tourist attractions of manchester

21 Top Attractions & Places to Visit in Manchester, England

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 26, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author Bryan Dearsley traveled to England in the spring of 2022 where he spent eight weeks exploring towns and cities, including Manchester.

The city of Manchester is a celebrated center for the arts, media, and higher education. Like the neighboring city of Liverpool, Manchester has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years. Spearheading the city's transformation have been the introduction of initiatives such as the Castlefield project, with its many canals and restored warehouses, and the city's vibrant museum complex on Liverpool Road .

The extension of the city's entertainment and sports facilities has also considerably enhanced its appeal for tourists. Things to do like attending the excellent Opera House, with its roster of theatrical and music performances, and the thrilling Chill Factore , Britain's longest and widest indoor ski slope, have made it one of the best places to visit in northern England.

Manchester has also become a favorite for shoppers with an enormous range of retail opportunities. Some of the best include the elegant shops of St. Anne's Square , King Street, and the Royal Exchange , as well as the large covered market halls of Bolton Arcade .

To learn more, be sure to read through our list of fun things to do in Manchester.

See also: Where to Stay in Manchester

1. Explore the Canals of Castlefield

2. get technical at the science and industry museum, 3. visit imperial war museum north, 4. take a tour of manchester cathedral, 5. john rylands library & manchester central library, 6. get your game on at the national football museum, 7. go back in time at the manchester museum, 8. pop inside st. mary's catholic church, 9. visit britain's oldest public library: chetham's library, 10. see the paintings at manchester art gallery, 11. the whitworth art gallery, 12. take a wander through chinatown, 13. visit manchester town hall & st. peter's square, 14. visit the people's history museum, 15. explore salford quays, 16. take a trip to heaton park, 17. enjoy the blooms at fletcher moss park, 18. platt hall: gallery of costume, 19. university of manchester, 20. tour manchester's historic victoria baths, 21. museum of transport, greater manchester, where to stay in manchester for sightseeing, manchester - climate chart.

Designated an Urban Heritage Park, Castlefield is an excellent place to visit to begin exploring Manchester. A walk among the carefully restored Victorian homes, storehouses, and former factories along the old canals or through the reconstructed Roman Fort is time well spent.

Be sure to explore the Bridgewater Canal . It was constructed in 1761 to transport coal from the mines at Worsley to Manchester. The many old warehouses that line the canal have been restored and turned into offices, shops, hotels, and restaurants. A trip on one of the Bridgewater tour boats is highly recommended.

Other interesting tourist attractions include the Castlefield Art Gallery , with its exhibitions of contemporary art, and Bridgewater Hall , home to the Hallé Orchestra and first-class concerts. The Castlefield Bowl hosts regular pop and classical concerts and is also worth a visit.

Location: Castlefield Basin, Manchester

The Science and Industry Museum is situated on the site of the world's oldest railroad station. Its 12 galleries include the Power Hall, with water and steam-driven machines from the golden age of the textile industry, as well as vintage made-in-Manchester cars, including a rare 1904 Rolls Royce.

The history of the city from Roman times through the Industrial Revolution to the present day is documented in the Station Building. The Air and Space Gallery is another must-see. Here, you'll see numerous historic aircraft, including a replica of Triplane 1 by A. V. Roe, the first British plane to successfully fly.

Address: Liverpool Road, Manchester

Imperial War Museum North (IWM North) is also worth visiting, especially if you have an interest in the history of warfare. Opened in 2002, this branch of the Imperial War Museum is a popular attraction for its collections of fighting vehicles and aircrafts.

Highlights of a visit include audiovisual presentations and exhibits dealing with the history of warfare and its role in shaping civilization. There are also numerous static displays of large machines such as tanks, aircraft, artillery, and handheld weaponry. A shop and café are located on the premises.

Address: Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester

Located close to the city center and the River Irwell, Manchester Cathedral dates mostly from 1422 to 1506 and was raised to cathedral status in 1847. Known officially as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St. Mary, St. Denys, and St. George, it's particularly popular among visitors for its attractive chapels on both sides of the nave and choir.

The cathedral was built between 1486 and 1508, and further additions and alterations were undertaken in almost every subsequent century. Of particular note are the choir stalls, which boast some of the most richly decorated misericords in the country.

St. John's Chapel is the chapel of the Manchester Regiment, and the little Lady Chapel has a wooden screen dating from 1440. The octagonal chapterhouse, built in 1465, has murals that include a figure of Christ in modern dress.

Address: Victoria Street, Manchester

Literary buffs and lovers of the printed word are spoiled for choice when it comes to historic libraries in Manchester. In addition to being the home of Britain's oldest public library, Manchester is also home to two of the country's other most important libraries: the John Rylands Library and Manchester Central Library.

Founded in 1888, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library was established to further the cause of research in humanities, using as its foundation the broad collections of manuscripts and archival material belonging to the University of Manchester Library. Rated one of the top free things to do in Manchester , a visit to this spectacular neo-Gothic building is certainly worthwhile.

While not as old (it opened in 1934), Manchester Central Library is every bit as architecturally pleasing. Set overlooking St. Peter's Square, the design of this impressive domed structure, with its large columns, is reputedly based on the Pantheon in Rome. Grab some photos of its exterior before popping in for a look inside. Highlights include a number of attractive stained-glass windows, the ornate ceiling of the dome, as well as a number of interesting statues.

Address: 150 Deansgate, Manchester

Home to two of Europe's top football teams – Man City and Man United – Manchester is a great place to pay homage to the country's favorite sport. Your first stop should be the National Football Museum . This football shrine features fascinating memorabilia related to the sport, including such gems as the very first rulebook, as well as historic trophies and clothing.

A variety of great short movies show the history of the sport, while fun hands-on (and feet-on, for that matter) displays provide plenty of additional entertainment for youngsters. Check their website for details of special events and programs. It's also worth paying a visit to one (or both) of the Manchester teams' home stadiums.

Manchester City's Etihad Stadium offers a variety of fun tour options, including behind-the-scenes and deluxe dinner tours. Old Trafford , home to Manchester United, offers guided tours that allow access to private boxes and the chance to tread the field itself.

Address: Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street, Manchester

Manchester Museum is another of the city's excellent university museums to include on your itinerary. Established in 1888, the museum is notable for its displays relating to natural history, archaeology, and anthropology, with its oldest collections dating back to 1821.

Notable as the largest university museum in the UK , its sizable collection of over 4.5 million artifacts includes examples from all over the world. It's also well known for its large Chinese cultural collections.

Editor's note: The Manchester Museum is closed for major renovations until February 2023.

Address: Oxford Road, Manchester

Another religious site worth visiting, St. Mary's Catholic Church is something of a well-kept secret in Manchester. Built in 1794 and located next to the historic Market Hall, it's also known locally as "The Hidden Gem." But don't let the structure's rather plain exterior stop you from popping in for a look inside.

St. Mary's is one of the city's newer churches, built during the Industrial Revolution, and the interior reveals numerous fine Victorian carvings. Highlights include the marble high altar, statues of saints, and a unique Expressionist-style stations of the cross. Guided tours are available.

Address: 17 Mulberry Street, Manchester

Chetham's Hospital, just north of Manchester Cathedral, dates in part to 1422. Originally a residence for priests, it's now home to a music school and Chetham Library , the oldest public library in England.

In continuous use since 1653, the library has more than 100,000 books , more than half of them printed before 1850. Chetham's is also famous as the meeting place of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels during Marx's visit to Manchester. Guided tours are available.

Other libraries of note are the Manchester Central Library located next door to the Town Hall , and the Portico Library, which houses the literary collection of Dalton and Joule, founders of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

The Victorian John Rylands Library , now part of Manchester University, is also worth seeing. Among its many important collections are medieval texts, a Gutenberg Bible, and collection of early printing by William Caxton.

Location: Long Millgate, Manchester

The Manchester Art Gallery possesses one of the largest art collections in Britain outside of London. The gallery includes works by the pre-Raphaelites; Flemish masters of the 17th century; French impressionists, including Gauguin, Manet, and Monet; and German artists such as Max Ernst.

There are also pieces from well-known English artists, including Stubbs, Constable, and Turner. The gallery's impressive sculpture collection includes works by Rodin, Maillol, Jacob Epstein, and Henry Moore.

For more arts and culture tourist attractions, check out HOME , Manchester's international center for contemporary visual arts and independent film. Located at 70 Oxford Street, the venue is noted for its regular performances of everything from musicals to comedies.

Address: Mosley Street, Manchester

Fresh from a major redevelopment, The Whitworth Art Gallery features over 55,000 artworks in its vast collection. Named after the surrounding park, the gallery's very modern facilities are housed in a mix of old and new buildings overlooking a very pleasant green space.

The oldest collections themselves date back to 1889, and its stellar collections of sculptures and mostly modern artworks have seen it consistently ranking in lists of top attractions in Manchester. Other notable collections include watercolours, textiles, and even wallpapers. Works by the likes of Francis Bacon, Van Gogh, and Picasso can all be enjoyed, along with a sizable collection of outdoor art.

A café and shop are located on the premises, and a variety of fun events and activities for individuals as well as families are available.

The colorful home of one of the largest Chinese communities in Britain, Chinatown is only a stone's throw from the Manchester Art Gallery and is fun to explore on foot. The richly decorated arched gateway leading into the district is especially striking.

The many shops and restaurants here offer a wide range of culinary delicacies from Hong Kong and Beijing. Interested in shopping? Unique Chinese handicrafts and artworks can be found at the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Art (CFCCA).

Address: 13 Thomas Street, Manchester

The imposing façade of the neo-Gothic Town Hall (1877) graces pedestrianized Albert Square , and the tower offers excellent panoramic views of the city. Inside, the Council Chamber merits special attention, along with the cycle of Ford Madox Brown murals that depict the history of the city.

While there, visit the Free Trade Hall, opened in 1951. Editor's note: Manchester Town Hall is currently undergoing major interior and exterior renovations due for completion in 2024.

Allocate some time to also explore St. Peter's Square. This large public square is where you'll find the Manchester Cenotaph commemorating the city's war dead, as well as plenty of great opportunities to get in some people watching.

Also worth a visit, the centrally located Manchester Central Convention Complex , one of the largest such sites in England, hosts many musical performances throughout the year. The building is unique in that it was constructed amid the former Victorian railroad station on Windmill Street.

Location: Albert Square, Manchester

The People's History Museum is the national center for the collection, conservation, interpretation, and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain.

Located in a former pumping station, the museum showcases the history of British democracy and its impact on the population. Also of interest are the extensive collections of artifacts relating to trade unions and women's suffrage.

Another museum that's close by and worth visiting is the Manchester Jewish Museum . This interesting attraction features a unique collection dealing with the city's Jewish community.

Location: Left Bank, Manchester

While there are enough fun things to do in Salford for those wanting to make a day trip out of it , those crunched for time would do well to visit one or two attractions in this pleasant university town. The Salford Quays, usually referred to simply as "The Quays," should definitely top your list.

An easy 25-minute, five-kilometer ride away from Manchester city center by public transit, this much revitalized area straddles the banks of the city's ship canal and is a delight to explore on foot.

In addition to such popular attractions as the Imperial War Museum North and Old Trafford, home to Manchester United Football Club, you'll find the Lowry Arts Centre. Dedicated to the life and work of local artist L.S. Lowry, it contains numerous unique pieces, as well as a performing arts center.

