Manchester photo challenge ideas for teens!

Last Updated on 23 March 2026 by Colette

A Manchester photo challenge is SUCH a good teen activity (and honestly fun for adults too) – and the best bit is that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Whether you use your phone or a fancy camera, you’re sure to find plenty of inspiration as you wander around the city.

I’ve pulled together a list of photo challenge ideas to help you explore Manchester with your teens, to give a bit of a focus to a day out or event to make a bit of a competition out of it!

Different challenges will work better in different areas of Manchester – and some will work universally across the city (for example, you’re never far from a Manchester bee symbol!)

Manchester Photo Challenge Ideas (Perfect for Teens)

City Icons Challenge

Get a photo of:

• A red brick Victorian building
• A Manchester bee (statue, mural, sign, etc – you won’t have to look too hard for this one!)
• A tram in motion
• A view of the Beetham Tower
• A canal shot (Castlefield is perfect!)

Northern Quarter Street Art Hunt

The Northern Quarter is by far my favourite places to take photos in Manchester!

Take photos of:

• Your favourite mural
• Something with bright neon colours
• A piece of street art with a famous face
• A wall covered in stickers or graffiti tags
• A photo that looks like an album cover

Bonus points if you recreate a TikTok pose 😄

Manchester Bee Spotting Challenge

Manchester loves its worker bee symbol, so challenge teens to find:

• 5 bees in one day
• A bee on a manhole cover
• A bee in a shop window
• A bee on a mural
• The most hidden bee you can find

First person to find 10 wins – maybe a bonus point for the most obscure bee!

Food & Drink Photo Challenge

Capture:

• A viral food craze – there’s always something going viral in Manchester’s food scene!
• A crazy milkshake or dessert
• The best-looking burger/pizza
• A “food selfie” with your meal
• A cute café interior shot

Perfect for places like the Arndale, Northern Quarter cafés, or Mackie Mayor.

Dark Academia Challenge (John Rylands Library Style)

For teens who love moody vibes:

• A photo of a grand staircase
• A “mysterious” shot of an old building
• A bookshelf photo
• A dramatic window shot
• A photo that looks like it’s from Hogwarts

Castlefield Canal Challenge

For a slightly less “city” focussed challenge, ask teens to snap:

• A reflection in the water
• A narrowboat
• A bridge shot
• A “walking away” photo on the towpath
• A skyline + canal combo

Trafford Centre Glam Challenge

Get photos of:

• The fanciest-looking ceiling
• A “shopping haul” flatlay
• A mirror selfie
• A food court pic
• Something that looks like it belongs in a palace (the Trafford Centre pretty OTT when it comes to styling so this shouldn’t be hard!)

Posing Challenge

Recreate these poses somewhere in Manchester:

• “Main character walking down the street”
• “Album cover stare”
• “Tourist photo gone wrong”
• “Movie poster pose”
• “Laughing candid” (even if it’s fake)

The Colour Hunt Challenge

Find and photograph:

• Something bright red
• Something neon
• Something blue
• Something gold
• Something pink
• Something with all the colours

This works really well in the Northern Quarter.

The Random Manchester Checklist Challenge

Take photos of:

• A busker performing
• A funny shop sign
• A weird statue
• A quirky doorway
• Something shaped like an animal
• A street name that sounds funny

Rainy Day Manchester Challenge

If it’s classic Manchester weather:

• An umbrella shot
• A reflection in a puddle
• A rainy window photo
• Someone jumping over water
• A moody street photo

Rain = instant aesthetic.

Bonus Photo Challenge Ideas (For Competitive Teens)

Timed Challenge

Give them 30 minutes to take:

• 10 photos
• in 10 different locations
• with 10 different themes

Fast-paced and fun!

TikTok/Instagram Reel Challenge

Make a mini reel with:

• 1 street art clip
• 1 food clip
• 1 tram clip
• 1 “fit check” clip
• 1 skyline shot

Prize Ideas (If You Want to Make It a Game)

If you want to up the stakes and make your Manchester photo challenge even more exciting, why not offer up a prize:

• Winner picks where to eat
• Winner gets a dessert
• Winner chooses the next activity
• Winner gets £5 spending money (teen motivation unlocked)

Hopefully these photo challenge ideas will get your teens involved and interested – and you might even end up with some cool photos of each other to remember your day out!

Have look at these articles next:

Things to do in Manchester with teens

StreetHunt Games Manchester with teens

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