15 December 2014

Polly Checkland Harding

Our own take on the traditional advent calendar continues, with  the fifteenth post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: We love Leeds.

There are lots of good things going on in Leeds at the moment. The Tetley is a destination in itself, with a restaurant, bar and two new exhibitions all in one place. There’s the brilliantly-titled Some Women, Other Women and all the Bittermen, a large-scale video installation that explores the role of the worker under global capitalism (using both real and fictional documentary footage). Then there’s Educating Damien, a fascinating archive of slides and lecture materials from Glyn Thompson, former teacher of Damien Hirst and other Foundation Art students at Jacob Kramer College in Leeds. The Tetley, 11am-4pm, free.

Do more. For something a bit different, book The Wood Beneath the World. This immersive experience takes place under Leeds Town Hall – we don’t want to give too much away, so let’s just say that it’s pretty whimsical. If you don’t manage to get tickets, there’s a great pop-up bar in the Town Hall’s old cells that’s a fun trip in and of itself. Try San Carlo Leeds for a meal afterwards. Leeds Town Hall, 5pm (until 23 Dec). Tickets £8/£6 conc.

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

Matt Spratt.
Music

Aphex Twin-endorsed electronica, an eight-hour organ marathon and the most exciting band in Ireland's current folk revival all feature this month.

Food and Drink in the North

Squeeze the most out of these final weeks of summer thanks to our mid-August guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre

From intimate dramas to spectacular outdoor festivals, discover the North West performances worth adding to your diary.

Exhibitions

Summer isn’t usually a high point in the exhibitions calendar, but Greater Manchester’s small galleries seem to have made a pact to change that this year.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.