Covering some 600 acres, Heaton Park is the biggest park in Greater Manchester and one of the largest municipal parks in Europe. Heaton Hall , built in 1772, lies in the very heart of the park and although not all of it is open to the public, it remains an impressive sight.

Some buildings, such as the charming Orangery, are open seasonly to the public, so check the official website for closures. The park has been extensively restored and retains many of its original buildings and vistas.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy its 18-hole golf course, driving range, mini putt, and tennis courts, while families can explore the boating lake, animal farm, woodlands, ornamental gardens, observatory, and adventure playground. There's even a volunteer-run tramway and museum.

Address: Middleton Road, Manchester

Also worth visiting is Fletcher Moss Park . Founded in 1917, this large green space, part botanical garden and part wildlife habitat, is an engaging contrast to the busy city center. There are numerous walking trails on the property, as well as regular guided "health" walks.

Popular things to do here include enjoying a stroll or picnic, or opting for more strenuous activities, such as tennis, rugby, or football. There's also a pleasant café located within the grounds. Dogs are welcome.

Address: 18 Stenner Lane, Didsbury, Manchester

Platt Hall , an elegant Georgian house built in 1764 and now part of the Manchester Art Gallery, presents an excellent overview of English fashion and costume from 1600 to the present day. It is perhaps the only collection to rival London's Victoria and Albert Museum .

Strengths of the museum include its many examples of everyday dress, with the Gallery of Costume containing one of the largest collections of costumes and accessories in Britain.

Location: Platt Hall, Fallowfiield, Manchester

Manchester's educational precinct, encompassing the University of Manchester , includes a variety of institutes and halls of residence.

Opened in 1851, the university can claim three Nobel prizewinners: Ernest Rutherford (1871-1939), who laid the foundations of modern atomic physics; physician James Chadwick, who in 1932 proved the existence of the neutron; and Sir John Cockcroft (1897-1967), one of the leading physicists in British and Canadian atomic research.

Housed in the university, the Whitworth Art Gallery is famous for its collections of British watercolors, drawings, prints, modern art, and sculpture, along with the largest textile and wallpaper collections outside London. Also close by is the Manchester Museum, with its extensive scientific collections and Egyptian exhibits.

Known to locals as Manchester's "Water Palace," the Victoria Baths are well worth a visit. The building is a perfectly preserved example of a Victorian-era bath, a feature once relatively common in many large urban areas in bygone days.

Although not unlike modern public swimming pools, it was built in 1986 and is unique for the change facilities that line the pool's perimeter. Also noteworthy is the ornate steelwork that holds the structure up.

Open seasonally from April through to November, it can be toured and makes for a pleasant outing. Be sure to check the official website for dates and availability. The facility also serves as a venue for concerts and movies, as well as special family events. A tea shop and gift shop are located on-site.

Address: Hathersage Road, Manchester

A visit to the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester is a fun activity for all ages. Located in the city's Cheetham Hill area, this impressive collection of vintage transportation consists of over 80 buses, many of them still working. Other historic modes of transport housed here include an original city tram dating from 1901, as well as old trolleybuses.

Displays describe not just the vehicles, but also deal with the development and evolution of public transit in Manchester. A quaint tearoom is located on the premises, as is a gift shop.

Address: Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester

As in any big city, it's hard to find a hotel that is near all the main attractions. But many of Manchester's points of interest at least cluster in three areas: the Urban Heritage Park and museum complex on Liverpool Road in the Castlefield neighborhood; the shopping district between King Street and the cathedral; and Chinatown to the south, where you'll find the Manchester Art Gallery. These highly rated hotels in Manchester are convenient for sightseeing:

Luxury Hotels :

• With a good-sized pool and a spa, The Edwardian Manchester sits between Chinatown, the Liverpool Road museums, and the smart shopping district north of King Street.
• Another great accommodation option that's close to Chinatown and the Manchester Art Gallery is The Alan . This hip 4-star design hotel features industrial-chic rooms and suites set in a historic red brick building.
• The chic and charming Great John Street Hotel , in the new museum district, has a hot tub on the roof.
• The Midland , opposite the library and well located for visiting museums and the City Hall, has a gym and spa with a small pool, Jacuzzi, and steam room.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Beautifully furnished rooms, thoughtful amenities, and superior service make Velvet Hotel a luxury choice with a mid-range price. It's located between Chinatown and Piccadilly rail station, where trains arrive from London.
• Right next to Chinatown, Roomzzz Aparthotel Manchester City has stylish, well-designed rooms with rain showers and good soundproofing.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly is directly across the street from Piccadilly Station, a 10-minute walk to the central attractions, and near the free shuttle bus stop.

Budget Hotels:

• Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Piccadilly) Hotel is excellent value, with well-furnished rooms less than a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Station.
• Travelodge Manchester Central has plain but comfortable rooms just across the bridge from the cathedral and shopping district.
• At the edge of Chinatown with plenty of restaurants nearby, Ibis Manchester Centre Princess Street Hotel offers comfortable rooms with few frills.

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Why we love Manchester

Home to world-famous football , renowned art galleries and a music scene that brought Oasis to centre stage – there’s lots to love about Manchester. Once the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, its former industrial buildings now bounce with energy. From the creative to culinary, there’s a wealth of treasures waiting to be discovered.

Discover hip new restaurants, diverse food halls, markets and food tours . Stay at quirky or indulgent hotels that fill its once dormant factories. Discover the Norther Quarter and Explore Ancoats . Spend a day rummaging through vintage record stores and retro shops, or head to one of Britain’s most famous gay villages. With a cuisine as diverse as its people, an art scene full of creativity and a nightlife that will leave you dancing from dusk ‘til dawn, you’ll find there’s so much to discover.

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Tuck into deliciously diverse food at this iconic Grade II listed heritage building. On the fringes of Manchester’s famous Northern Quarter, Mackie Mayor offers a buzzing scene for foodies. Dine on rustic sourdough pizza or try its hanger steak.

Things to do in Manchester

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The heart of gay Manchester, this is a hotspot destination for the city’s queer scene.

Looking for something unique? You’ve come to the right place: Afflecks is renowned for its quirky independent boutiques.

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Manchester is the world-famous home of football – so why not go behind-the-scenes at its iconic stadiums?

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Manchester Museum

In a beautiful Gothic building at the heart of the city, this free museum is full of treasures from all over the world.

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Strut through the streets and discover the venues and places that make up Manchester’s musical legacy.

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This street food market is set in an impressive Victorian building, and is open from breakfast to supper.

Scranchester

This foodie tour visits fantastic cafés, food stalls, delis and more, tasting multiple dishes as you walk.

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Manchester Opera House

From drag cabaret and glittering musicals, to famous ballets and operas: you’ll find it all right here.

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Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens

This 18th century house is surrounded by magnificent gardens, wild woodlands and a deer-filled park.

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King Street Townhouse

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Rena Spa at the Midland

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Castlefield Viaduct

A once disused Victorian bridge transformed into an urban sky park and ‘garden in the sky’, where lush planting combines with its original 19th century features.

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An award-winning theatre and shopping centre, combined in one beautifully restored Victorian complex.

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Enjoy live gigs, club nights and more, at one of Manchester’s leading music and cultural venues.

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Every two years, the Manchester International Festival presents a star-studded line-up.

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As warmer weather finally arrives, the city starts to bloom. The Manchester Flower Festival takes over the city, flowing with floral installations.

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Manchester in the summertime bursts with the colour and excitement of its annual Pride Festival. Expect a jam-packed weekend with popular events Gay Village and Pride Parade.

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Aviva Studios

Home of Factory International, discover works by world-renowned figures and Manchester’s rising stars at this newly opened arts, music and cultural hub, telling the city’s innovative history through captivating art.

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Christmas Markets

Soak up the festive spirit at Manchester Christmas Market – explore the city centre filled with food stalls, independent craft sellers, and locally brewed ales this festive season.

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Northern quarter.

From dirty street food to hidden bars and shops filled with memorabilia, look no further than a stay in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

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For some retail therapy and places to eat around every corner, stay in the heart of Manchester.

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Getting to Manchester

Manchester is located in the north of England, situated in the county of Greater Manchester.  Manchester Airport is one north England’s main international hubs, welcoming travellers from all over the world. As the largest airport outside of London, Manchester flies to around 225 destinations worldwide. Manchester is approximately 200 miles (322km) north of London and it takes just over 2 hours when travelling from London to Manchester by train.

Getting around

With fantastic public transport served by bus, tram and rail, it’s super easy to explore Manchester. Plan your journey with Transport for Greater Manchester, jump aboard a free bus or pick up a System One Travelcard for seamless travel via rail, tram and bus.

Greater Manchester is served by the Bee Network which also covers the tram network. With hundreds of routes which run throughout the city, affordable and flexible tickets can be used on any bus and tram.

With one of the best tram networks in Britain, it’s easy to get around by Metrolink which sits under the Bee Network . You can also plan train journeys and book tickets on the main rail network .

A bike-friendly city, there are loads of cycle routes and dedicated lanes, making exploring by bike hassle-free.

Want to know more?

Don’t forget to check out Visit Manchester, where you’ll find top tips on what to see and do, and much more.

• the ultimate guide to manchester, england

• Food & Drinks
• Places to Stay

28 Fun Things to do in Manchester (for adults, couples & more!) To Try in 2024

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Are you looking for some inspiration when it comes to the fun things to do in Manchester? Then you’ve come to the right place!

As someone who lives in Manchester and loves doing fun stuff, I had to put together this article.

⏱️ IN A RUSH? Here are the top 3 FUN Activities in Manchester

1️⃣ Axe Throwing at Whistle Punks 2️⃣ Playing Cricket at Sixes Social Cricket 3️⃣ Skating at Paradise Skate World

You will find below a selection of the best fun things to do in Manchester City Centre and around. This includes a selection of activities for adults, group of friends but also some family friendly ones.

Table of Contents

1. Urban Axe Throwing Experience

📍Address : 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN, UK

Located in Deansgate, this urban axe throwing experience is truly unique and is one of the fun things to do in Manchester for adults.

You’ll be led by an experienced instructor who will take you through the safety and techniques of axe throwing. There are ten axe throwing lanes and two sizes of target to aim at.

You will be playing by teams of 10 (don’t worry if you are a small group, they will make the groups when you arrive) and play 3 rounds.

Afterwards you can enjoy some drinks at the on-site bar and order some pizzas.

Click here to see the prices.

2. Sixes Social Cricket

📍Address : The Corn Exchange, New Cathedral St, Manchester M4 3TR – Find on Google Maps

Sixes Social Cricket is located by the Cathedral and is part of the Corn exchange.

There are batting cages to play interactive cricket as well as karaoke pods.

It opens around lunch time but stays open well into the evening. So, head there in the day or go in the evening, grab a beer and practise your cricket skills.

If you are picturing cricket whites and a sleep crowd don’t worry this experience is much more fun.

You and your friends can head to the batting nets where you can choose which level you want to play. I recommend starting with the lower level to get used to it. You can up the level every time.

You can get adult tickets for under £15 and children’s tickets for around £10. It’s important that you arrive 15 minutes before your booking so you can start batting on time.

💡  PRO TIP: If you book off-peak tickets they will be 50% cheaper.

3. Paradise Skate World

📍Address : Unit 5, Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN

You’ll be taken to another universe at this indoor roller-skating venue. You’ll be skating surrounded by space and cosmos-themed décor.

Everything from the lighting to the cocktails is space-themed and super fun.

