Mental
Creative Tourist
Taking place on YouTube via a live stream, Mental is a story about mental health told through spoken word, puppetry and physical theatre.
Where to go near Mental
Kendal and Sedbergh, Cumbria
The Black Bull Inn Restaurant
A high-end restaurant in the Yorkshire Dales, combining Japanese and German influences, with seasonal British produce.
Manchester
Fairfield Social Club
Launching in spring 2024, Fairfield Social Club is a multi-purpose site next to Angel Meadows Park in the Green Quarter.
Liverpool
Gino D’Acampo Liverpool
The new menu at Gino’s Liverpool restaurant is a feast for autumn and winter.
Cumbria
Sam Read Bookseller
Award-winning small bookshop in the Lake District. Est. by Sam Read in 1887. Run by Will Smith and Polly Atkin.
Manchester
Platt Fields Market Garden
Platt Fields Market Garden is an excellent spot for both eating and buying fresh local produce to take home.
Capri
Capri serves up homely, family-style Italian food in North Yorkshire.
Manchester
Manchester Wine Tours
Manchester Wine Tours is a relaxed, fun wine tour, taking in four or five venues across three hours, plus six high-quality glasses of wine.
Sheffield
Juno Books
Friendly local queer and intersectional feminist bookshop in Sheffield. Visit for interesting fiction and non fiction books.
The Dusty Miller
Family friendly pub situated in the beautiful village of Mytholmroyd.
York
Bluebird Bakery
Bakery and cafe with regular events.
Lancashire
Winckley Square
Hosting a variety of year-round events, from guided walks to jazz evenings, Winckley Square is a Georgian square packed with history in Preston city centre.
What's on: Theatre
Until
Culture in South Lakes
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
Until
The Royal Exchange Theatre Autumn / Winter Season
Fuelled by some of the most revered love stories, the Royal Exchange’s new Autumn/ Winter Season is absolutely unmissable.
from £10.00
Until
Hamilton at the Palace Theatre
Politically charged, with outstanding performances and a hip-hop soundtrack, there is no doubt Hamilton is one of the most eagerly anticipated shows to visit Manchester this year.
from £13.00
Until
A Little Princess at Theatre by the Lake
Following the success of The Secret Garden in 2017, the team present another Frances Hodgson Burnett classic. Suitable for children aged 6+ and the perfect Christmas outing.
from £12.00
Until
The Wind in The Willows at Shakespeare North Playhouse
Get ready to head to the English countryside with Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger when The Wind in the Willows comes to Prescot.
from £3.00
Until
Brief Encounter at the Royal Exchange Theatre
The Royal Exchange’s Christmas show is always a festive highlight – this year it’s Emma Rice’s smash-hit adaptation of the Noël Coward classic.
from £12.00
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Christmas at The Lowry
Life of Pi, Fantastically Great Women, and beloved children’s classic Going on a Bear Hunt are among our picks of The Lowry’s festive season.
from £17.00
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Life of Pi at The Lowry
With eye-popping visuals, world-class puppetry and theatrical magic, the multi award-winning show stops at Salford on its first-ever UK tour.
from £17.00Culture Guides
Tours and Activities in Manchester and the North
We're unapologetically entering into the Christmas spirit here at Tours and Activities with some alternative festive fun.
Family things to do in Manchester and the North
Festive frolics, monstrous theatre and magical outdoor adventures all feature in our latest picks of things to do with the family.
Cinema in Manchester and the North
Keep warm with festive feasts, Hollywood stars and 90s nostalgia across the North's cinemas this December.
Theatre in Manchester and the North
Provocative new writing, glitzy burlesque and big budget shows, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.
Literature Events in Manchester and the North
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.
Music in Manchester and the North
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.
Exhibitions in Manchester and the North
While rainy late autumn may not be the most energising of seasons, there is plenty of new art to see and inspire this month!
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
The best food and drink options in Manchester and the North for the upcoming winter months.