Canal Street ranks among world's most sought-after queer destinations
Manchester's iconic gay village has seen growing global interest, according to new research
Manchester's Canal Street has been recognised as one of the fastest-growing LGBTQ+ destinations worldwide.
It's been found that searches for Canal Street have seen a 62% increase over the past year, putting it on the map alongside famous LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods such as Paris' Le Marais, Berlin's Schöneberg, and San Francisco's Castro District.
Hits Radio Pride has been catching up with queer historian Joshua Val Martin, who leads the LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour.
His queer history and culture walk takes visitors through the city's world-famous Gay Village.
LGBT+ history isn't necessarily visible
Josh Val Martin is the person behind Manchester's LGBT+ Walking Tour, started it all more then a decade ago after going interrailing around Europe.
"Every week is different, every group is different," Josh told Hits Radio Pride.
"Especially on these tours, sometimes you'll find international guests coming from different pockets and corners of the globe, and if they are queer, have an immediate way in with each other, and will completely get each other.
"But also, lots of what I talk about, they'll also have a contextual understanding, at least.
"However, in most families, by doing these tours, you realise that people don't grow up learning about this sort of history.
"It's not like World War 2, for instance, and so you understand there's such different appreciations of this history, but also that it's so important to keep talking about it.
"It really makes me see the value in telling these stories, and also taking up that space in The Village and other queer locations across Manchester.
"With LGBT+ history, it often isn't written down, and it isn't necessarily visible.
"Actually, you have to go beneath the surface to learn these things, so one of the joys of this job is standing in a car park and revealing what happened on that spot before it became the place it is today."
'It's a whole plethora of artists, activists, drinkers, landlords, and ravers'
So, why does Josh reckon Manchester's topping the list internationally as a great LGBT+ destination to visit?
Well, it's multi-faceted, as he explained: "This is almost the premise of my walking tour, because the question is, how did Manchester get its gay reputation?
"It's a whole plethora of artists, activists, drinkers, landlords, ravers...
"You could mark the 1988 Section 28 demonstration, but that happened in Manchester because it was really well-placed between the different universities in the country.
"But also that summer, you had the arrival of Acid House, and so party and politics was coming together, the Hacienda had a gay night, too.
"Going back further than that, you could even say, because of the strong trade unionist movement here, which sort of led to the campaign for homosexual equality, which became this nationally networked group.
"I think it's a recent history of party and politics coming together, and also a council very quick to take on LGBT politics and commerce - EuroPride 2003 is a good example of that.
"That was only when Gross Indecency was repealed, and it really is quite recent.
"The council commissioned these rainbow mosaics all around the city, to say that Manchester's LGBT people and histories are not only confined to the Gay Village, but in fact, their stories always have been and will be all around the city."
'Manchester really has everything'
There's Gay Villages located across the UK and all around the world, but, as Josh explained, Manchester is just that little bit more different.
He said: "I, like many gay men, when I go to a new city, like to check out the vibe - and there's obviously fantastic gay cities.
"I was pleasantly surprised when I went to Brussels, I remember Madrid being very vibrant...
"But, apart from Berlin and San Francisco, I would say Manchester has the best gay scene in the world, because it's so packed together.
"There is a variety to it, not just in The Village, but further afield.
"There's also loads of local Pride events, that you don't have in other places.
"Manchester really has everything, which is what I think makes the scene so special, and is why it should be supported wherever and however it can be."
The rise in popularity
The study analysed global search data, highlighting trends in popular LGBTQ+ districts. It reveals that more travellers are looking for destinations that offer not only nightlife but also culture, community, and authenticity.
San Francisco's Castro district recorded the highest spike in yearly interest, with searches increasing by 157%, while Copenhagen's Vesterbro experienced an 85% rise and Florida's Wilton Manors grew by 68%.
Paris' Le Marais claims the top spot for search volume, with around 146,000 monthly searches.
The unique appeal of Canal Street
Canal Street has been integral to Manchester's LGBTQ+ identity for decades, drawing visitors from both within the UK and globally.
Situated in the heart of Manchester, it is well-known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ culture, bustling nightlife, annual Pride celebrations, and independent businesses. These factors contribute to the city's reputation as one of Europe's most welcoming destinations.
Sophie Rhone, founder of Masc Femme Clothing, behind the new research, said: "Canal Street has long been one of Manchester's cultural landmarks, so it's great to see it continuing to attract attention from people around the world.
What's particularly interesting is that we're seeing growing interest in destinations that offer a genuine sense of community and culture, not just nightlife. Places like Canal Street have a rich history and identity that visitors increasingly want to experience for themselves.
Manchester has built a reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in Europe, and the continued growth in interest shows the city's LGBTQ+ community remains a huge part of what makes it special."
You can find out more about the walking tour on this website.