Following the success of Poet’s Corner at Chetham’s Library, AMP are back with another unmissable performance of spoken word, poetry and live music. Hear some of Manchester’s very best poets, storytellers and musicians perform in aid of local homelessness charity, coffee4craig. Bringing together Manchester artists to help fight homelessness in the city, with performances from Liv Barnes, Bob Horton, Roma Havers and more.
Eat your way through the dairy based delights of Manchester, with the Manchester Cheese Crawl walking tour.
from £25
Hidden gardens, re-wilded viaducts, and endless canals – explore Manchester’s softer side on this guided walking tour.
from £20.00
Superb little hidden-away bar on Deansgate
In Royal Exchange Arcade, Aston’s of Manchester is a tobacconist that recently branched out into whisky sales. In their shop you’ll find an interesting selection of bottles to buy, including some real rarities, and tasting events here are just getting going.
The Royal Exchange is one of the most celebrated theatres in the country, highly regarded for both new writing and its take on the classics.
High-quality food and wine in the in-house restaurant for the Royal Exchange Theatre on St Anne’s Square
The Remedy Kitchen is a Manchester restaurant dedicated to healthy eating, with the goal to detox the body and mind.
Located in the midst of Deansgate, this community chapel regularly hosts cultural events, socials and activities. Check out their website for info and upcoming performances.
Historic Grade I listed church on St Ann’s Square, Manchester.
Hotel Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange is an affordable hotel in Manchester’s city centre, perfect for a business or family stay in the city.
Healthy Indian street food from this bright, socially-conscious dining space on Deansgate.
Bloom Cafe is a stunning cafe based on Deansgate in Manchester, serving up an array of hot and cold drinks, including a range of CBD options.
The ‘biggest bookshop in the North’ right here in Manchester.
Lunya is a Spanish and Catalan deli and restaurant in Manchester’s stunning Barton Arcade. The food is reliably fresh and the staff both charming and incredibly knowledgable.
Throughout 2025, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is celebrating its tenth anniversary, having first opened to the public a decade ago.
from £0.00
Throughout 2025, the team at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is taking a deep dive into Ruth, one of the famous 19th-century author’s most shocking texts.
from £6.00
Lancaster Literature Festival, or Litfest to its friends, is rolling out its 46th programme, having created a variety of events for its audiences since 1978.
from £3.00
Celebrated poet and musician John Hegley is back at Waterside Arts with his latest show, An American In Luton.
from £8.50
Now in its 20th year, Manchester Literature Festival is presenting a special programme of spring events.
from £8.00
Peter Barlow’s Cigarette has a treat this spring as the team has organised an open mic in April and invited along guest readers in May.
free entry
Huddersfield Literature Festival is back with a packed programme this May, and this Polari-themed special caught our eye, featuring writers including Okechukwu Nzelu and Rosie Garland.
from £10.00
Interrogate the role of Men in a Man’s World from the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell and her contemporaries with Dr Sherry Ashworth.
from £13.00
Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.
We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.
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.
With these lighter, brighter days and warmer temperatures, it's really starting to feel like summer here in the North West!
Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring.
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.
Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month
Live scores, midnight movies and the latest from Wes Anderson are just some of our upcoming film highlights.