Whether it’s your first-time skating or you are a bit of a pro at Paradise Skate World, you can glide along to your heads content listening to some fantastic tunes.

There are a variety of ticket options available.

Try the classic ‘Intergalactic Skate Session’ where you can skate for 60 minutes (including skate hire).

If you fancy an intergalactic cocktail, then opt for the ‘Skate & Cocktail’. Tickets range from around £8 to £20 depending on which option you choose.

4. iFly Indoor Skydiving

📍Address : Leisure Village, 9 Trafford Way, Manchester M41 7JA

This iFly Indoor Skydiving experience provides you with two flights as well as a certificate.

This experience is about an hour and a half and is perfect for adrenaline junkies.

You can feel the rush of skydiving without the associated costs of jumping out of a plane. You can enjoy this experience for less than £80.

You will be flying in a vertical wind tunnel whilst following an instructor’s guidance. All the equipment you’ll need like suits, helmets and goggles will be provided for you.

Your sky dive will be the equivalent of a free-fall time of three times 12,000 ft skydives.

iFly Indoor Skydiving is located right next to one of the other fun Manchester activities on this list, Chill Factore, which is very convenient.

Click here to see the prices

5. Chill Factore

📍Address : 7 Trafford Way, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M41 7JA

Located near Trafford Centre, Chill Factore is the perfect place for an epic day out.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to ski or maybe you just want to keep your eye in until the European ski season starts again. Whichever way, it will be fun!

Chill Factore is super popular because it has the longest indoor ski slope in the UK.

Standing tall at 180 metres you’ll be sure to have some fun on the slopes.

You can choose to ski or snowboard, take lessons or an hourly lift pass.

If you are considering visiting with kids over the holidays, you could also enrol them in the kids ski and snowboard holiday camps.

Hourly lift passes are around £33 to £40 with junior prices being lower.

6. Treetop Adventure Golf

📍Address : The Printworks, Dantzic St, Manchester M4 2BS

Treetop Adventure Golf is a rainforest-themed mini golf in the Printworks.

With two trails, either the Ancient Explorer or the Tropical Trail you and your friends and family will have a lot of fun trying to navigate your way around the course.

A family of four can play the 18-hole course for less than £40. Single, student, little explorer and senior tickets are also available at under £15.

You really can play the Treetop Adventure Golf course at any time of day with opening hours between 10am and 11am and closing times from 10pm to 11pm.

7. Immersive Gamebox

📍Address : Manchester Arndale, Unit R3 Halle Place, Market St, Manchester M4 3AQ

Immersive Gamebox is located inside the Arndale and is a great activity for groups.

They use immersive technology to make you feel as if you are in a full-size video game.  

The games you can play include Squid Game, Angry Birds and Shaun the Sheep to name a few.

You and your teammates will work together against other teams to beat the high scores and climb the leader board.

Go with a group of six and you’ll have your game box to yourselves. You can play whilst you drink by ordering beers, cocktails or soft drinks right to your box.

8. Crystal Maze

📍Address : St Johns, Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4FP

Like in the conic 1990’s Crystal Maze TV show, you and your team will need to solve a variety of puzzles and mysteries, compete in mental and physical challenges all with the solitary aim of winning crystals.

The more crystals you have the more time you will get in the classic crystal dome at the end of the game. Here you’ll need to work hard to catch as many flying tokens as you can.

You can choose a variety of adventure zones at Crystal Maze Manchester including futuristic, industrial, mediaeval, and Aztec.

Crystal Maze Manchester caters for friends , families and large groups like hen and stag parties. Tickets range from £30 to £60.

9. Breakout Manchester

📍Address : 51 Church St, Manchester M4 1PD

Breakout Manchester is a live escape room experience in the Northern Quarter.

You need to be in teams of two to five people and will have 60 minutes to escape a locked room of your choosing. Find clues, solve puzzles, and think your way out of this locked room.

There are 17 uniquely themed rooms to choose from. You can see all the rooms here first before you decide which one to book.

From the Cursed Carnival to the Emporium of Magic to the scary and difficult Captured there is a room suitable for everyone.

For a group of five people tickets are less than £90 but do vary. Generally speaking, the more players you have the cheaper the ticket is.

10. The Archertype

📍Address : Unit 10A, Universal Building, 37 – 49 Devonshire St N, Manchester M12 6JR

The Archertype is a cool activity to try near Piccadilly. It’s set in an old warehouse and offers archerty tag experience.

Archery tag is a bit like dodgeball but instead of balls, you are meant to shoot each other with foam-tipped arrows.

Work intelligently together as a team to outsmart your opponents.

There are a variety of ticket options but generally speaking, you can play for under £30. The price becomes cheaper with more players in your team.

A trip to The Archertype is perfect for a group of friends or a corporate day out.

PRO TIP: There is free on-street parking on the street by the Universal Building after 6PM on weekdays and on weekends.

READ MORE: 15 Best Activity Bars in Manchester

11. Treetop Trek Manchester (Zip World)

📍Address : Heaton Park, St Margaret’s Rd, Manchester M25 2GT

Located in Heaton Park, Treetop Trek is one of the Zip World attractions in Manchester.

Here, you can escape to nature all whilst putting your fear of heights to the test by climbing on a high ropes course.

Once you have your harness on, throw away those fears and start navigating the 20 aerial challenges and 10 zip lines.

Hop from precarious floating log to precarious floating log, balance on ropes and make your way through netting. This is a super fun adventure for any age group.

There are a number of different ticket options including a two hour “full trek”, one hour “mini trek” and there’s also the “tree top nets” where you can jump around on elevated nets throwing exercise balls at one another.

Tickets to Treetop Trek are within the range of £15 to £40.

12. Urban Playground

📍Address : Manchester Arndale, Urban Playground Upper Mall, Manchester M4 3AQ

Urban Playground is simply brimming with fun-filled activities the entire family can enjoy. It’s located in the Arndale which means it’s very easy to get to.

Some of the activities on offer at Urban Playground include the famous CUBE live experience. Just like you’ve seen on TV you too can take your chance at the CUBE.

There’s also an epic crazy golf course.

Depending on the activity you choose tickets are in the range of £7 to £70 depending on the experience you choose.

13. SEALIFE Manchester

📍Address : Trafford Palazzo in TraffordCity, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 8AS

SEALIFE centres aren’t just for kids. People of all ages will love discovering the wonderfully colourful fish, sharks, sting rays and more at Manchester SEALIFE centre.

For a hassle free trip, you can book your tickets here .

There is an interactive 3D Turtle Beach experience which allows you to learn more about the life cycle of the sea turtle.

There’s also an interactive rockpool experience where you can learn about starfish, crabs, shrimp and more.

Some of the amazing species on display include the Cow Nose Stingray, Moon Jellyfish and Humphead Napoleon Wrasse.

But the highlight is the epic ocean tunnel that really makes you feel like you are walking under water.

Click here to book tickets

14. Silent Disco Adventure in Manchester

📍Address : Meeting point – 37 Exchange St, Manchester M4 3TR

This silent disco hits the streets of Manchester in broad daylight!

You will be provided with noise cancelling headphones and led on an hour-long tour of Manchester.

The enthusiastic and dancing guides will lead you past historic sites all whilst conducting some impressive choreography.

After you’ve toured Manchester on this musically instructed adventure you can stop by the starting destination at Sixes Cricket Club where you can enjoy a discount on food.

When you arrive at the location you’ll want to look out for the team in yellow. You can book tickets for this excursion for under £30.

Click here to book

15. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

📍Address : Trafford Palazzo in TraffordCity next to The Trafford Centre, Manchester M17 8AS        

The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre might sound like it’s instantly an attraction for kids but actually the whole family can enjoy this attraction.

LEGOLAND is right next to SEALIFE Manchester so it’s feasible to do both in the same day.

Attractions include a VR racing facility, a 4D LEGO cinema and an epic Miniland. Miniland is well worth a visit to see some of the UK and world’s greatest landmarks, made of LEGO of course.

After you’ve explored the centre’s attractions you can check out the LEGO shop and have a drink at the coffee shop.

Depending on your age and ticket option, entry ranges from around £12 to £35.

16. Manchester Food Tour

📍Address : Meeting point – outside Cask Bar at New Islington, Manchester M4 6BX

This Manchester food and drinks walking tour is the perfect activity for foodies.

The tour starts at the trendy area of Islington Marina before heading to Ancoats and Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

You won’t only be sampling top food and drinks, but you’ll be learning about Manchester’s history, from the Industrial Revolution to the famous local musicians.

The tour will stop at six locally run food establishments with each dish telling a story about Manchester and the community.

You will also discover a lot of hidden gems .

Click here to see the latest prices.

READ MORE: 4+ Best Food Tours in Manchester to try in 2023

17. Base Bar

📍Address : 5 Millow St, Manchester M4 4DR

Another sporty activity and one of the fun things to do in Manchester for adults is going to Base Bar (yes that’s a baseball bar).

It can busy at peak times like on Friday nights and the weekend so it’s best to book a batting cage in advance.

There are several cages which are each suitable for a maximum of five people. Sessions are 30 minutes each.

PRO TIP: If you are more than 2 people, I highly recommend booking at least 1 hour.

The interior is decorated with neon lights and as night falls, you’ll really feel like you’re in a bar rather than going to play baseball.

18. Manchester Treasure Hunt Adventure

📍Address : Starts from Piccadilly Station, Manchester, M1 2GH

This Manchester Treasure Hunt Adventure is an exciting way to spend a couple of hours exploring Manchester.

When you book your ticket, you will be given a unique link and that will be the start of your game.

Make sure your phone is charged as you will be taken from location to location with the aim of solving different clues. Along the way, you will get to learn about the city and see the best sites.

If you are struggling with some of the clues, you can ask Captain Bess (the treasure hunt character) on the app for some hints to make it easier.

The starting point for this treasure hunt is at Piccadilly Station.

19. Salsa and Bachata at Revs de Cuba

Revolucion de Cuba offers FREE salsa and bachata classes on Wednesdays.

It starts at 7PM with 1 hour of beginner salsa , then at 8PM there is the beginner bachata class and at 9PM the social dance.

The instructors, Diego and Ola, are fabulous. They explain so well and are so reassuring (as well as being funny).

You do not need a partner to go, you will be paired up with different people so don’t worry if nobody wants to come with you.

It’s so much fun, you will love it!

20. Arcade Club in Bury

📍Address : Ela Mill, Cork St, Bury BL9 7BW

This multi-level video arcade is a mixture of retro and modern games that gaming fans will go crazy over.

They have several floors of arcade games including Pac Land, BurgerTime, Dance Revolution and other Berzerk.

They’ve got pinball machines, games consoles and more than 300 classic and modern games for every type of gamer to enjoy.

You simply need to pay the admission fee which is £17 for an adult and then you can play as much as you want until they close.

This is such a good concept because arcade games can be quite expensive when you pay per game so having unlimited access is a huge plus.

💡 PRO TIP: They have a bar on the last floor and serve food like pizzas and burgers. The prices are very reasonable so I recommend eating there.

21. Pixel Bar

📍Address : 10 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1DH

Pixel Bar is best known for its games console booths. You can spend a night out drinking cocktails and playing your favourite PS5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox games.

Some of the games included at Pixel Bar are FIFA 23, Halo and Crash Team Racing to name a few.

You book a console booth rather than paying per person, so it works out much cheaper if you grab a bunch of friends to visit too.

It’s best to book a console booth in advance to avoid disappointment but booths are priced at around £10.

