- Giant 13.5m hand-painted mural unveiled on Thomas Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
- The artwork reimagines colourful fridge magnets with three-dimensional interactive elements, celebrating train travel and unforgettable adventures available across UK destinations
- Following the success of last year’s The Embrace mural in Leeds, Been There, Seen That has been created by renowned mural artist Peter Barber in partnership with CrossCountry
A spectacular new piece of public art is set to become one of Manchester's must-see attractions this summer, as a giant 13.5-metre-high mural is unveiled in the heart of the Northern Quarter.
Been There, Seen That was revealed on Friday 7 August on Thomas Street, where it will remain on display until 31 August, giving visitors just over three weeks to experience one of the city's newest large-scale artworks.
Created by renowned mural artist Peter Barber in partnership with CrossCountry and Global Street Art, Europe's leading producer of hand-painted murals, the striking installation transforms a familiar collection of colourful fridge magnets into a larger-than-life celebration of unforgettable adventures across the UK.
Designed to surprise, delight and inspire, the artwork encourages people to think differently about the places they can discover closer to home. Featuring three-dimensional elements that create an interactive viewing experience, Been There, Seen That promises to be a standout photo opportunity and a new talking point for visitors exploring Manchester's famous street art scene.
The mural follows the success of last year's landmark artwork, The Embrace, in Leeds, which attracted thousands of visitors and demonstrated the growing popularity of large-scale public art installations.
Peter Barber, Lead Artist and Head of Operations at Global Street Art, has created murals and public art commissions across the UK and internationally. Been There, Seen That showcases his distinctive approach to creating immersive artwork that invites people to become part of the experience.
Located just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly station, Thomas Street provides an easily accessible destination for both locals and visitors looking to explore one of the city's newest attractions while discovering the independent shops, cafés and bars of the Northern Quarter.
David Mullins, Head of Brand, Communications & Digital Strategy at CrossCountry, said: "Following the fantastic response to The Embrace last year, we wanted to create another memorable piece of public art that people would enjoy discovering and sharing. Peter Barber has created something truly unique with Been There, Seen That, and we are excited to bring this striking artwork to Manchester.
"The UK is full of incredible destinations that are easy to reach by train, and this mural celebrates the memories we make along the way. We hope it inspires people to explore somewhere new while enjoying one of Manchester's most exciting new artworks this summer."
Visitor information:
Been There, Seen That
Location: Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester
Dates: 7 August – 31 August 2026
Nearest station: Manchester Piccadilly (approximately 10 minutes' walk)
Contact Information
CrossCountry Press Office
[email protected]About CrossCountry
CrossCountry is a long-distance passenger train operator, with a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff and calling at over 100 stations. Based in Birmingham, CrossCountry connects seven of Britain’s 10 largest cities and delivers 240 services every weekday, equating to over 42 million passenger journeys each year.
For further information on CrossCountry services, visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk or visit one of our social media platforms via X @crosscountryuk or Facebook at facebook.com/crosscountrytrains
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