Part-concert, part-performance, Tao of Glass takes 10 brand new pieces of music by Philip Glass and marries them to ten meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom. Expect to be mesmerised as performer-director Phelim McDermott leads an ensemble of musicians and puppeteers in a dream-inspired performance that seeks the answer to the question: Where does true inspiration come from?
Phoebe Éclair-Powell’s 2019 Bruntwood Prize-winning play is the thrilling final instalment in the Royal Exchange’s awesome Autumn/ Winter Season.
from £10.00
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
Fuelled by some of the most revered love stories, the Royal Exchange’s new Autumn/ Winter Season is absolutely unmissable.
from £10.00
Historic Grade I listed church on St Ann’s Square, Manchester.
St Ann’s Square is a quiet little enclave of shops, with Barton’s Arcade set back from it on one side, and St Ann’s Church, which dates back to 1712 and…
AKA cyclist heaven, Rapha is more than just a cycle-wear shop. It’s a place for anyone who loves cycling to congregate and celebrate the sport together.
The ‘biggest bookshop in the North’ right here in Manchester.
The Botanist on Deansgate, Manchester, does botanical cocktails and toothsome food with aplomb.
Great-looking events space beneath the Grade II listed Barton Arcade
Lectures and talks about literature and philosophy.
Quill is a former bar and fine dining restaurant on Manchester’s King Street – it’s name drives the decoration and theme, with a spread-winged raven on the menu and ink in the drinks.
Superb little hidden-away bar on Deansgate
King Street is one of the most picturesque parts of Manchester with buildings designed by Alfred Waterhouse and C.R. Cockerell. Once Manchester’s financial epicenter, it’s now home to high-end retail and fine dining.
Kai is a Turkish restaurant on Deansgate, set up by the brains behind the well-regarded Zouk restaurant. Expect excellent mezze plates and an open grill that releases wonderful aromas throughout the venue.
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.
Take your pick from The Little Library’s carefully curated collection of classics and new releases, adding a recently read book of your own as a replacement.
free entry
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and award-winning garden is a must-see for literature lovers, with a book sale on the second Sunday of the month.
from £6
Satisfy your hunger for knowledge as well as lunch with Scranchester’s food tours of the city centre. You may discover a new favourite hidden gem or learn a bit more about the cultural or historical significance of the food you eat all the time.
from £60
The Pankhurst Centre’s new permanent exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the people behind the iconic Pankhurst name.
free entry
Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.
from £269
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
For those eager to expand their Vegan culinary repertoire the Vegetarian Society Cookery School’s new Vegan Supper Club is a must. With easy to follow instructions from expert tutors you can create sumptuous vegan meals which are then enjoyed as a group.
from £50
Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.
free entry
Enjoy our latest picks of things to do with the family, including festive fun and family raves to welcome in the new year!
We're unapologetically entering into the Christmas spirit here at Tours and Activities with some alternative festive fun.
Keep warm with festive feasts, Hollywood stars and 90s nostalgia across the North's cinemas this December.
Provocative new writing, glitzy burlesque and big budget shows, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.
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.
While rainy late autumn may not be the most energising of seasons, there is plenty of new art to see and inspire this month!
The best food and drink options in Manchester and the North for the upcoming winter months.