Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester and the North

Lakes Ignite 2018 at Rheged Centre, Cumbria, 10 January–31 July 2018, free entry - Visit now

Blow away the cobwebs with a trip out to the lakes this Easter and check out some art while you’re at it. Lakes Ignite is a region-wide programme of brand-new contemporary art commissions conceived to respond to the Lake District’s rich cultural landscape.

Mughli Restaurant & Charcoal Pit, 30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M14 5TQ - Visit now

Speaking of craft beer, we checked in with Mughli recently, and in addition to being one of the most highly-acclaimed restaurants on the Curry Mile, the proprietors have teamed up with local brewers First Chop Brewing Arm to create a refreshing beer to complement their tasty, spicy food.

Lunya Manchester, Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 2BB - Visit now

Stock up on some indulgent Easter treats at this deli-extraordinare on Deansgate – or treat yourself to a meal of exemplary tapas in the upstairs restaurant. Who said all the cooking had to happen at home?

Manchester’s craft beer scene is vibrant and varied and a four day weekend means that there’s room for twice as many hangovers as usual…

The Alchemy of Colour at The John Rylands Library, City Centre, 15 March–27 August 2018, free entry - Visit now

Did you know that the remarkable yellows of Turner’s sunsets came from the urine of mango-fed cows? Or that the reds of Raphael’s greatest masterpieces derived from cactus-dwelling bugs? The Alchemy of Colour at The John Rylands Library explores the unusual stories behind some of art history’s most dazzling hues. For more Easter explorations, have a look our exhibitions guide.

It’s spring, so why not get out of the city? We can’t guarantee the weather will hold out, but at least up North you don’t have to go too far to escape the urban sprawl.

A trip into Liverpool is always worthwhile, why not see the sights and support the local independents by buying a book, picking up a bottle or sourcing a piece from some of Britain and Europe’s best designer-makers.

Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, WA14 4SJ - Visit now

For a slice of the country that’s close to home. The National Trust’s most popular property, Dunham Massey, is just a few miles outside Altrincham, set in beautiful parkland, and close to favourite pub The Swan with Two Nicks.

Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M25 2SW - Visit now

Heaton Park’s Temple – a small circular structure with a breast-esque dome and Tuscan columns, designed in 1800 – was built on the highest point in Manchester. Scale the hill it sits on and you can see (and be seen) for quite a distance. It gives a unique view of the green fells that surround the city, as well as being an iconic spot: Heaton’s Temple was featured in none other than the 1981 TV series, Brideshead Revisited.