Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Seasonal Guides
New year, new arts and cultural adventures.
Blow away the January blues and get out and about with these great exhibitions, gigs, live literature events, theatrical journeys and much more.
And if you’re on the Veganuary hype, check out our guides to Vegan food in Manchester, Vegan Food in Liverpool and Vegan Food in Leeds.
Happy New Year!
Things to do in January
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When Dreams Confront Reality: The Sherwin Collection at The Hepworth Wakefield
One of the most most important privately-owned collection of British Surrealism has found a permanent home at The Hepworth Wakefield.
Drawing course with Nina Hunter
Nina Hunter founder of Saltaire Art School is hosting a six week drawing course in the new year, the perfect way to get to grips with new techniques.
Reading The Other at The Old Monkey
Writers of poetry, prose fiction, flash fiction, drama, non-fiction, essays, journalism, biography – anything that is their own writing – are paired up and swap sets to read each other’s work.
Experitots at the Science and Industry Museum
Keep the youngest kids entertained in hands-on Experitots sessions, featuring multisensory activities for children aged 1–4.
Write Like A Grrrl: Ignite
Start the new year with a creative project with Write Like A Grrrl, a warm and encouraging writing course for womxn in Leeds.
PUSH Festival 2023 at HOME
A celebration of the North West’s creative talents, PUSH Festival at HOME Manchester is always a highlight of the theatre calendar.
Craft Beer Experience
Yorkshire Craft Beers are sharing some of the best newly created and all time classic beverages with their Craft Beer Experience.
Rambert: Peaky Blinders at the Alhambra Theatre
A new dance theatre event, delving into the backstory of Tommy Shelby and the Peaky Blinders, written by the creator of the global hit television series.
Chemistry at Chemic Tavern
Leeds’ newest live literature night Chemistry promises an exciting mixture of headline guests and open mic acts, all introduced by Leeds-based poet Joe Williams.
Still showing this month
Damien Hirst at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Experience YBA artist Damien Hirst’s towering and provocative outdoor sculptures at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The Little Library in Spinningfields
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.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House Tour
Visit the home influential Mancunian writer Elizabeth Gaskell, with expert guides and refreshments within the home it’s a truly immersive way to learn about her life.
What is Manchester Art Gallery? at Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery reopens with a thought-provoking new exhibition that delves into the history of the public institution and its role within the city.
Jonathan Schofield Walking Tours
Jonathan Schofield Is well known for his expertly informed, charismatic and intriguing guided tours, join him on one to find out why.
Eat The City – Scranchester Tours
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.
Silence – Alone in a World of Wounds at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Stop and spend an hour or two with this special creation, nestled within a stand of birch trees beside Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Upper Lake.
At Home with the Pankhurst Family at the Pankhurst Centre
The Pankhurst Centre’s new permanent exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the people behind the iconic Pankhurst name.
2022 Banner Exhibition at People’s History Museum
The 2022 Banner Exhibition 2022 at the People’s History Museum will take you on a journey through the history of rights and equality via its dazzling collection.
Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
A major exhibition of Robert Indiana’s sculptures and two-dimensional work will adorn the rolling hills and Underground Gallery of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Fairy Tales at Z-Arts
Z-Arts presents Fairy Tales, an enchanting exhibition that takes children aged 0-8 to an interactive Fairy Tale wonderland.
Refractive Pool: Contemporary Painting in Liverpool at Walker Art Gallery
‘Refractive Pool: Contemporary Painting in Liverpool’ at Walker Art Gallery celebrates local talent with an exhibition of paintings by 21 Merseyside artists alongside a publication.
British Pop Archive at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Come along to experience the energy and nostalgia of The British Pop Archive – an exhibition that gathers records, artefacts and memorabilia of UK popular culture from the post-war period to the present day.
Inspired by Lady Lever at Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight’s exhibition ‘Inspired by Lady Lever’ aims to reveal a little more about the lady herself, with the help of valuable artefacts, while celebrating 100 years of history at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, and the life of the woman it is named after.
Rachel Goodyear: Stirrings at Salford Museum & Art Gallery
Salford Museum & Art Gallery presents a ‘homecoming’ exhibition – the first major solo show in the North by the Salford-based, internationally renowned artist Rachel Goodyear.
Shakespeare North Playhouse Opening Season
Launching with a glorious weekend of free festivities (15-17 July), check out Shakespeare North Playhouse’s spectacular opening season.
DJ Gym at Hatch
Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.
Life Drawing Manchester
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.
Supper Club at the Vegetarian Society Cookery School
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.
Jadé Fadojutimi: Can we see the colour green because we have a name for it? at The Hepworth Wakefield
This September, The Hepworth Wakefield is giving audiences the opportunity to experience the wonderfully colourful world of Jadé Fadojutimi.
Sahej Rahal: Mythmachine at BALTIC Gateshead
Sahej Rahal and his new exhibition ‘Mythmachine’ continues BALTIC’s season of exhibitions with the leading theme of ‘play’.
Sí Manchester Daily Tour
Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.
