The Manchester Hum — When the Beetham Tower Howls Like an Alien Trumpet

Manchester’s Mysterious Hum

Manchester is one of the cities where people have long reported hearing a strange, low-frequency vibration — a phenomenon known globally as The Hum. But this particular noise, unlike most others, has a very earthly cause.

The sound — dubbed the Beetham Tower Howl — is produced by the wind rushing around the city’s iconic skyscraper: the Beetham Tower, a 551-foot-tall glass-and-steel monolith housing the Hilton Manchester Hotel on Deansgate.

When Wind Meets Architecture

The phenomenon occurs when high winds strike the glass fins and the metal sculpture that crowns the tower. As air passes through and around the structure, it creates turbulence — similar to blowing across the mouth of a bottle or playing a flute.

The resulting tone resonates around 250 Hz — a low, moaning sound that reverberates through the city center and beyond. On particularly windy days, the hum can be heard across multiple suburbs including Chorlton and Miles Platting.

The Beetham Tower Howl vs. The Hum

The Beetham Tower Howl is often mistaken for the global phenomenon known as The Hum — a mysterious low-frequency droning reported from Taos (USA) and Kokomo (USA) to Bristol (UK) and even New Zealand.

But in this case, the culprit is architectural acoustics, not underground machinery or distant seismic activity. It’s a mechanical, resonant hum created by wind interacting with the building’s design — similar to the One World Trade Center Howl that baffled New Yorkers after 2012.

When it first returned in February 2014, locals described it as a “metallic wail” that drowned out traffic noise across the busy city center. The sound has since become Manchester’s accidental soundtrack whenever storms roll in.

What Causes the Howl?

Engineers discovered that the noise originates from the glass fins and metallic spire attached to the building’s roof. When wind flows past these sharp edges, vortex shedding occurs — alternating pressure zones that make the structure “sing.”

The stronger the wind, the louder the note. It’s essentially an architectural wind instrument, humming a single eerie tone that everyone in Manchester can hear but no one can silence for long.

Still Creepy? Absolutely.

Even though it’s explainable, the Beetham Tower Howl remains deeply unsettling — especially at night when the city quiets down and that mechanical moan echoes between buildings like the voice of an unseen giant.

Next time Manchester sings, you’ll know: it’s not the end times. It’s just the wind playing the Hilton.

FAQ: The Beetham Tower Howl and the Manchester Hum

What causes the Beetham Tower Howl?

The howl is created by strong winds passing over the glass fins and metal structure on top of the Beetham Tower. These elements cause turbulence and resonance — like a giant flute — producing a low-frequency hum that carries for miles.

How loud is the Beetham Tower Hum?

The sound resonates around 250 Hz, which is a low-frequency tone easily felt and heard over large distances. Residents across Manchester have reported hearing it even several kilometers away from the tower.

Is the Manchester Hum dangerous?

No. While unnerving, the Beetham Tower Howl poses no risk. It’s a byproduct of wind resonance and has no link to seismic or industrial activity.

Why do some people call it “The Hum”?

Because its frequency and character resemble global reports of The Hum, a mysterious droning sound heard in many regions worldwide. However, Manchester’s version has a clear, mechanical source.

Has the Beetham Tower Howl been fixed?

Engineers attempted to mitigate the noise by modifying the building’s glass fins and spire, but under specific wind conditions the hum can still return — as haunting as ever.