Skyliner is a multi award-winning online magazine about cities and edgelands.

WHO?

The creator of Skyliner is Hayley Flynn: a lover of looking up and opening closed doors. I love art and cities, and as a consequence, I am now a tour guide, curator, and researcher. I have an MA in Place Writing from MMU’s Manchester Writing School, and am studying an MSc in Place Management and Leadership, alongside working part-time as a Placemaker.

I was the UK's first and only City Curator for National Trust. In 2019 I was selected for The Society of Readers and Writers to judge the longlist for The Portico Prize. In 2022 I was named a Public Life Champion for the Celebrate Public Life campaign. The campaign is a joint initiative by Gehl and the Bernard van Leer Foundation to raise awareness and activism for better public life and public places. Part of this campaign is in recognising people that go above and beyond for places that promote quality, safety, inclusion, and health. My 'Public Life Superpower' is 'sharing critical thinking powers with others'. Much of this is down to running routes that cover gentrification, public seating, public realm, and arts and culture as well as offering free tours to young people from low-income neighbourhoods as a means to train them to themselves become guides.

I work freelance and have written journalism and creative non-fiction for publications such as The Guardian, Caught By the River, Untapped Cities, Corridor8 & Elsewhere Journal. I’ve given tours to journalists, influencers and tourists from all over the world, and my tours and creative projects have been featured in Tribune, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Salt Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Manchester Confidential, The Malibu Times, Boston Globe, BBC Radio 4, New York Magazine, Creative Tourist, & 50 Things to Do in Manchester Before You Die.

I am interested in alternative tourism and I like to promote and practice honest tourism; exploring not only places but important issues such as loss of public space in order to improve places through informal education.

I am a single mother from a working-class background. I am proudly Northern.

WHAT?

Skyliner was set up to promote and preserve Manchester's heritage by documenting unspoken stories, unearthing unique historical research, and exploring and capturing unseen sights. This first took the form of many collaborations with photographer Andrew Brooks; working together to present the stories of redevelopment sites across the region - think Urban Exploration only with permission.

I specialise in long-form journalism and place writing and Skyliner has garnered a reputation as a go-to source of knowledge and inspiration for residents and visitors of Manchester. As Skyliner grows creative journals will become more of a feature and I expect its geographical reach to broaden.

Skyliner makes little profit, but 10% of what it does generate goes to community initiatives and local charities. I also offer free group tours to each of the charities for their service users or volunteers, and I run other free tours such as litter-picking routes to improve the appearance of the Northern Quarter.

You can read about the tours, charitable partners, and accessibility in more detail on the FAQs page.

FAQs

AWARDS

SHORTLISTED

Best Arts and Culture Blog

Manchester Blog Awards 2011

Best City and Neighbourhood Blog

Blog North 2014

#5 Best Travel Blog in Manchester

Custard 2016

Best Arts/Culture/Literature

Northern Blog Awards 2017

WINNER

Best Arts and Culture Blog

UK Blog Awards 2014

Best City and Neighbourhood Blog

Manchester Blog Awards 2011

Best Alternative Walking Tours - North West England

Lux Magazine 2020

Public Life Champion

Celebrate Public Life (Gehl & Bernard Van Leer Foundation), 2022

Work With Me

Are you interested in working with me on a publication, or are you a brand that would like to team up on Instagram? Would you like to book me for a bespoke walking tour, or would you like to work together on some other creative project?

Email me: theskyliner.org@gmail.com

writing& RESEARCH

Whether it be creative writing for an arts project or taking a more journalistic approach to articles for newspapers and magazines, writing is my first love. I have written for publications such as The Guardian, Caught By the River, Elsewhere Journal, Untapped Cities, and Manchester Confidential. I love to write about cities and wilderness, and where those two things combine, but my journalism revolves predominantly around issues such as heritage preservation, gentrification, public space and many other urban issues and points of conversation. If there’s a meaty research process to sink my teeth into - all the better.

content

I have provided content services for many clients, largely those with a focus on history or architecture. I regularly write website and blog copy for Bruntwood, and manage much of their cultural content providing case studies for evaluation purposes. I also work with social media content and can take over an Instagram or Twitter feed, offer sponsored posts, sponsored blogs, press trips, and partnerships with brands I admire and support. In terms of sponsored content I only work with clients whose values I admire, or whose overall project goal and audience aligns with my own.

Media Packs available on request.

tours, Talks & EVENTS

I run public tours but am available for private tours, talks and events. I am an informal tour guide, meaning I am not a Blue or Green Badge, but this affords me the freedom to discuss more difficult topics such as homelessness and gentrification, and to provoke discussion amongst guests. I engage with my subject and support it by including stops at local independent businesses, commissioning artists to work with me on content, and by giving back what I can to the public or charity, for example: providing free tour spaces to the disadvantaged (see FAQs), running shorter tours for parents with young babies, and from time-to-time I will profit share with select charitable causes. I have ten years experience guiding.