There are a ton of food and drink options to keep you well fed and having fun whilst you play.

They have 2 for £10 cocktails for happy hour until 9pm every day. You’ll enjoy the gaming inspired cocktail menu!

22. Manchester Cheese Crawl

📍Address : Starts – Richard Cobden Statue at 2-437 St Anns Square, Manchester M2 7LG, UK Ends – Tib Street, Manchester M4 1NB, UK

The Manchester cheese crawl is the ultimate activity for cheese lovers in Manchester.

You’ll be taken around town by a professional cheesy tour guide to all the best places to sample cheese.

You’ll learn some interesting facts about cheese, take part in games, meet cheesemongers, and of course sample rather a lot of cheese.

As you pass from cheese to cheese, you’ll also be in for a treat when you get to try an incredible crumbly Lancashire cheese made by a local celebrity.

23. Taxi Tour with Afternoon Tea

📍Address : Pick up at a location convenient for you

If you are searching for fun places in Manchester, why not travel around them all in this afternoon tea taxi tour.

This afternoon tea taxi tour is led by John, a local cabby.

He offers a three-hour tour of Manchester complete with afternoon tea in an iconic British black cab. Black cabs aren’t just for London but Manchester too.

The afternoon teas are provided by Slattery Pâtissier & Chocolatier and feature scones, pastries, tea, and coffee.

You can book your tour with John here , and he’ll organise a convenient pick up location.

One of the best things about this tour is John’s passion and knowledge.

You can even request the tour to feature certain spots and even include family history. John will cover it all and investigate fully to provide you with a really informative tour.

24. Rock Over Climbing

📍Address : Park Garage, Cheviot St, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1LW

Rock Over Climbing Manchester is a bouldering and climbing centre near Victoria Station. There are 300 bouldering problems and 10 auto belays.

Whether you’ve climbed before or not, Rock Over Climbing can cater for you. Start out with a few lessons and then head to the bouldering zone to try out your skills.

Helpful and experienced staff are on hand to give you advice on belaying and how to perfect your technique.

You can climb for the day for around £20, this includes harness hire and climbing shoes.

25. Dog Bowl

📍Address : 57 Whitworth St W, Manchester M1 5WW

Dog Bowl is a vibrantly modern bowling venue that also has a cocktail bar and arcade games.

This is one of the fun things to do in Manchester for adults as you can bowl late in the evening and then enjoy some of the bar’s excellent cocktails.

Dog Bowl is in collaboration with NQ64, the retro arcade bar which means you can also play games.

From Tuesday to Friday, you can enjoy their excellent ‘Beer, Burger and Bowl’ for under £20. You cannot miss out on their sensational chicken burgers which are utterly moreish.

Lane prices vary depending on whether you book off peak or not, but adults can bowl for less than £15.

🐶 Dog Bowl is dog friendly so don’t hesitate to bring your pup!

26. Aerial Fitness

Have you ever thought about trying aerial hoop, silks or yoga? Well, there is no time like the present!

We have a few amazing aerial studios in Manchester including Cloud Aerial (NQ and Piccadilly), GFF Studio (Victoria) and Asteria Studio ( Radcliffe ).

They all offer various aerial classes including hoop, silks, lollipop and more.

Here is basically how it works. The aerial equipment is safely installed and the teacher will show you different exercises and poses that you can do.

There is something very fun about being in the air and having your head upside down so if you want to try something new, this is for you!

Please note that each studio has different classes and timetables varies so make sure to check out their website to find what is the most suitable for you.

They also all offer pole fitness classes.

27. Fly360 flight simulator

📍Address : Runway Visitor Park, Sunbank Ln, Altrincham WA15 8XQ

Located at the Runway Visitor Park in Manchester airport, the Fly360 flight simulator is one of the best things to do in Manchester for young adults.

It’s a lot of fun and is also quite cheap (so perfect if you ask me!).

Basically, you will be sitting in a machine that simulates the flight of a P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. You will have a joystick to control your aircraft and can do what you want with it.

It’s even possible to invert the plane! How cool and fun is that?

If that’s something you’re interested in, you can easily book online and go enjoy the experience.

Make sure to also spend some time at the park since there are other attractions and you can watch the airplanes landing and taking off too.

28. Chaos Kart

📍Address : Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4FP

Located in Spinningfields, Chaos Kart is a bit of a real-life Mario Kart experience in Manchester.

They have immersive themed race circuits on which you can drive karts and race your friends .

There are 6 courses. They change after each race which means you always do something different.

While it may sound like a normal kart experience, it’s actually much more interactive since you can pick up weapons as you drive and throw them on the others.

It’s a lot of fun and the setting is absolutely stunning. It’s all in the dark with loads of light. It’s very pretty.

You can book your tickets online on their website .

You may also be interested in:

• 7 Cheap Things to do in Manchester
• 20 Best Things to do in Manchester at Night
• 25 Best Free Things to do in Manchester
• 17 Best Things to do in Manchester for Young Adults

Founder of Manchester Pocket Guide. Pauline has been living in Manchester for 6 years and loves exploring the city. As a travel writer, she always had passion for discovering cities but Manchester is the place she truly fell in love with. From cute food spots to famous landmarks, she knows Manchester like the back of her hand.

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THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Manchester

Things to do in manchester.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Couples
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Adventurous
• Honeymoon spot
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Fletcher Moss Park & Botanical Gardens

2. Heaton Park

3. Clayton Hall Museum

4. Castlefield Urban Heritage Park

5. Chorlton Water Park

6. Wythenshawe Community Farm

7. Didsbury Park

8. Platt Fields Park

9. Debdale Park

10. Wythenshawe Hall

11. Boggart Hole Clough

12. Chorlton Park

13. Alexandra Park

14. Abbotsfield Park

15. Smile Adventures

16. Come Walk With Me UK - Day Tours

17. BEE Adventures

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Manchester Guide

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Manchester History

Manchester Attractions

Manchester Shopping

Manchester hotels.

• Manchester Access
• Manchester Map

Manchester may be England's third city after London and Birmingham but this former industrial and commercial giant considers itself a step ahead of its rivals.

Manchester may now be better known for its football teams than its manufacturing but that is where the story begins.

Manchester as a city dates back to Roman times and the city still has a few remnants of Georgian and even Medieval architecture, but it was in the Victorian era that Manchester really took off.

From the middle of the 1750s for around a century and a half, Manchester or " Cottonopolis " exploded as a center of cotton manufacture, a product that was then shipped around the world. For 150 years Manchester and its surrounding towns were the world's most important manufacturing zone, powdered first by water and later steam power.

For the few rich entrepeneurs, engineers and factory owners the rewards were astronomical, for the thousands of workers that were drawn to the area for employment, often a life of toil and misery.

British capitalism, free trade and laissez-faire were forged in Manchester and a concordant growth of the labour movement and political and economic reform begun by the writings of Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx on the city and its workers.

Manchester, during this period of rapid economic growth, was at the cutting edge of industrial development and innovation. The Bridgewater Canal or Duke's Canal, was the first canal of Britain's industrial era when it was finished in 1761. Manchester boasted one of the world's first bus networks (initially drawn by horses from the 1820s), the Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the world's first steam passenger railway in 1830, and the city's telephone exchange lays claim to being the first to open in Britain in 1879.

The opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894, linking the city to Liverpool and the sea, helped to secure the area its competitive edge but post-war the city was soon in steep decline as its manufacturing industries were lost to overseas competitors.

But Manchester has re-invented itself, especially since the huge IRA bomb of 1996 at the Arndale Centre, forced the city's authorities to recreate the city centre.

Manchester's new creative energies include its vibrant music scene based loosely around the seminal and now defunct Hacienda Club . Bands such as Joy Division, New Order, Magazine, The Smiths, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and Oasis helped create a "Manchester Sound" and a reputation for the city as the "party capital of the UK."

Many of Manchester's main attractions focus on its industrial heritage. The Museum of Science and Industry ( MOSI ) celebrates the history of the world's first industrial city: power, machinery, factories and transport. The rightly lauded Royal Exchange Theatre is housed in the city's former Corn Exchange.

The Greater Manchester Police Museum in the nearby Northern Quarter is an informative museum on the history of law and order in the city.

Out at the redeveloped Salford Quays area, The Lowry holds a permanent collection of the works of local artist L S Lowry (1887-1976), known for his paintings of industrial scenes of Salford. Salford Quays is also home to the Imperial War Museum North  and MediaCityUK . Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium is also close to Salford Quays and the stadium tour is one of Manchester's biggest draws. Take the Metrolink from Piccadilly Station to get to both Manchester United's Theatre of Dreams (Exchange Quay or Old Trafford stations) as well as Manchester City's Etihad Stadium & Sport City (Etihad Campus).

The John Rylands Library is a classic example of Victorian Gothic architecture and holds a fascinating collection of rare books and manuscripts. Manchester Cathedral and Chetham's School of Music are located in the city centre close to the more modern Arndale Centre, the National Football Museum , near Victoria Station and the Urbis Centre .

Albert Square with its monument to Prince Albert is adjacent to Manchester Town Hall with its ornate interior and classic cafe. The circular Central Library dates from 1934 and is a lovely building and the nearby Radisson Edwardian Hotel maintains the facade of the original Free Trade Hall .

Back towards the Piccadilly Station are Manchester University, Manchester's small but lively Chinatown and the thriving Gay Village along Canal Street.

Fans of classical music should try to catch a performance by one of Manchester's celebrated orchestras - the Hallé resident at Bridgewater Hall, the BBC Phiharmonic and the Manchester Camerata chamber orchestra.

See a list of museums in Manchester .

Manchester's main shopping areas include the upmarket Deansgate area and King's Street for trendy designer outlets, mainstream shopping at the Arndale Centre , one of the largest malls in Europe out of town malls at The Lowry Outlet Mall and the Trafford Centre .

Manchester's hotels are congregated around Piccadilly Station, Deansgate and Oxford Road. Accommodation options in Manchester are many and varied, from budget backpackers to lap-of-luxury boutique hospitality establishments - and everything in between. The following is a list of recommended accommodation options for a stay in Manchester that you'll remember for its good value, hospitality and convenience.

Standout names for luxury accommodation in Manchester include the Edwardian Midland Hotel and Principal Manchester (formerly The Palace until 2016). The Manchester Hilton is housed in the city's now second tallest skyscraper the Beetham Tower .

Other recommended places to stay in Manchester include the five star Lowry Hotel , the four star, city center Holiday Inn Manchester , the Holiday Inn Hotel Media City and the Hilton Manchester Deansgate .

The Dakota Manchester , with its restrained, stiff-upper-lip exterior, is the ultimate in understated loungy comfort. The sophisticated decor is of subtle wooden and metallic tints and shades, and the rooms and premises are as spacious as an English country home. The artistic good taste of this establishment is matched by the warm professional service. The dining is superb, room service is prompt and attentive, and the hotel is accessible for guests with all needs. Centrally located, next to the Rochdale Canal, a 3-minute walk from Piccadilly train station, and a 10-minute walk to Cotton Field Park. Gets consistently top marks for cleanliness, comfort, and great staff - plus free, reliable Wi-Fi.

