Manchester welcomes in the new year with the all the whizzbangery you’d expect from the annual fireworks display. For this year though, Manchester’s New Year’s Eve fireworks have been moved from their traditional home at Albert Square, to Manchester Cathedral at the other end of Deansgate.
Warning, there will be no alcohol for sale and it’s very much not a BYOB event.
Cathedral Gardens is a partially lawned public space in Manchester city centre, located between Manchester Cathedral and the National Football Museum.
The 2022 Festa Italiana was a roaring success, with great food options and captivating live music performances throughout the weekend.
Elegant and welcoming restaurant and bar in the Corn Exchange, with an attractive domed ceiling and plenty of original features like the staircase and tiles.
The baby in the family of Manchester’s concert halls, The Stoller Hall greatly enhances the city’s already enviable live music provision.
Proper Tea sits opposite Manchester Cathedral, serving up artisanal teas (with instructions on how long to leave them brewing), sandwiches, soups and excellent cake.
Greengate Square is a public space in Salford, close to Manchester Cathedral.
The Sparrows serves up a range of exciting pan-European food.
Grindsmith Coffee in Manchester’s Greengate Square serves locally sourced coffee and single origins from across the world.
Hanging Ditch Wine Merchants is on the site where either linen, or – it’s rumoured – people, were hung out to dry. It’s also the best place to shop for wine in the city.
The Embankment Kitchen serves up modern seasonal dishes in a great-looking space on the edge of Manchester city centre.
An offshoot from the much-loved Umezushi, this specialist deli is a one-stop-shop for all your sushi making needs, and also hosts occasional workshops to improve your culinary skills.
A Joseph Holt’s pub in Manchester’s Shambles Square.
The Pankhurst Centre’s new permanent exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the people behind the iconic Pankhurst name.
free entry
Whether you have never put pencil to paper or have been honing your artistic skills for years, Bee Creative studio runs life drawing sessions for people of all abilities.
from £10
Discover the organic inspiration behind the work of Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and others in the new show at the Hepworth Wakefield.
£10, with concessions
Through a fantastic collection of classical and contemporary artists’ work, ‘(Un)Defining Queer’ examines the use of language, histories and narratives to explore what ‘queer’ really means today. free entry
Offering a brilliant blend of history, art and literature, this expanded exhibition at The Armitt, offers a revealing insight into the artist’s life and work.
from £4.00
Get ready for the drama and grandeur of the ancient world in ‘Return of the Gods’ at Liverpool’s World Museum.
£8 with concessions
Not only one of Britain’s most picturesque national parks, the Lake District is also brimming with culture. Here’s what’s on over the next few months.
free entry
See ‘Traces of Displacement’, the Whitworth’s major new exhibition which uses the gallery’s collection to explore the issue of forced displacement.
free entry
Provocative new writing, glitzy burlesque and big budget shows, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.
Keep warm with festive feasts, Hollywood stars and 90s nostalgia across the North's cinemas this December.
It might be curl-up-with-a-book season, but there's lots to get out and about for and plenty of events where you can stock up on new reads.
Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.
Festive frolics, monstrous theatre and magical outdoor adventures all feature in our latest picks of things to do with the family.
While rainy late autumn may not be the most energising of seasons, there is plenty of new art to see and inspire this month!
We're unapologetically entering into the Christmas spirit here at Tours and Activities with some alternative festive fun.
The best food and drink options in Manchester and the North for the upcoming winter months.