Set on seven acres of beautiful land, The Donkey Sanctuary Manchester is open to the public for pre-booked visits.

Planning your visit

Donkeys galloping in field

To help keep everyone safe, we have limited the number of on-site visitors. Learn more about our new visitor experience.

To help us manage this, we are implementing a booking system for visits between:

  • 10am - 12noon
  • 1pm - 3pm

Opening times

  • Saturdays: 10am - 12noon and 1pm - 3pm
  • First Sunday of the month: 10am - 12noon and 1pm - 3pm

Additional 2024 dates

  • Friday 5 April
  • Friday 12 April
  • Friday 31 May

Dog-friendly

We welcome well behaved dogs on site, but they must be kept on a lead at all times. Please note there is no access for dogs in the refreshment serving area.

Contact us

By phone:
+44 (0) 161 301 4051

By email:
Get in touch via email

How to find us

The Donkey Sanctuary
Green Fold
Abbey Hey
Manchester
M18 8RJ

By car

M60 Junction 23, Ashton Old Road A635: Take Junction 23 and follow signs for A635 (Ashton Old Road) towards Manchester. Turn left onto Capital Road. (Following signs for Wright Robinson Sports College.) Take the third left onto Abbey Hey Lane. Turn left onto Green Fold and continue forward over a bridge to reach The Donkey Sanctuary Manchester.

M60 Junction 24, Hyde Road A57: Take Junction 24 and follow signs for A57 (Hyde Road) towards Manchester. Continue straight at the traffic signals towards Manchester and take the second right into Chapman Street. Follow the Wright Robinson Sports College signs through Abbey Hey. Continue on Abbey Hey Lane, then turn right onto Green Fold and continue forward to reach The Donkey Sanctuary Manchester.

By bus

From Manchester via Ashton Old Road, Bus 219: Bus 219 towards Ashton, off at Capital Road, St Clements Church. Go down Capitol Road and continue along Jetson Street. Take the third left onto Abbey Hey Lane. Continue round the corner then turn left onto Green Fold. The Centre is straight ahead over the bridge and to the right.

From Manchester via Hyde Road, Bus 201 or 203: Bus 201 or 203 towards Denton get off at Debdale park near McDonalds and walk through the park.

Stockport, Bus 7: Bus 7 towards Ashton, ask the driver to let you off on Abbey Hey Lane at the bakery on the corner of Green Fold. The Centre is straight ahead over the bridge and to the right.

Ashton under Lyne, Bus 7: Bus 7 towards Stockport, ask the driver to let you off on Abbey Hey Lane at the bakery on the corner of Green Fold. The Centre is straight ahead over the bridge and to the right.

Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA)

Hand on donkey fur

Donkeys have a natural ability to help their human friends develop the social and emotional skill sets they need for life. 

Our wonderful staff at Manchester have many years of professional experience, helping people of all backgrounds connect with these beautiful animals.

If you are interested in becoming a client or a partnership organisation, please don't hesitate to contact The Donkey Sanctuary Manchester on the details above.

Meet the herd