The Cow Hollow Hotel in Manchester's Northern Quarter is a fascinatingly decorated boutique hotel that offers superb value for money. The staff here get consistently rave reviews for their impeccable hospitality, and the rooms are some of the best equipped you'll find anywhere, with king-size Hypnos beds, the finest cotton bedding, and smart TVs with complimentary Netflix access. The continental breakfast is as generous and delicious as it is healthy, and morning tea and coffee is delivered to your room. Enjoy the rich, artful decor with its rough-edged suaveness and an altogether luxuriously idiosyncratic vibe that will substantially contribute to your best holiday memories. Cocktail lovers will be delighted with the bar. Just 500 meters from Piccadilly Station.

The Staycity Aparthotels Manchester Piccadilly is clean, comfortable, stylish minimalism in as good a location as you could hope for. And very affordable! This centrally positioned, spic-and-span accommodation offers a clean and quiet apartment stay with kitchen facilities (oven, plates and glasses, etc.), bathroom/toilet, bedroom and kitchen/dining room. Bright and hygienic, with comfortable beds, and good staff service. Located in an area of numerous restaurants, and a short walk from Piccadilly Station. Secure carpark. One of Manchester's best on a budget.

See here for a listing of accommodation in Manchester to suit all budgets .

Manchester Access - Getting To Manchester

Manchester Piccadilly is linked to London Euston by rail with frequent trains between the two. Piccadilly Station also has intercity services to Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central.

Other local and mainline services from Manchester Piccadilly Station include trains to Altrincham, Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bristol Temple Meads, Buxton, Cardiff, Chester, Crewe, Hadfield, Hazel Grove, Huddersfield, Leeds , Levenshulme, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Manchester Airport, Marple, New Mills Central, Northwich, Nottingham , Preston, Rose Hill, Sheffield, Southport, St Helens Junction, Stockport , Stoke-on-Trent, Wigan, Wolverhampton and York Station in York .

Manchester Airport , a short train journey from the city center, has flights to North America (USA & Canada), Asia (Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar) and many European and North African destinations including Agadir, Alicante, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Alexandria, Athens, Banjul, Barcelona, Bastia, Bodrum, Brussels, Calvi, Chambéry, Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen, Corfu, Cork, Dalaman, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Düsseldorf,  Faro , Funchal, Geneva, Gothenburg-Landvetter, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heraklion, Helsinki, Istanbul-Atatürk, Kefalonia, Kos, Lanzarote, Lourdes, Málaga, Malta, Marrakech, Menorca, Minsk, Munich, Nice, Olbia, Paphos, Paris, Pisa, Plovdiv, Ponta Delgada, Prague, Reykjavík-Keflavík, Reus, Rhodes, Sal, Salzburg, Sharm el-Sheikh, Sofia, Split, Taba, Tenerife and Zürich.

Domestic flights from Manchester fly to Aberdeen, Belfast,  Bristol , Edinburgh,  Exeter , Heathrow, Gatwick, Guernsey, Newquay, Plymouth).

Hire a car at Manchester Airport . Compare the biggest brands in UK car hire to get the cheapest deal on a variety of vehicles from compact cars to estates to SUVs.

Related Manchester Resources

Map of manchester & north west england.

Hotels in the North West of England

Blackpool Hotels - Booking.com

Chester Hotels - Booking.com

Accommodation in the Lake District - Booking.com

Liverpool Hotels - Booking.com

Manchester Hotels - Booking.com

Hotels in the UK - Agoda.com

England Hotels - Booking.com

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Insider’s guide to Manchester with the best things to do in Manchester, hotels, restaurants, and more

One of the famous city in England, Manchester has a lot to offer to its visitors. Discover the best things to do in Manchester, tips, Manchester restaurants, Manchester hotels, and off the beaten attractions things to do in Manchester from a local: Subhadrika Sen from Trekkers of the East . This guide is part of the free travel guides series on this blog.

Insider guide to Manchester with the best things to do in Manchester

The city of Manchester is the third largest city in England after London and Birmingham. It is located in the North-West of United Kingdom and is home to the most famous Football Team, Manchester United. This city has always been a supporter of tradition and development. It has been home to the arts and culture and science.

After the unfortunate bombings of 1980’s, the government and administrative forces renewed the city infrastructure and gave it a modern look.

However, the remnants of the medieval buildings and sculptures definitely keep alive the rich history and culture of this city amidst development and progress.

This insider’s guide to Manchester includes the top tourist attractions in Manchester, offbeat things to see and do, where to eat and stay and useful tips that will allow you to go Manchester sightseeing safely and to discover the best of the city.

Famous tourist attractions in Manchester

This insider’s guide to Manchester starts with the top attractions to see here. These are the best things to do in Manchester so make sure you include them all on your Manchester itinerary.

5. Manchester Town Hall (Albert Square)

Home of the Manchester city administration, The Town Hall is one of the biggest in the United Kingdom so you can easily see why it’s considered one of the best things to do in Manchester.

The neo-gothic style structure was designed and built by Alfred Waterhouse who is credited to have designed various other structures across the city like the Manchester University.

The Ground level of the Town Hall is open to the public. It is the main attraction during Manchester parades and during Christmas as it hosts a part of the Manchester Christmas Markets.

4. Manchester Art Gallery –

With a collection of more than 25,000 permanent exhibits and numerous temporary exhibitions, Manchester Art Gallery is a must visit for Art Lovers and one of the tourist attractions in Manchester. It is open to the general public all days a week, except on Christmas.

The main highlights of this place are the Gallery café and shop, apart from the exhibitions themselves. Also, with no entry fee required, this is one of the most loved tourist spots in Manchester.

3. Old Trafford Football Stadium

Coming to the home of the Manchester United Football Club, one has to take the advantage of visiting the Football Stadium. One can either watch a match during the season or opt for the guided tours that take place. It’s definitely one of the Manchester points of interest.

Alternately, one can visit the Manchester City Football Club and the National Football Museum as well.

photo by nmoodley on Pixabay

2. The Manchester Museum

One of the famous tourist attractions in Manchester, the Manchester Museum hosts thousands of exhibits from the Animalia Kingdom. In fact, there is a live animal’s gallery as well.

If you are interested in science, then the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) would be of your interest.

  A photo posted by Piya Sen (@subhadrika007) on Jul 3, 2016 at 2:05pm PDT

1. Manchester Cathedral – One of the most beautiful Cathedral’s built in Manchester is the Manchester Cathedral. The Cathedral is situation in the city centre and is fully functioning at the moment. Its unfortunate damage during the Manchester bombings to its full recovery is a wonderful transition and the helpful guides in the cathedral gives more details about it. Alternately, you can also pay a visit to the Salford Cathedral or the Hidden Gem.

Manchester Off the Beaten Path

Let’s continue this local’s guide to Manchester with some unusual activities Manchester. If you have an adventurous bone in your body and want to explore places not quite listed in the tourist hotspots then you can have a look at the following off the beaten path attractions in Manchester:

4. Manchester Canals, Castlefield

Castlefield is a quiet and serene place in the middle of the city which boasts of the hugely popular canal system of Manchester. If you go near Castlefield, you can get many eateries and even the ruins of an old Roman Fortress called the Mamucium. This is one of the unique places to visit in Manchester.

3. Walk Across Chapel Street

Chapel Street is the first street in the entire United Kingdom where the street lights were first put on. This is street with history in every corner and one of the Manchester attractions to check out.

Branching from the main road, there lie various pubs, cathedrals, churches, old preserved buildings, peel- park and the esteemed University of Salford with the Salford Art Gallery. It’s one of the best off the beaten path things to see in Manchester.

2. ChinaTown

There is one Chinatown in most part of the World. You can definitely not miss this one as well. Though the Chinatown in quite small, with only two adjoining streets, there is a lot to see and eat.

From Thai to Chinese and Japanese food, to beautiful Chinese ornate good luck charms available in the curio shop, ChinaTown is a beautiful place to visit and one of the cool offbeat places to visit in Manchester.

photo by Aimee Cunlife via Trover

1. Manchester Arndale/ Market Street

If you want to explore Manchester even further, then go here. Set in the heart of the city, Market Street is the best Shopping arena that you can find. With over 300 stores in the mall and on the street, this is not a place to miss for the shopaholics.

Where to eat in Manchester

There are a few great restaurants in Manchester that I’m recommending below. If you are wondering where to eat in Manchester, note these places to try them on your Manchester trip.

5. Trafford Centre

One of the most elaborate places to eat, the food court has been divided into theme cuisines. From Chinese, to Mexican, Indian, and Japanese – you name it you get it. One would be spoilt for choice in this beautiful shopping and eatery arcade.

4. Rusholme

If you are looking for exclusive Indian or Pakistani/ Mughlai cuisines this is the place to be.

3. Deansgate

Hosts some of the most famous pubs and restaurants of the city along a mile long stretch of the road.

2. Beetham Tower, Cloud 23

Although, Cloud 23 is just a café, it is not everyday one gets a chance to experience a cup of hot coffee, sitting on the twenty third floor of the tallest building of the city.

1. Piccadilly Weekend Markets

Piccadilly Weekend Markets are only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The food ranges from sweets and savory to proper lunch. This is a great place for getting takeaway food.

Alternately, you can grab your food and take a seat in the Piccadilly Gardens and enjoy it amidst live music.

Tips for Manchaster

Manchester is a very safe city in its own terms. However, as a personal safety I would not recommend anyone going alone to the Manchester Canals.

The city is well connected by road to all major tourist spots. Thus wearing a good pair of shoes is all that is needed along with a camera and a map.

This is a very cosmopolitan city and you can ask people for help anytime, even if you have a language problem.

The city has always supported and looked after the needs of the disabled as well. Thus, there would be no objection for them to enjoy the city in its full fervor.

Also, a sunglass and an umbrella would be very handy. You cannot trust the weather! At least I don’t: P!

To conclude, Manchester is a city which would not disappoint the tourists in any way. In fact, it might surprise them for all I know. The warm reception of the people is something that you should look forward to.

Everyone is always wearing a smile on their face and is up to help you in any problem. As I say, Manchester is a city full of surprises; you never know what holds for you the moment you step out of your doors.

About the author

Subhadrika Sen – I am a Journalism student from India currently residing in Manchester. I love to travel and spend all my money on travelling and owning a good camera. Follow her blog on Facebook and Twitter as well.

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9 thoughts on “ insider’s guide to manchester with the best things to do in manchester, hotels, restaurants, and more ”.

I was just in Manchester a few weeks ago. Sadly I had jet lag so some of the things I did were in a fog, but reading this brings the main sites back to mind for me. I thought it was an absolutely fascinating city and would love to revisit it.

The part of the UK I have not been to, together with Dover! Looks like I have to go on my 5th trip!

I’ve just come back from an overnight to Manchester. It’s evolved into a lovely city

I’d love to visit Manchester–we’ve only been to the airport there, so I’d love to make it to the city! Love all the suggestions you shared. The Manchester Art Gallery and the canals look like a lot of fun to explore!

Looks beautiful I would love to see it. So much history!

The only place that I have been to in England so far is London. Manchester looks awesome though, so I’ll definitely try to visit the next time I’m in the UK. Great post!

I’ve only traveled through Manchester, but I’ve always wanted to go out and explore. Great guide.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Old Trafford 3 times in my life! Glory Glory Manchester United! 😉

I haven’t been to Manchester for a few years but I really enjoyed my time there last time. I remember going to Manchester cathedral which was beautiful and we ended up in the Arndale centre

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Top Attractions in Manchester

Discover the top attractions in Manchester. From iconic landmarks and cultural hotspots to stunning parks and hidden gems, explore the must-visit places with these experiences. Discover what makes Manchester truly unique!