Which tour is for me?

Most of our tours look at the alternative side of the city.

The Modern History of the Northern Quarter is our ‘anti-tour’ so whilst this is for lovers of street art and graffiti it is also for curious minds who want to know about issues our city is facing, and to see the city with critical eyes - this isn’t traditional tourism so if you want to see pretty buildings and hear uplifting stories that’s not the tour for you. This tour is popular with students, architects, planners, artists and Mancunians. If you like the sound of this then you should also look out for our seasonal Follow the Buddleia tours, which delve into gentrification in ‘Victoria North’ and Collyhurst, and There Was a Bench Here Once that address issues in public realm - these are both the most critical thinking of our tours.

The Invisible City is a bit more like traditional tourism, and uncovers secrets and layers of the city that you might not otherwise unearth. It’s a looping route and covers nuclear war, espionage, love affairs, and the tiny details of a city (such as ghost signs) that can a tell a story as well as any building.

Women of the Arts currently only runs a few times a year (for instance, International Women’s Day on 8 March) but this looks at the women who made waves in Manchester’s culture over the last 200 years.

How long is the tour?

The Modern History of the Northern Quarter is 2 hours long.

The Invisible City and Women of the Arts are around 90 minutes.

Follow the Buddleia is likely to be 2.5 hours.

There Was a Bench Here Once is 2 hours long.

Can I buy gift vouchers?

Gift vouchers are available in the store. Currently we are only selling digital copies of the vouchers that you can print at home (if you like, but not necessary). Physical copies will be available again in Spring 2020.

See in store

Are children allowed?

Yes, but that’s down to your judgment. It suits older children best of all as younger kids may get bored. Some tours discuss drug use and other topics that might need some further explanation by an adult. The Modern History of the Northern Quarter tour is very popular with home schoolers and student groups but if it were a film I’d rate it 'PG’.

Babes in arms always welcome and I occasionally run mini-tours especially for parents of babies and toddlers - if you’d like to arrange one of these with a parent group you’re involved with please contact us.

…and dogs?

A-woof! (Yes!) Dogs are always welcome.

However, during our Northern Quarter tour, we briefly visit Manchester Craft and Design Centre where dogs are not allowed (except assistance dogs), so you will need to skip this part of the tour - this stop only equates to a few minutes and I’m happy to fill you in on what we cover before or after the tour so you don’t miss out. However, the centre is closed on Sundays so that might be the ideal day for you and your dog.

Do I need to book?

Yes, it’s advisable. There’s a maximum of 25 guests on a tour so places can fill up quickly. If you decide to come on the day and haven’t booked in advance just get in touch with me first of all to make sure there’s space, and that the tour itself hasn’t changed meeting point or been rearranged etc.

theskyliner.org@gmail.com

07517 111 305

@skylinermcr

Can I book a private tour?

We run private tours regularly and we’d love to hear from you. Please email me with some rough ideas of dates, how many people are in your group, and if you’re booking for a work outing letting us know about your company will help with how we run the tour.

We can write new routes so if there’s something you fancy that you don’t see on here already please let me know.

Contact Hayley on theskyliner.org@gmail.com or 07517111305

What happens in bad weather?

The tours run in all weathers, so come prepared with waterproofs and warm clothing.

Cancellations you make will not be refunded but you can swap to another date provided you give 24 hours notice.

However, if the weather is so bad that it’s unsafe to run the tour (flooding, severe thunderstorm, blizzard, etc) then we will make arrangements to refund you or rearrange to a later date. It is important you provide your phone number when booking so that I can contact you in any such emergency.

My plans have changed. Can I get a refund?

In most cases - no. Think of it as having booked a cinema ticket in advance - if you decided to stay in bed instead that day instead of catching the film would you expect Odeon or VUE to refund your ticket? If you wouldn’t ask a big business then the same applies to a small, independent business.

However, we want tours to be inclusive and accessible and if that means accessing it is easier for you on another date then provided you give 24 hours notice we’re happy to transfer your booking to an alternative date.

If you missed the tour because you arrived late the same thinking applies. It is advisable to let us know by phone call or text/Whatsapp if you know you are running late BEFORE the start of the tour as we can’t take calls once we start. We leave on time.

Where do we meet?

All the details of where to meet can be found on the booking page itself, and details will be sent out the day before the tour by email. Look out for this email (sometimes it goes to junk). As a rule the meeting points are as follows but can be subject to change:

For The Modern History of the Northern Quarter we meet by the bike racks at Shudehill metrolink platform.

The Invisible City and Women of the Arts meet opposite the Town Hall on Brazennose Street.

We’re running late. What happens?

We don’t wait (long) for latecomers as this has an impact on the finish time of the tour for all the other guests.

