Manchester Weekender ‘Wanna Be In My Gang’ Cycle Tour

Susie Stubbs

A cycle tour of the city that takes in football ‘zines, music fans, The Smiths, a secret gay language – and the gangs and clubs that give us our identity.

“I feel close to the rebelliousness and vigour of the youth here. Perhaps time will separate us, but nobody can deny that here, behind the windows of Manchester, there is an insane love of football, of celebration and of music.” So said Eric Cantona. And on this tour, we explore this idea that here in Manchester we express ourselves by being a fan of something. Find out how we “belong” on this one-off guided cycle tour. During the Weekender, there is an array of events that give sports and music fans the opportunity to share their love and experiences of their favourite club or game, band or gig. The tour thus starts at the National Football Museum, where as part of the Weekender, it hosts a one day-only Football ‘Zine Fair (arrive at 11am to visit it before the ride starts). It ends at the Lowry Arts Centre, whose exhibition by Manchester District Music Archive, Defining Me: Musical Adventures in Manchester, is boosted by an event that encourages you to bring your own music memorabilia to share. Along the way, we will take in the Salford Lads Club, home of the Smiths Room and John Ryland’s Library, with its Polari performance – a secret gay language. Come dressed in your favourite fan clothing and enjoy the ride! Meet at National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, M4 3BG, 12pm-2pm, Sunday 13October, £5.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

Take me there

Culture Guides

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses
Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

Classical Music in the North

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.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Three men sit next to each other. One's head is bandaged, one holds a torch and one wears a sleepmask.
Cinema in the North

Live scores, midnight movies and the latest from Wes Anderson are just some of our upcoming film highlights.