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Best 20 Tourist Places In Manchester

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Manchester, known as the economic and cultural hub of Lancashire, is a renowned hub for arts, media, and higher education. It, along with Salford and eight other towns, constitutes the county of Greater Manchester, which currently has a population of three million individuals.

Manchester, similar to Liverpool, has experienced a remarkable revival due to initiatives like the Castlefield redevelopment, which includes numerous canals and a museum complex situated on Liverpool Road.

A List of the best tourist places in Manchester

1. canals of castlefield.

Castlefield, classified as an Urban Heritage Park, is an excellent starting point for exploring Manchester. As you wander amidst the beautifully restored Victorian mansions along the historic canals or observe the reconstructed Roman castle, you will undoubtedly be amazed.

Make sure you don’t miss the Bridgewater Canal, which was established in 1761 for the purpose of transporting coal from the Worsley mines to Manchester.

A lot of the warehouses located on the canal have been renovated and converted into office spaces, retail stores, hotels, and dining establishments.

The main attractions in Manchester also consist of the Castlefield Art Gallery, where contemporary art is exhibited, and the Bridgewater Hall, which is home to the Hallé orchestra and showcases exceptional performances.

2. Science and Industry Museum

The “Museum of Science and Industry” in Manchester is a well-liked tourist spot located in the oldest railway station. It houses the Power Hall, where visitors can see water and steam-powered machinery from the textile industry’s prime time, as well as historical cars made in Manchester, including the rare 1904 Rolls-Royce. The museum has a total of 12 exhibition rooms.

The Air and Space Gallery is a must-visit place that showcases various historical aircraft. One of the notable exhibits is a replica of “Triplane 1,” created by “AV Roe,” which was the first successful British aircraft.

3. Imperial War Museum North

If war history is something that interests you, then you should definitely check out this museum. It first opened its doors in 2002 and houses an extensive collection of aircraft and military equipment.

The museum offers audio-visual displays that provide information about the history of each museum item and the significance of warfare in shaping human civilization.

4. Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Cathedral is a historic church situated by the River Irwell. Originally built in the 15th century, it was later designated as a cathedral in the 19th century.

5. Manchester Museum

The Manchester Museum is a renowned university museum and the largest of its kind in the UK. It is highly popular among tourists and showcases exhibits on various subjects including natural history, archaeology, and anthropology. The museum has a rich history dating back to 1821 and boasts a collection of around 4.5 million objects from all over the world.

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Best Tourist Attractions in Manchester

Manchester is one of the coolest cities in Northern Europe and a complete breath of fresh air compared to the overcrowded hustle and bustle of London. Cottonopolis has played a key role in music, film and television, and sports over the years. Thanks to Manchester’s role in entertainment, there are a number of great attractions that shouldn’t be missed.

Whether you are visiting for a short weekend break or an extended stay, Manchester has a lot to offer. The last 10 years have seen Greater Manchester receive a facelift with many of the old buildings of yesteryear redeveloped or torn down to make way to sparkling new venues. The city’s rebirth has only made it even more of a destination for travellers.

• 1 John Rylands Library
• 2 Science and Industry Museum
• 3 Salford Lads’ Club
• 4 Northern Quarter
• 5 National Football Museum and Football Matches
• 6 Salford Quays

John Rylands Library

Manchester has some great libraries including Chetham’s and the Central Libraries. However, none are as historic as John Rylands Library. Building began in 1889 and took over 10 years to complete. When it opened on the 1 st of January 1900, it welcomed the public into its doors to read a variety of books and periodicals.

The John Rylands Library was designed by Basil Champneys in a gothic style that is truly striking inside and outside, especially when compared to the buildings it sits next to on Deansgate. The Victorian era-built library was one of Manchester’s first public buildings to have electricity.

The library is now a part of Manchester University and contains a vast number of special collections, including famous religious texts. St. John’s Fragment is centrally displayed at the library while the famous building also houses one of the world’s 21 complete Gutenberg Bibles.

Science and Industry Museum

Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum, also known locally as the MOSI, displays the city’s working-class heritage. The museum is interactive giving children the chance to explore the MOSI and get their hands on some cool science experiments. 

The MOSI has a number of exhibits based on textiles, trains, airplanes, computers, electricity, and much more. Museum-goers can explore wings devoted to transport and technological advancement. In total, the MOSI has 12 galleries and is a venue that visitors can get lost in for an entire day. 

Salford Lads’ Club

Salford Lads’ Club is a popular destination for music fans from all over the world. Located in Greater Manchester, Salford Lads’ Club was founded in 1903 and claimed a number of famous English football players and musicians as members over the years. 

The building became world-famous when The Smiths’ The Queen is Dead album artwork featured a picture of the band standing in front of the venue. The album made the Salford Lads’ Club so famous, that it was voted the third most iconic building in England in 2007. The Smiths also released music videos with the building’s exterior featured in them. 

Since 2003, Salford Lads’ Club has been a listed building and is open to members of all sexes. Many music fans simply visit the club today to have their picture taken outside it as they replicate The Smiths’ famous image. 

Northern Quarter

The Northern Quarter is Manchester’s hip, trendy district to go out for a meal or drinks. You will find some of the city’s coolest bars and pubs in the Northern Quarter with many serving up drinks and food with their own special flair.

You won’t just find hipster bars and all-night haunts in the Northern Quarter. The district has plenty of great breakfast nooks with cool coffeehouses serving up organic and vegan meals. 

Along with great dining and drinking options, visitors can find vintage clothing stores, comic and bookshops, and music stores. One of the most popular shops to explore is Affleck’s Palace. It is a massive store with clothing, accessories, and other items for sale. Affleck’s Palace is a popular destination for high school and university students. 

National Football Museum and Football Matches

Football fans from around the world have descended on the National Football Museum to see the venue’s incredible collection of memorabilia. The museum puts on a variety of exhibits with some temporary displays curated for special occasions such as the Bands FC showcase in 2019. The museum is 100% free to enter and explore.

Manchester is home to two of the world’s biggest and richest football clubs – Manchester City and Manchester United. Both clubs offer tours of their stadiums and trophies.

If you can’t get your hands on a ticket to either club’s games, Greater Manchester is home to several other football clubs including Salford City, which is owned by former Manchester United legends David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, and Phil and Gary Neville. Tickets for a Salford City game can be purchased for as little as £10 but with the team growing in stature, they need to be bought in advance.

Salford Quays

Situated minutes from Manchester city centre is Salford Quays. The area was the shipping district of Manchester and the area in which boats brought cotton from North America during the 1800s. In 1982, the original dockyards were closed and the area fell derelict.

In the 2000s, Salford Quays underwent revitalization and the renaissance continues to take place. Today, Salford Quays is home to the BBC and ITV, and many of the United Kingdom’s top shows are filmed at the local studios. Visitors can take tours of the BBC and ITV studios and even be a part of a live television audience. 

Salford Quays is also home to the Lowry shopping centre and theatre which shows a number of musicals, concerts, and plays throughout the year. The Imperial War Museum is also located at Salford Quays and is one of the best in terms of historical artifacts. 

Visitors will find the canal pathways at Salford Quays lead into the city centre or out toward the Trafford Centre shopping mall. The canal paths make for excellent running, walking, and biking when the weather is sunny.

Manchester is a city that has put its industrial past behind it. The 1980s and 1990s may have been dark times in terms of the city’s growth and refurbishment, but in the last 20 years, it has become a major tourist destination. Travellers to the UK shouldn’t miss a chance to explore Cottonopolis and its best cultural attractions.

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Welcome to the official tourism site of Greater Manchester where you can search for  things to do in Manchester  and find out  what's on , as well as getting  inspiration  for your visit to this fantastic city region.

Youthful, diverse, energetic and bursting with character; Manchester is one of the most exciting places to visit in the UK right now where everybody and anybody is very warmly welcomed.

Manchester has been named as one of 25 global destinations to be included in the Where to Go 2024 list by prestigious US travel publication AFAR , has been named in the   New York Times’ 52 Places to Go list for 2024 and is the only UK city in National Geographic's influential ‘Best of the World’ list  which annually sets out 25 of the must-see places to visit around the globe.

Known throughout the world as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has a proud history in science, politics, music, arts and sport. And today the city combines this heritage with a progressive vision to be a city that delivers surprise and delight in equal measures. 

Manchester city centre is jam-packed with unique and eclectic  restaurants ,  bars ,  shops ,  museums, galleries ,  hotels  and  places to stay  whilst the surrounding  Greater Manchester  boroughs offer a patch-work of visitor experiences including quaint market towns, traditional pubs and beautiful green spaces and waterways to be explored on foot or bike. The city region is easily navigated, with great  transport links  both in and around Greater Manchester.

Furthermore, a packed calendar of world-class events and festivals – from the landmark Manchester International Festival to the enchanting  Manchester Christmas Markets  – mean there’s always another reason to visit Manchester.

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Park with magical maze, boats and one of Europe’s largest indoor playgrounds named best UK family attraction in 2024

The park is a favourite with families and 80 minutes from Manchester

• 19:47, 3 JUN 2024
• Updated 14:02, 6 JUN 2024

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A park loved by families in Manchester has been named the UK's top outdoor family attraction for 2024.

Stockeld Park is packed with activities for kids of all ages and includes The Magical Maze, Buccaneer Boats on the lake and indoor and outdoor play areas.

The indoor one - called Playhive - is one of Europe's largest indoor playgrounds and features four interconnected worlds of space, air, the jungle, and sea.

Read more: The Manchester Airport baggage perk that can save passengers a lot of time this summer

Families can explore high-level walkways, spiralling tunnel slides, a toddler zone, interactive games and a whole lot more.

The adventure park, which is open at weekends and throughout the school holidays, is between the towns of Wetherby and Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, and around an 80-minute drive from Manchester.

Most of the activities, including pedal go karts, outdoor inflatables, maze and woodland play areas, are included in the entry fee, while you need to pay extra for the boats, which you can ride on the beautiful lake in the heart of Enchanted Forest.

The forest itself has a trail for families to follow and includes all sorts of things to see and do - some with an Alice in Wonderland theme such as a slide coming from a giant teapot.

Stockeld has taken the number one spot in a list of top family outdoor attractions in 2024, with Cheshire's Ice Cream Farm coming in at number three.

The list was put together by playground surfacing company Soft Surfaces , which used reviews and ratings from TripAdvisor.

Other activities there include the Woodsands Cove giant sandpit adventure playground, the Teepee Encampment adventure playground, a Tangle Tree Climb offering a tree rope adventure, Spider's Lair playground with nets, tunnels and zip wires, and Farmer Foster's Barnyard with a pirate ship and Viking swings.

The full list of top attractions includes:

• Stockeld Park
• National Coal Mining Museum
• The Ice Cream Farm
• Ferry Meadows Country Park
• Coombe Abbey Park
• Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park
• Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
• Cattle Country Adventure Park

Tickets for Stockeld Park cost from £12.50 for a Playhive slot at weekend, up to £25 for anytime Adventure and Playhive. The Summer Adventure tickets, for the main school holidays July 20 to September 2, go on sale from June 8. Visit the website to book .

• M.E.N. Explore
• Manchester Family
• Things to do Manchester
• Most Recent

Art & Culture

23 things to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2023

A big year lies ahead...

If Blue Monday really does get you down, the best possible thing to do is look forward – and it’s set to be a bumper year for Greater Manchester.

Some of the region’s biggest developments will finally complete, with giant new music venues, cultural hubs and tourist attractions on the way in the coming months.

