A landmark photography project
Photography by Kaitlin Bowden-O'Connor & Katie O'Neill
John Consterdine is a taxi driver, award-winning tour guide and a familiar face to many around Manchester. He is the city’s only fully qualified black cab tour guide and taxi driver, offering unique sightseeing experiences through his business, Manchester Taxi Tours.
John Consterdine - Manchester Taxi Tours
Visitors from across the world hire John for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Manchester, delivered with warmth, humour and plenty of local insight, all from the comfort of his electric black cab.
Born in Crumpsall, North Manchester, John attended Moston Brook High School before going on to study at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
“My interest in Manchester goes back a long way to the sights and sounds of childhood memories. From shopping with my mum to school trips to the Cathedral and Belle Vue Zoo. School days in Newton Heath, where Manchester United were founded, and football matches at Maine Road.”
John began driving private hire vehicles in the early 1980s, a career that gave him an in-depth knowledge of Manchester and the surrounding areas. “When I made the move to black cabs, going all over Greater Manchester and the wider region, it was like someone had turned the lights on.”
That passion for the city eventually led John to become a qualified tour guide. In 2008, he enrolled on a tour guiding course advertised by Marketing Manchester.“The course was quite daunting and the level of knowledge needed to pass was huge.”
John successfully completed the course in 2009 and gradually began developing Manchester Taxi Tours. “I had no idea when I took the course where it would lead. I take my business very seriously… but not myself.”
Manchester is an amazing, fascinating place with many different areas and aspects. No two Manchester Taxi Tours are the same.
Today, John shares his passion for Manchester with visitors from across the globe. His tours explore the city’s history, culture, music, sport, architecture, and lesser-known stories, bringing Manchester to life through the eyes of a lifelong local.
John’s knowledge, enthusiasm and unique approach to showing visitors his home city has earned him national recognition. His tourism accolades include: Manchester Tourism Star of the Year - Winner, 2013 and Visit England Tourism Superstar of the Year - Finalist, 2014, 2022.
For John, Manchester isn’t just home, it’s a city he is proud to share with the world.
Manchester Cathedral, Cathedral Approach and Strangeways Prison (HMP Manchester)
Iconic locations often featured in Manchester Taxi Tours.
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Student reflection: Kaitlin Bowden-O'Connor
We met John and his taxi outside Manchester Cathedral, the starting location for the photoshoot.
From the moment we arrived, John was warm, welcoming, and talkative, immediately putting me at ease. We began by photographing John with his taxi before capturing a series of close-up images around the cathedral grounds. He was happy to take direction throughout the shoot and spent time telling us about his work as a tour guide, which helped create a relaxed atmosphere.
For the second half of the shoot, we jumped in the back of John's cab and traveled the sort distance to Strangeways Prison. As one of the key locations featured on many of his tours, the prison is an instantly recognisable landmark on the Manchester skyline and provided a strong visual backdrop.
The weather was overcast but bright, creating soft, even lighting for most of the session. In the more shaded areas, I adjusted my camera's ISO settings to maintain the correct exposure. I was also using a Nikon camera instead of my usual Canon, but I adapted quickly to the different controls and was able to work confidently throughout the shoot.
John & Kaitlin
Many of the final images outside the Victorian prison entrance feature John behind the wheel of his taxi, alongside a series of character studies with the prison as the backdrop. My aim was to capture John against his surroundings. I believe I achieved this by creating images that not only reflect John’s character but also tell the story of his work and his connection to the city.