Helios at Victoria Baths
Overview
Victoria Baths is widely recognised as Britain’s finest historic municipal swimming pool, from the iconic green tiles and beautful stained glass, to the vaulted ceilings and other period features you won’t find anywhere else. It is a stunning building and was the worthy winner in 2003 of the BBC Restoration Series whereupon, they were given £3.38 million to restore it.
Join us today as internationally acclaimed artist Luke Jerram brings his solar installation Helios to the historic Victoria Baths, filling one of its former pools with light and sound.
Step into the light at Victoria Baths: Luke Jerram’s Helios comes to one of Manchester’s most beautiful landmarks. A giant glowing sculpture of the sun will hang in the unfilled Gala Pool, flooding the space with light, sound and reflections. Whether you're in it for the art, the heritage, or just fancy seeing something totally unexpected, Helios at Victoria Baths will offer you something. It might be a moment of calm, the perfect backdrop for a stunning photo, or simply a refreshing escape after work. This is your chance to step out of the everyday and into something uplifting and inspiring.
Weekends are the perfect time to catch Helios and enjoy a full day at Victoria Baths. During the day there’ll be family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained, street food served throughout the day, and as evening arrives, a buzzing bar with music. It’s a brilliant way to see Helios and discover everything that this amazing building has to offer.
Meeting Point: 3.30pm at the main entrance area on Hathersage Road (Females' Entrance)
Includes
- A warm welcome from your Spice volunteer host
- A timed entry ticket for 4pm for an hour to view Helios over the unfilled Gala Pool
- All visitors can explore the full building, including a digital heritage trail, exhibitions, and the on-site café and bar
Extras
- Any food or drinks purchased whilst there
Walking: Victoria Baths is around a 25-minute walk from Manchester Oxford Road Station or a 30-minute walk from the city centre. Simply head south along Oxford Road, then turn left onto Hathersage Road.
Bus: Regular bus services run from the city centre and universities. Routes 41, 42, 43, 142, and 143 stop on Oxford Road near Hathersage Road, just a few minutes’ walk from the Baths.
Car: Use postcode M13 0FE for sat nav. 30 spaces of onsite parking are available for accessible vehicles. Public street parking and nearby car parks are also available.
Host & Everything Else
Gallery