Our food and drink scene is set to skyrocket again, despite the current wave of closures, with big names like Gordon Ramsay making moves in Manchester city centre.

And just wait til you see how busy summer will be for music, with more still to be announced…

Keep reading and save this page for all the things to look forward to in 2023, which doesn’t even include our recurring events like Parklife , the Manchester Christmas Markets and Manchester Pride .

You can also keep an eye on Marketing Manchester’s Tourism Watchlist here .

Culture, theatre and arts

Factory international.

Manchester’s £186m new cultural space, created by the minds behind Manchester International Festival, will finally open its doors in June 2023.

The 13,350 sq metre space inside Factory International utilises supersized moveable walls, which can reconfigure the space for different performances.

Its first event has already been wowing locals, with a huge beam of light illuminating the skies above the city since the new year.

Manchester Museum reopens

One of Manchester’s best-loved attractions will reopen after several years and a £15 million transformation .

The new-look Manchester Museum will include a two-storey extension, a new exhibition hall, a South Asia Gallery and a Chinese Culture Gallery.

When it reopens on 18 February, visitors will be able to see the UK premiere of Golden Mummies of Egypt, after a successful tour of the USA and China.

Science and Industry Museum

The Science and Industry Museum has been going through some major changes in recent years, with work still ongoing in the Grade II-listed Power Hall.

Running through into 2023 is the bold new exhibition Turn it Up: The Power of Music , which will stick around in Manchester until May.

Major theatre shows arrive in Manchester

2023 will be another huge year for Manchester’s theatres, with some of the world’s biggest touring productions touching down at venues including The Lowry, The Palace and The Opera House.

That includes the continued run of The Lion King , plus the arrivals of Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia! , Life of Pi , and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – The Musical .

You can see our list of the 10 best picks here .

Wigan Pier   – made famous by George Orwell’s 1937 book,  The Road to Wigan Pier , will be given a new lease of life this year.

After several years of work, the long-vacant 18th Century industrial buildings of the icon pier will be transformed into a new waterside destination that includes a gin distillery, micro-brewery, food hall, events venue, and cultural hub, Marketing Manchester reports .

Co-op Live opens

This is The Big One – a brand-new, 23,500-capacity music arena, built beside the Etihad Stadium with backing from Harry Styles.

When the Co-op Live opens in Manchester in late 2023, it’ll be home to 32 bars and restaurants (with homegrown operators manning them), a music-first ‘smart bowl’ designed with acoustics in mind, and a programme of 120 major live events in its first year.

It marked its one-year-to-go anniversary with a surprise set from Blossoms at Night & Day Cafe.

AO Arena expands

The legendary AO Arena is undergoing its own transformation this year, growing its capacity to 22,900.

Its £50m refurb will see the venue ‘dramatically enhanced’ with new state-of-the-art infrastructure and innovative guest features.

You can read more about it here .

A summer of music

Strap in everyone – 2023 is going to be one of Manchester’s biggest-ever years for live music, with some of the world’s most famous faces touching down on home turf.

June in particular will be jam-packed, with Parklife at Heaton Park, four nights of Coldplay at the Etihad Stadium, Elton John at the AO Arena, Courteeners at Heaton Park, Arctic Monkeys at Emirates Old Trafford, and Iron Maiden at the AO Arena.

Then Sounds of the City will kick off at Castlefield Bowl, as well as other gigs this year from The 1975, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Paramore Lewis Capaldi, Shania Twain, and Blink-182.

You can see our list of the highlights here .

Food and drink

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Diecast (@diecastmcr)

This will be a big one, in every sense of the word – Diecast is set to take over a 200,000 sq ft industrial unit in Piccadilly East, turning it into a beer hall, brewery, night market and bakery, with creative studios and a tech hub.

It will also have a huge garden space with a beer garden and beehives.

The exciting new plans come from some local hospitality heavyweights – A Very Inc. is headed up by Adelaide Winter and Joel Wilkinson, the team behind Ramona and The Firehouse as well as previously founding the likes of the Albert Hall, Albert’s Schloss, Gorilla and Rudy’s.

It’s one of the biggest names in the world of hospitality, attracting the rich and famous across the planet, and it’s finally got Manchester in its sights in 2023.

Soho House is currently transforming the old Granada Studios building into a luxury destination, complete with a hotel, a bar and terrace, workspace, and a rooftop swimming pool.

The private member’s club is set to feature a number of restaurants including A-list celeb Italian favourite Cecconi’s.

Sweary TV chef Gordon Ramsay is planning to open an enormous three-storey Lucky Cat restaurant inside the old HSBC bank on King Street.

The magnificent old bank space, formerly home to Jamie’s Italian, has lain empty at ever since The Naked Chef’s restaurant company collapsed into administration back in 2019.

Set to open later this year, it will evoke 1930s Tokyo drinking dens in the heart of the city’s business district with a mixture of Japanese whiskies, Asian small plates, Robata dishes and innovative cocktails.

The Stock Market Grill

Following the exit of Michelin-star celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, there’s a new vision for the restaurant space at Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel.

The former Bull & Bear site will become The Stock Market Grill, operated by Joe and Daniel Schofield (the brothers behind Schofield’s, Atomeca and Sterling) and wine expert James Brandwood.

The restaurant promises ‘traditional British dishes executed with technique’, with a bespoke menu that will include dishes like whipped black pudding on toast, tartare of rib-eye with caper jam and smoked dripping, steamed cod with caramelised mash, and a sticky toffee tart with honey custard.

Decadent Mayfair restaurant  Sexy Fish , owned by The Ivy’s Richard Caring, is taking over the old Armani unit in Spinningfields.

It first opened in 2015 and is famed for its luxurious dining environment and will be one of the most talked-about restaurant openings for Manchester of 2023 – though its opening seems to have dragged on a bit since it was first announced.

Forty Seven

Situated right above the much-loved restaaurant Asha’s (run by Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle), Forty Seven is set to be one of Manchester’s most luxurious new hotels.

There’ll be 32 one and two-bedroom suites in the Grade-II listed building on Peter Street, plus a new bar at The Peterman offering drinks.

Treehouse Hotel

A building long-seen as an eyesore in Manchester is finally being transformed into a new hotel, turning the former Renaissance site into a 216-room hotel, complete with ‘secret forest’ treehouse canopy and three new restaurants and bars.

The Nest (a 14th-floor restaurant and bar) will be headed up by chef Sam Grainger (of critically-acclaimed Liverpool restaurant Belzan), restaurateur Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford, while the ground-floor all-day dining space comes from the mind of Mary-Ellen McTague.

Mollie’s Motel

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mollie’s Motel & Diner (@molliesmotels)

Mollie’s Motel – also from the brains behind Soho House – will open its first-ever city centre property and its first foray into the north at the old Granada TV Studios on Quay Street.

With 140 rooms it’ll be their largest hotel yet, featuring a lounge bar, a huge restaurant, workspaces and an outdoor heated terrace.

It’s all inspired by classic roadside motels and drive-in diners seen across 1950s America, from the red neon signs to the burgers and shakes – but with surprisingly affordable prices.

Taking shape just off Deansgate, Malmaison Manchester Deansgate will have views across Albert Square and Manchester Town Hall.

With 70 guest rooms, it will pay homage to retro 60s and 70s design, with Chez Mal Brasserie serving food, and SORA serving panoramic views from its rooftop bar.

The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly will open as a new 215-room hotel just beside Manchester Piccadilly.

It’s taking over a former aparthotel and rooms will feature natural materials like wool, cotton and timber.

Travellers will be able to enjoy a fully equipped fitness centre, as well as a restaurant with canal-side views and all-day dining with speciality small plates and local beers.

Tourism and things to do

Metrix at the trafford centre.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by METRIX (@metrixfootball)

There’ll be a new attraction at the Trafford Centre geared towards football fans this year.

METRIX is opening a permanent site at the huge shopping centre, with players able to play physical and virtual games with smart technology and virtual reality.

Live data will track ball speed, power, touch and accuracy for players to compare with their friends.

RHS Bridgewater developments

Two years after opening, Salford’s RHS Garden Bridgewater will add two new garden highlights in 2023.

There’ll be a series of structures installed at the Chinese Streamside Garden, a music pavilion.

Get your hiking boots on – Greater Manchester’s ambitious GM Ringway is ready and waiting for exploring.

The massive 300km walking trail will make use of existing footpaths and parks, and will connect the beautiful countryside in the north west with tourist attractions and heritage landmarks.

It all splits down into 20 stages, and every section is designed to be accessed by public transport.

Spanning all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, the GM Ringway will pass more than 40 Grade I and Grade II*-listed buildings, 13 museums, 57 conservation areas, 18 local nature reserves, 14 ancient monuments and parts of the Peak District.

Northern Roots

Oldham’s ambitious eco-project, which will see the UK’s largest urban farm built just outside Oldham town centre, is moving forward.

The green space is already open for exploration, planting and exploring one of the 12 bee hives, with wider plans for Summer 2023 to add a new visitor centre with shop and café, a learning space, swimming pond, natural amphitheatre and a large market garden.

Eden Project North

From the team behind the much-revered Eden Project in Cornwall,  Eden Project North  is a major new eco project set on the sea front of Morecambe.

Plans include a Natural Observatory, theatrical experiences, and Eden Project’s famous biomes, full of natural planting to tell the stories of the natural environment of the area.

The ambitious project is set to open in 2024 but we should all be able to see it taking shape this year.

Featured image: Sexy Fish / Soho House / Co-op Live

Can we safely say summer is here now?

Sure, the temperatures over the past couple of weeks have definitely dropped from the heights they hit in May, and the weather’s been a lot more windy and rainy than we would like, but now that we’re into our second full week of June, Greater Manchester definitely seems to be getting itself into the spirit of summer.

Think foodie festivals, cultural celebrations, wholesome family-friendly events, and so much more filling up our social calendar.

Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘ what’s on ‘ guide this week, so here’s some of our recommendations.

Manchester Museum

Monday 10 June – onwards

A groundbreaking new immersive exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is now open at Manchester Museum.

‘Wild’ look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.

The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.

Find out more and grab your FREE tickets here .

Disney’s Aladdin

Palace Theatre Manchester

Monday 10 June – 7 July

The magic carpet has officially landed, as Disney’s smash-hit musical Aladdin is now here in Manchester for the summer.

Based on the beloved 1992 animated film of the same name, and following several critically-acclaimed and sold-out runs on both Broadway and in London’s West End since it first debuted back in 2011, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated production has taken to the stage down at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.

The musical features all the timeless songs we know and love from the film, and people are already describing it as a seriously magical show.

Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here .

Manchester Green Spaces Trail

Manchester & Salford

Workers and visitors are being invited to discover some stunning outdoor spaces across Manchester city centre and beyond this summer.

Keen to get out and about on foot? Manchester has launched Manchester Green Spaces Trail – a brand-new walking trail celebrating the best green, blue, and outdoor areas the cities of Manchester and Salford have to offer.

Created in collaboration with Manchester tour guide, Jonathan Schofield, the walking trail is free to do and accessible via a downloadable map, and it features 16 garden and water spaces.

Find out more here .

Did you see that Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024?

Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is already familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world.

But now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.

The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Read more here .

Did you know there’s a huge gaming event currently happening in Manchester?

With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP is back for more in 2024 down at the Science and Industry Museum, and it’s taking ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming every weekend.

There’s everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more to get stuck into, and each ticket includes unlimited play all day.

