closed, and will be unavailable again from 1 January 2021 so we can renovate the building. We expect tours to start again in 2023.

Rochdale's fabulous Grade-I Victorian Gothic town hall is renowned worldwide for its unique and detailed architecture.

Join us on an expertly guided tour and marvel at the wonderful craftsmanship, immerse yourself in the building’s history and take a look inside the Mayor’s Parlour.

You can choose a full tour of the town hall or a short tour where we'll take you around the best bits of the building. We also offer these tours as public or private.

Public tours are open to anyone to join at the set time.
Private tours are for groups of 8 or more to enjoy together at a time that suits you.

For more details about these tours, choose the sections on the tabs above.

Full public tour of Rochdale Town Hall

Dates: first Monday of every month, excluding bank holidays. Please note: the full public tour in May 2020 will take place on Monday, 11 May 2020. This is due to an event taking place at Rochdale Town Hall on the first Monday in May.
Time: 2.15pm-4.45pm. Tour takes 2.5hours.
Price: adults (12 years and over) £7.50 per person, children (under 12 years old) £3.80 per person.
Payment options: pay by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay at Rochdale Town Hall reception on the day of your tour.
Tour details: we'll take you into the most stunning areas of this Victorian building, including the Great Hall, the Mayor’s Parlour and the former Magistrates Retiring Room. Follow us down the little corridors, see a different side to the Town Hall and enjoy a 15 minute organ recital on our famous J.J. Binns organ. We've chairs in most rooms of the tour if you'd like to sit down after walking to each room.
Booking: no booking required, just turn up on the day.

Short public tour of Rochdale Town Hall

Dates: every Wednesday, excluding bank holidays.
Time: 2.15pm-3.15pm. Tour takes one hour.
Price: adults (12 years and over) £4.50 per person, children (under 12 years old) £2.30 per person.
Payment options: pay by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay at Rochdale Town Hall reception on the day of your tour.
Tour details: we'll take you around the best bits of Rochdale Town Hall, including the Exchange, Great Hall and Council Chambers. Get a flavour of this stunning building and learn about the many stories which have made up its past. We've chairs in most rooms of the tour if you'd like to sit down after walking to each room.
Booking: no booking required, just turn up on the day.

You'll need to be a group of 8 people or more book either of these private tours. We can arrange your tour at a time and date that suits you.

Full private tour of Rochdale Town Hall

Dates: available Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays.
Time: available 9am-3pm. Tour takes 2.5 hours.
Price: adults (12 years old and over) £11 per person, children (under 12 years old) £7 per person.
Payment options: pay by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay at Rochdale Town Hall reception on the day of your tour.
Tour details: we'll take you into the most stunning areas of this Victorian building, including the Great Hall, the Mayor’s Parlour and the former Magistrates Retiring Room. Follow us down the little corridors, see a different side to the Town Hall and enjoy a 15 minute organ recital on our famous J.J. Binns organ. We've chairs in most rooms of the tour if you'd like to sit down after walking to each room.
Booking: booking required. You should book at least 24 hours in advance. Please email us with:

The date and time you'd like to go on your private tour.
The number of adults and children you'd like to attend the tour.

Email townhall.bookings@rochdale.gov.uk to book your full private tour

Short private tour of Rochdale Town Hall

Dates: available Monday-Friday. excluding bank holidays.
Time: available 9am-3pm. Tour takes one hour.
Price: adults (12 years and over) £7 per person, children (under 12 years old) £3.50 per person
Payment options: pay by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay at Rochdale Town Hall reception on the day of your tour.
Tour details: we'll take you around the best bits of Rochdale Town Hall, including the Exchange, Great Hall and Council Chambers. Get a flavour of this stunning building and learn about the many stories which have made up its past. We've chairs in most rooms of the tour if you'd like to sit down after walking to each room.
Booking: booking required. You should book at least 24 hours in advance. Please email us with:

The date and time you'd like to go on your private tour.
The number of adults and children you'd like to book on the tour.

Email townhall.bookings@rochdale.gov.uk to book your short private tour

Dine before your public tour

You can eat at the town hall before your tour at Rochdale Town Hall's Clock Tower Dining Room. We advise you to book a table at least one hour before your tour. View Clock Tower Dining Room menu and prices or book a table

Dine before your private tour

Arrive early and enjoy a delicious, freshly-made lunch or afternoon tea in delightful surroundings before our expert guide collects you for your tour. You can choose from the following 3 options and you're able to book different meals for each person attending your tour.

Afternoon tea details - option 1

Dates: available Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays.
Time: available 10am-2.30pm. This option takes one hour.
Price: adults (12 years and over) £12.50 per person, children (under 12 years old) £6.90 per person
Payment options: pay at the Clock Tower Dining Room by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay on the day of your tour.
Food details: a selection of freshly-prepared sandwiches and desserts, served with a choice of tea or coffee.
Booking: booking required. You should book at least 24 hours in advance. Please email us with:

The date and time you'd like your afternoon tea .
The number of adults and children you'd like to book food for.

You can email us to book your food after you've booked your private tour or you can book your food and your tour at the same time.

Email townhall.bookings@rochdale.gov.uk to book your afternoon tea

2-course lunch details - option 2

Dates: available Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays.
Time: available 10am-2.30pm. This option takes one hour.
Price: adults (12 years and over) £11.90 per person, children (under 12 years old) £11.90 per person.
Payment options: pay at the Clock Tower Dining Room by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay on the day of your tour.
Food details: handmade steak and ale pie or hot vegetable quiche with buttered new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Dessert of cheesecake, served with your choice of tea or coffee.
Booking:

Email townhall.bookings@rochdale.gov.uk to book your 2-course lunch

Champagne afternoon tea details - option 3

Dates: available Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays.
Time: available 10am-2.30pm. This option takes one hour.
Price: £19.90 per person.
Payment options: pay at the Clock Tower Dining Room by cash, card, contactless, Apple Pay or Android Pay.
Restrictions: not suitable for children or under 18s.
Food details: a selection of freshly-prepared sandwiches and desserts, served with a choice of tea or coffee. Finish with a glass of house champagne and strawberries.
Booking: booking required. You should book at least 24 hours in advance. Please email us with:

The date and time you'd like your afternoon tea.
The number of people you'd like to book food for.

You can email us after you've booked your private tour or you can book your food and your tour at the same time.

Email townhall.bookings@rochdale.gov.uk to book your champagne afternoon tea

Take a virtual tour of Rochdale Town Hall

Rochdale Town Hall bells

In January 2019 a competition was held to name the Rochdale Town Hall bells. The winning names were:

The bells of co-operation (family name)
Little Ben
Our Gracie
Recedham
Bobbin Bell
The Bamford Bell

Events and activities are not organised by Rochdale Borough Council unless stated otherwise. Neither is Rochdale Borough Council responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. If you are under 18, ask your parent/guardian before taking part in any event or activity.

Find Rochdale Town Hall
Council car parks
Blue Plaques
History Pin - explore the history of the area through photographs, videos and audio clips.
Touchstones Rochdale - the arts and heritage centre.
Visit Rochdale - the tourism site for Rochdale borough.