Pop-up outdoor cinemas are nothing new. From screens under flyovers old railway stations and screens in the grounds of grand houses to others that hunker down for a night at canal-side car parks, the trend for one-off film screenings has been building year on year. Here’s our pick of the best outdoor cinema spots in the North – pack popcorn, a torch and someone to grab during the scary bits.
Occupying over 1,000 acres of land in Cheshire, the Tatton Park estate could more properly be called a pleasure garden. Much like the outdoor spaces used for entertainment that were popular in the 18th century, Tatton offers a range of diversions across its vast grounds – including a wide range of screenings over the summer.
Look out for frequent summer screenings at Dunham Massey come the summer months. Spend a magical evening under the stars with classic and contemporary films in a spectacular setting.
Lowther Castle in Cumbria is pure fairytale picturebook: 200 years old, standing in rolling pastoral landscape and at the head of the little known but idyllic Lowther Valley. It’s also one of Picnic Cinema’s main venues for their annual outdoor screenings.
A jewel in the National Trust’s crown, Lyme Park is also known to host its own outdoor film events. Look out for crowd-pleasing cult classics with blankets and a bar.
A historic – and supposedly haunted – castle in Cumbria, which also plays host to Picnic Cinema events annually.
Plan your May Bank Holiday weekend with our top picks from music, art, theatre, food and drink spots, whatever the weather.
Take me there
Ealing Studios and the best of Ryan Gosling are amongst our film highlights this month.
Eclectic as ever. You'll find Bollywood musicals, scratch nights and anarchic Shakespeare in our pick of the performative crop.
Take a look at our top recommendations for restaurants and bars to check out this spring.
We've got lots of live literature to check out and plenty of other opportunities for writers and readers alike as the clocks go back...
From creative activities, poo-themed science and family theatre, check out our latest picks of fun things to do with the family.
Gazing longingly towards the good times that will accompany the surely imminent sun, we take a look at the best music festivals coming up in Manchester and Salford.
Traditional painting takes a step back this month to make way for some excellent photography, sculpture and multimedia exhibitions around the North.
Try something new, explore somewhere different, learn a new skill with our tours and activities guide.
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.
The best food and drink options in Manchester and the North to visit in 2024.