Find out more about the exhibition here .

Fancy exploring the Yorkshire Dales in all their glory this summer?

Greater Manchester residents are now able to hop onboard a new train service to discover one of the most picturesque places in the North.

If you’re after a scenic adventure over these next couple of months, then Northern has decided to bring back the ‘Yorkshire Dales Explorer’ train after it proved to be so popular with passengers the last time it was out on its travels.

The new service is now departing from Rochdale to Ribblesdale twice a day every Saturday throughout the summer, and tickets will set you back around £25 each.

Tickets are now on sale, and you can find out more and grab yours here .

Looking for somewhere to watch UEFA Euro 2024 in Greater Manchester this summer?

Friday 14 June – onwards

European football’s flagship tournament is officially kicking off this Friday.

But if you haven’t been lucky enough to grab tickets to catch a game over in Germany itself, and you don’t fancy sitting at home and watching on your own, then thankfully, our region is filled with places where you can catch all the action surrounded by hundreds of other football fans.

You’re absolutely spoiled for choice this year, as there’s plenty of places in Manchester city centre and beyond screening all the games.

Will England bring football home though? Only time will tell.

Check out our round-up list of all the best places to watch the Euros in Greater Manchester here .

The Big Oasis Quiz

Fairfield Social Club

Friday 14 June

One of the city‘s newest venues is hosting a massive Oasis-themed pub quiz this weekend, and it sounds like it’ll be a biblical night… as r Liam would say.

The music the Gallagher brothers produced while being part of one of Manchester’s – if not the UK’s – best bands of all time has well and truly earned them a place in the history books, and if you’re someone who reckons you know everything there is to know about all that ‘history’, then you’ll probably want to get yourself down to Fairfield Social Club this Friday.

The  Big Oasis Quiz  is a special one-off multimedia quiz happening to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the release of band’s iconic debut album,  Definitely Maybe .

Find out more and grab tickets here .

We Invented The Weekend 2024

MediaCityUK

Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 June

One of Salford’s most popular and best-loved cultural celebrations is making a special return for 2024 once again this weekend.

That’s right, We Invented the Weekend is back for another year of fun.

Taking over MediaCity and Salford Quays this Saturday and Sunday, festivalgoers can expect a specially-curated programme of over 200 events and activities, with something for people of all ages and backgrounds to get stuck into, and some seriously “unmissable” headline moments scattered across the two days.

Find out everything happening at the festival this weekend here .

The 90s Brunch

Brickhouse Social

Saturday 15 June

Brickhouse Social’s 90s-themed brunch is back by popular demand.

The Manchester social hub is inviting music lovers down to enjoy 90-minutes of bottomless pizza slices, fizz, bottled beers, and select cocktails on its ooftop terrace every Saturday throughout the summer months – with a resident DJ playing all the best tunes from the 1990s.

Tickets will set you back £35pp, and there’s two Brunch sittings available, so you can opt for 1-3pm, or 3:30-5:30pm. 

Find out more and book your table here .

Green Island Festival 2024

The first Green Island Festival of the 2024 is happening this weekend.

Descending on Hulme Community Garden Centre, the unique three-part festival – which is one of the very best in Greater Manchester, and we guarantee the only one that takes place inside a garden centre (yes, really) – is returning this Saturday, and it’s quietly becoming the best music event you’re missing out on.

If 2023’s edition was anything to go by, then Green Island Festival won’t be staying a best-kept secret for much longer.

Find out more about this year’s festival here .

Looking for somewhere to go for a hearty roast dinner in and around Greater Manchester this weekend?

From the moment we start to feel the weekend rolling in, we can’t help but turn our thoughts to Sunday roasts, steaming jugs of gravy, and big glasses sploshing over with red wine.

It’s just the best feeling, and there’s plenty of it to be found here in our region.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by THE MANC EATS 🥡 (@themanceats)

While we do love lunch on a sun-soaked afternoon in the beer garden when we get the chance, nothing warms the cockles more on a Sunday than a giant plate piled high with roasted meats, vegetables, and gravy.

Read our round-up of some of the best Greater Manchester roast dinners here .

Featured Image – Mark Waugh (WETW) | Road to Victory

An award-winning play about England men’s national football team is set to play outside of London for the first time ever.

And Greater Manchester has been chosen as the lucky location.

The National Theatre’s smash-hit production of writer James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, Dear England , will have a four-week run at the legendary The Lowry Theatre in Salford next year from 29 May to 29 June 2025.

Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rupert Goold, Dear England tells the story of the England men’s football team under current manager,  Gareth Southgate .

Originally commissioned by the National Theatre, the play had its world premiere in June 2023, and later transferred to the West End following a sold-out run of shows , where it broke several box office records in the process.

As the nation watches the drama unfold at this summer’s UEFA EURO 2024 , the critically-acclaimed play is set to “evolve” in a way that’ll include this key European championship too, all while continuing to examine the crucial role the England team and manager play in English society.

A synopsis of the play reads: “The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

“The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.”

Casting for the The Lowry production of the play is set to be announced in due course, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

The Lowry’s CEO, Julia Fawcett, said Dear England ‘s run will be a “unique and incredibly special event”.

BREAKING TRANSFER NEWS! ⚽️ Direct from its sold-out run at the @NationalTheatre , a record-breaking run in the West End, and scooping up Best New Play at this year's Olivier Awards, #DearEnglandOnStage is coming to Salford in 2025. The Away Game: @The_Lowry | From 29 May pic.twitter.com/CnekMx0m9F — Dear England (@DearEnglandPlay) June 4, 2024

Speaking ahead of the play’s 2025 run at the MediaCity -based arts venue, Fawcett continued: “With football being so integral to the whole culture of the North West, we know that this production is going to really resonate with our audiences.”

Dear England will be at The Lowry from Thursday 29 May – Sun 29 June 2025, and tickets will go on general sale next Friday (14 June 2024) at 10am to coincide with the start of the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament.

• England player stats this season are starting to make us think we could actually win EURO 2024
• Smash-hit fan zone Road to Victory returns to Manchester for EURO 2024
• Long-lost verse from iconic local folk song to be debuted at FREE Salford festival

Find out more and grab tickets when they go on sale here .

Featured Image – The Lowry

More Art & Culture

A Peaky Blinders film is OFFICIALLY coming to Netflix and it’s one ‘for the fans’

Long-lost verse from iconic local folk song to be debuted at FREE Salford festival next weekend

‘Groundbreaking’ new wildlife exhibition to open at Manchester Museum

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

One of the highest-rated Harry Potter films is returning to UK cinemas for its 20th anniversary 

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 27 May – 2 June 2024

A ‘one of a kind’ classic car boot sale is coming to Manchester for the first time this summer

Drink prices at Parklife 2024, including beer, cider, wine and spirits

The Wharf might just be Greater Manchester’s best waterside pub

O’Neill’s is giving away FREE drinks to Mancs celebrating a milestone birthday this weekend

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches

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The 11 best attractions in Manchester you shouldn’t miss

Need some sightseeing inspiration? Get to know this marvellous city with our guide to the best attractions in Manchester

This powerhouse of a city has all you could want from pretty much any destination. Vast and fascinating history? Check. Diverse and vibrant cultural scenes? Of course. Some of the UK ’s finest restaurants and plenty of its most brilliant boozers ? You bet .

And that’s only scratching the surface. Mighty Manny has everything from majestic institutions and museums to pretty parks and gardens. Throughout its iconic districts and neighbourhoods are awe-inspiring works of architecture and dazzling bits of street art , scores of shops , theatres , cinemas and nightclubs . Overwhelmed? Never fear, as we’re here to help – these are the best attractions in Manchester to get you started on this marvellous city. 

RECOMMENDED: 🏛️The best museums in Manchester 🎨The best art galleries in Manchester 🌃The best things to do in Manchester

This guide was written by Rob Martin , a writer based in Manchester.  At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines .

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Best Manchester attractions

1.  Manchester Art Gallery

Slap bang in the middle of the city sits an oasis of calm in the grand shape of Manchester’s main art gallery . And what a place this is. Nearly 13,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and other artworks, plus a similar number in the craft and design collection, all make for one genuinely world-class art outing.

2.  Sea Life Manchester

• Attractions
• Zoos and aquariums

The Trafford Centre is more than just a collection of shops and, adding to its status as a bona fide visitor attraction, this mid-size aquarium  could easily fit into your shopping trip to make sure the little ones are kept entertained for a few hours.

3.  The Quays

There are many reasons why The Quays should be near the very top of your must-see list. This striking waterfront destination has grown out of the once-derelict docklands of the Salford and Trafford Quays area, transformed from desolate wasteland into a place where some of the country’s most iconic buildings (both The Lowry and Imperial War Museum North are RIBA award-winners) stand with their neighbours to provide a place where culture, sport, shopping and a lot more come together.

4.  The Gay Village

Thanks to the efforts of the Village Business Association and increasing concerns about the continued need for LGBTQ+ resources, Manchester’s Gay Village is thriving. By day, it’s the best place in the city to relax and, by night, it’s just a lot of fun. Of course, this area hosts many big-name events throughout the year – Pride, Sparkle and the Great British Bear Bash, to name but a few – so it’s great to see this current shift in emphasis rejuvenating the Gay Village once again.

5.  Victoria Baths

• Historic buildings and sites

Thank goodness for the Friends of Victoria Baths . Built in 1906 and housing a stunning Turkish bath suite as well as the main pool, this was once considered ‘the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country’, but fell into dereliction when, in 1993, Manchester Council could no longer afford to keep it open. The tireless work of the Friends meant that the baths won the public vote for funds through the TV show Restoration in 2003.

6.  Castlefield Viaduct

Manchester city centre’s very own New York-style high line is the regenerated, re-purposed and long-neglected Castlefield Viaduct . Originally built as a railway line in 1892, the iconic structure had fallen into rack and ruin until the National Trust took it on to create a beautiful park in the sky.

7.  Whitworth Art Gallery

With great sensitivity to history, nature and its surroundings, this new version of the Whitworth leaps way beyond its former position as a minor partner to the Manchester Art Gallery. A major refurbishment saw the old walls replaced with floor-to-ceiling windows, while the café seemingly levitates among the trees. It all helps to frame the artworks, which are a diverse and inclusive selection. 

8.  John Rylands Library

• Libraries, archives and foundations

In times of woe and in need of spiritual guidance, you could well find yourself wandering into the John Rylands Library mistaking it for a church, such is the late Victorian neo­-Gothic splendour of this magnificent building. Head inside and you’ll find something that could truly enrich the soul – about 200,000 books.

9.  HOME

• Film and video

HOME is one of the newer venues in town brings the arts home to the city centre like no other, merging two former cultural institutions, Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company, under one multi-million-pound roof. Here you’ll find two theatres, five cinemas, a large and flexible gallery space, plus plenty of places to eat, drink, shop and hang out. 

10.  Ordsall Hall

Salford is a city full of surprises, and among the most striking is the magnificent Ordsall Hall , a Grade I-listed Tudor manor house right in the middle of a housing estate. The hall dates back to 1177 – so you can see why this lovingly restored building earned its listed status. The garden grounds are wonderful for a family picnic or short stroll, and reflect the variety of eras through which the building has survived.

11.  RHS Garden Bridgewater

This 156-acre garden, with original features dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria, RHS Garden Bridgewater  is perhaps the finest attraction of its kind in the North West. Themed areas, a large lake and a new-ish visitor centre make this a fine spot for a wander indeed.

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