Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
On an extensive worldwide tour in support of their latest album, Painting With, Animal Collective return to the UK.
Prepare to do some browsing and digging – this second hand bookshop is full of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered
The Liner Hotel offers accommodation in style, with comfort, luxury and a seasonal menu in a central Liverpool location.
A visit to Liverpool starting and ending at Lime Street Station
The largest two-tier theatre in the country, the Liverpool Empire Theatre boasts a busy programme of performances and events all year round.
A little sanctuary in the middle of the city
There is something for everyone at this museum, making it hugely popular with families.
The Walker Art Gallery is a small but perfectly formed traditional gallery. It houses an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative art from 13th century to present day.
The final building in the World Heritage Site of William Brown Street to be revamped, the wonderfully restored Central Library takes pride of place in Liverpool’s architecturally stunning Cultural Quarter.
A stunning Hall at the heart of the city
The Royal Court Theatre stages mostly home-grown comedies, somewhat mannered and self-conscious reflections of an inward-looking city.
Fairly non-descript shopping centre in central Liverpool.
Round the Corner provides excellent drinks, local music and good vibes, with a rooftop bar and an event space in Liverpool’s Fabric District.
One of the country’s foremost festivals showcasing new and emerging talent, Sounds From The Other City is back over Early May Bank Holiday.
From £30
Belle Chen drifts through imagined landscapes, blending piano, electronics and improvisation into something at once precise and mysterious.
From £16.50
Sir Stephen Hough returns to Manchester, where his musical life began, with a recital built around a deceptively simple idea: the piano miniature.
From £20.00
Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone brings a dark contemporary parable about exploitation, coercion and the abuse of power.
From £10.00
A new live staging of Bronski Beat’s The Age of Consent revisits a landmark queer pop album through contemporary voices.
From £10.00
Vintage Vibes returns to East Lancashire Railway this May, taking over Bury for a gleefully bonkers bank holiday weekend of music and retro pop culture.
From £19.00
Manchester jazz festival is back for 10 days, with a line-up that moves from major international names to some of the most exciting artists emerging closer to home.
0-£30
Pixies bring two nights of feral alternative rock to Aviva Studios this May, marking 40 years of the band
From £55.00
Spring is here, so sign yourself up for some much-missed al fresco dining at these highly recommended (and mostly new) Manchester restaurants.
We’ve got five new Manchester exhibitions this month, from thought-provoking photography to environmental art and community-led projects.
Our latest music picks spotlight a new underground Manchester scene gaining national attention, alongside jazz, contemporary classical and more.
Theatre’s getting political this spring, with a run of new plays tracing how conflict plays out in individual lives.
Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.
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.
Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.
