The Philosopher’s Scone: magic tricks at Harvey Nicks

Gemma Gibb, Associate Editor

Book now

The Philosopher’s Scone

24 October 2016

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Image courtesy of MSI
Book now

Book now and raid your wardrobe for your best Hogwarts threads for one of the hottest tickets of this year’s Manchester Science Festival.

Enter the world of Harry Potter and experience a family afternoon tea like no other with Roger Highfield, author of The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works followed by a screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Budding witches and wizards along with their Muggle grown-ups can feast their way through a magical menu including special sandwiches, chocolate frog rocky road cake, red velvet golden cake pops and snake eye scones.

Engaging speaker Highfield will delight big and little Harry Potter fans alike in revealing some key principles and theories of Potter’s world. Find out if the secret of the Nimbus 2000 broomstick’s ability to fly can be explained by the discovery of “gravity-shielding effects”, if the Griffin is really a species of dinosaur and if Fluffy the three-headed dog can be explained by current thinking in molecular biology.

Celebrating its tenth birthday this year, we love that the Festival, produced by the Museum of Science of Industry, is teaming up with Harvey Nichols to continue to push the boundaries of what science events for families can be like, offering special experiences like this alongside its great free programme. Oh, and we also love that we can dress up.

Where to go near The Philosopher’s Scone: magic tricks at Harvey Nicks

Harvey Nichols
City Centre
Shop
Harvey Nichols Manchester

Harvey Nichols department store showcases a range of designer brands; be guided to the perfect outfit (or wardrobe) by a style concierge. The second floor brasserie is rather good.

Manchester
Restaurant
The Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange is a collection of modern restaurants in one Grade II-listed, 19th century building. A dining destination – Mughli, Banyan Bar & Kitchen and Tampopo stand out.

Proper Tea Cathedral Quarter Mancheste
Cathedral Quarter
Café or Coffee Shop
Proper Tea

Proper Tea sits opposite Manchester Cathedral, serving up artisanal teas (with instructions on how long to leave them brewing), sandwiches, soups and excellent cake.

Selfridges
City Centre
Shop
Selfridges Exchange Square

Selfridges is home to designer brands and two different eateries – San Carlo Bottega for Italian small plates and Farmacia del Dolce for sweet treats.

Bloom Cafe
Manchester
Bloom Cafe

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.

City Centre
Shop
Aston’s Of Manchester

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

What's on: Families

Until
FamiliesCity Centre
Manchester Christmas Markets

The Manchester Christmas Markets are back for 2025, with many dozens of stalls in front of the town hall, and hundreds of traders spread across city-centre squares.

Free entry
Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
Until
ActivityManchester
2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre in the North

Picks this month include bold visual art, wondrous opera and cinematic dance - plus a touch of ghostly storytelling for the Halloween season.

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

It's busy month across the cinemas of the north as Halloween programming leads into two of the region's biggest film festivals.

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

In galleries around the North this autumn, you'll find tactile sculptures, Treasures with a capital 'T' and plant magic.