It is advisable to let me know by phone call or text/Whatsapp if you know you are running late BEFORE the start of the tour as I can’t take calls once we start.

If you have a smart phone with you once we hear from you we will send a link so that you can find our location using Google Maps and you are able to track down the tour group once we set off.

If you were unable to contact us and missed the tour due to lateness you can transfer onto another tour date but refunds will not be issued.

I have language or access needs, what can you do to help?

I am a native English speaker so if you need translations into other languages then you will need to organise this yourself, however if it is a private group booking I can probably arrange a translator for an additional fee.

If you have difficulty following along with the tour verbally then with advance notice I can provide some typed notes.

Most tours finish by lunchtime to avoid noisy and overly busy environments but this is difficult to manage in a city centre so I can’t guarantee the tour will be free of overwhelming sensory stimulus, but I’m careful to limit it wherever possible (and often stick to back streets as a result).

Wheelchair users are welcome on all tours but it’s always worth letting me know ahead of booking so I can tweak the route if necessary. Email Hayley at theskyliner.org@gmail.com or call/text/Whatsapp: 07517111305

All tours are female-led.

I am working on improvements and sensory additions to the tour for those with visual impairments, including tactile models of many of the public art pieces we visit.

My accessibility advisor is Em Carrol, and I believe I am the only tour guide to work with someone in this capacity.

If you think there is something else I can do to help you with your access needs please let me know, I want to make my tours open to as many people as possible and I’m still learning what I need to do to make that happen.

Can I record and/or share content from the tour?

Sometimes. Please speak to me about it ahead of time. Generally it’s fine but I’d be more comfortable knowing where the content will end up.

Journalists or influencers please remember to tag me if sharing content on social media @skylinermcr

What is the impact of your business on the local community?

10% of profit is donated to local causes, these causes/charities/community initiatives change regularly and can sometimes be in reaction to a global event too (such as the Australian bush fires). A list of the charities we will be donating to per month can be seen here.

A few times a year we also run the tour for free as a litter-picking tour, so the guests pay by cleaning up the neighbourhood as we walk. I have good ties with community groups such as the Northern Quarter Forum so that I can respond appropriately to problems the community are facing.

I study Place Management at the Institute of Place Management so it’s a personal interest of mine to help places thrive, and the manner in which I run my tours delves into this ethos - the anti-tours interrogate issues the city and its people face (from homelessness to lack of public space) and I hope that by being honest with you about the city it might point you/us to solutions.

I am also happy to connect you with local artists if you are interested in buying any of the work or commissioning street art by any of the artists we have discovered during The Modern History of the Northern Quarter. Outhouse are instrumental in supporting artists and bringing murals to the area and you may also like to connect with them.

Most of the guests on Skyliner tours are Manchester residents who want to know more about their city. Tourists are always welcome and we will help you have a sustainable and thoughtful experience in the city and can recommend independent businesses to discover during your stay.

Please reconsider booking an AirBnB if it operates as a full-time rental business, instead look for hosts who you can share with (it’s more fun that way), or those who operate on a part-time basis instead.

I will be continuously working with Manchester College to provide experience and free training for students interested in tourism or art, but if you run a youth club or support young people and would also like my help please contact me, especially if you support young people from economically deprived areas or disadvantaged backgrounds. As well as this I will be providing industry work experience to the young people of Arts Emergency, and working as a mentor for young female working-class leaders with Reclaim’s Full Time Fierce - a free development programme which teaches young women/girls and non-binary people, aged 15 – 21, the art of campaigning.

I received Arts Council funding in 2022 to further my practice and plan to work even more closely with young people as a result of this.

What else do you offer?

Guests who have been on our tour of the Northern Quarter can enjoy 10% at Trof on Thomas Street. I hope to work with other local businesses to offer you more discounts in future.

Who’s our guide?

I’m Hayley. I love to research and learn about cities and their fuzzy edges. I’ve got a Masters in Place Writing and I write for a variety of publications from The Guardian to Caught by the River. I am also studying for a Masters in Place Management and hope to bring that knowledge to my tours to contribute to a better city for everyone.

Contradictory to being a guide I actually have a fear of public speaking and in many situations I struggle with social anxieties (I am also neurodivergent) - ‘you’re in the wrong business!’ I hear you cry. However, my passion for the city outweighs those issues, plus the importance of walking for health, curiosity, and creativity is too appealing to just sit behind a desk all day. Whilst none of those factors actually impact on my tours or your enjoyment of them I think it’s good to share that information with my guests as it may help you to feel more comfortable if you’re in a similar headspace.

I’ve been an independent tour guide since 2012.

Can I leave you a review?

Yes, please do! We’ve only just set up on TripAdvisor so your feedback would be appreciated. You can also find Skyliner on Google Reviews.

tour schedule & booking