JMW Turner with Lamin Fofana: Dark Waters at Tate Liverpool
See JWM Turner’s work like never before paired with Lamin Fofana’s immersive exhsound environment in ‘Dark Waters’, a very special exhibition at Tate Liverpool opening this September.
Daniel Arsham: Relics in the Landscape at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Daniel Arsham’s large-scale sculptures are making an appearance at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in his outdoor show ‘Relics in the Landscape’.
ROOT-ed Zine: Retrospect, Reality, Reform at The Tetley
ROOT-ed Zine are taking over The Tetley with their show ‘Retrospect, Reality, Reform’, amplifying the voices of Northern creatives of colour.
Dandy Style at Manchester Art Gallery
Set in the brand new dedicated Fashion Gallery, ‘Dandy Style’ celebrates all the is most elegant, dramatic and fascinating in menswear.
Cerith Wyn Evans: ….)( at MOSTYN
MOSTYN is currently hosting a major solo show by Wales’ most internationally recognised artist Cerith Wyn Evans with a show entitled ‘….)(‘.
breathe, spirit and life 呼吸、靈魂與生命 at The Bluecoat
The autumn season in the Bluecoat is all about cleansing and purifying, in the new exhibition breathe, spirit and life 呼吸、靈魂與生命.
Ukraine: Photographs from the Frontline at IWM North
See IWM North’s powerful new exhibition ‘Ukraine: Photographs from the Frontline’, from photojournalist Anastasia Taylor-Lind.
Brains in a Dish at Cooper Gallery and Glass Works Digital Space, Barnsley
Visit ‘Brains in a Dish’, an immersive installation of sculptures and digital media visualising the processes involved in studying the causes of dementia, raising awareness of the condition and the powerful technologies used in dementia research.
THE LIGHTS at Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre
Come and absorb THE LIGHTS in Bury Art Museum’s new exhibition where lightboxes and neon take centre stage. The touring show is originally from Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery.
Turner Prize 2022 at Tate Liverpool
This year, Tate Liverpool will have the pleasure of hosting what is possibly the most important event in contemporary art in the UK – the Turner Prize.
Hannah Starkey: In Real Life at The Hepworth Wakefield
The Hepworth Wakefield presents a major survey of work by Hannah Starkey, tracing the development of two decades of her photographic practice.
Turn It Up: The Power of Music at the Science and Industry Museum
Prepare to get hands-on, with your ears and hearts open, at a new major exhibition exploring the science of music’s mysterious hold over us and how it drives us to create, perform, feel and share.
Althea McNish: Colour is Mine at The Whitworth
Explore the life and work of Althea McNish, one of the most influential textile designers, in the major, touring retrospective ‘Althea McNish: Colour is Mine’ at The Whitworth.
Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story at the Lady Lever Art Gallery
‘Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story’ takes viewers on a journey full of sparkle, glamour and some of the finest jewels you’ll see, on the Lady Lever Art Gallery’s 100th anniversary year.
Hinterlands at BALTIC Gateshead
Experience the folklore, mythologies and history of the landscape of the North East in Baltic’s new group exhibition ‘Hinterlands’.
Jala Wahid: Conflagration at BALTIC Gateshead
Visit the BALTIC to experience Jala Wahid’s ‘inferno’, an exploration of Kurdish identity, Britishness and diaspora through the lens of oil.
The Lion King at the Palace Theatre
The sun may have set over our Manchester theatres during the pandemic – but now “it’s rolling high through the sapphire sky” once again. Hit musical The Lion King has added even more dates to its previously postponed run.
Brigitte Jurack: Fieldnotes at HOME
Visit Brigitte Jurack: Fieldnotes at HOME – a gorgeous new exhibition that works like a balm for our overstimulated minds.
School of Comedy at the Frog and Bucket
Try your hand at stand up comedy with an eight week intensive course with Dave Williams in the Frog and Bucket’s School of Comedy.
Nina Chua and Daniel Silver at Castlefield Gallery
Experience the raw creative energy of manipulating materials, at Castlefield Gallery’s new double-artist exhibition from Nina Chua and Daniel Silver.
Lakwena Maciver: A green and pleasant land (HA-HA) at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Hide from the rain and immerse yourself in the bright and colourful paintings in ‘Lakwena Maciver: A green and pleasant land (HA-HA)’ at YSP.
Robin Hood at Oldham Coliseum
Hitting the target this Christmas, Robin Hood promises to be a traditional pantomime of the highest order – great for the whole family.
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool
The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.
A Christmas Carol at Bolton Octagon
Bringing music, laughter and a welcome dose of festive cheer, a brand-new adaptation of the Dickensian classic is the perfect festive treat for families this Christmas.
Lightopia at Heaton Park
The award-winning and visually sensational lantern and light festival returns to illuminate Manchester this winter.
Christine Kowal: They Think They Are Fallen Angels at Williamson Gallery
Christine Kowal: They Think They Are Fallen Angels at Williamson Gallery explores our relationship with the natural world and its inhabitants.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto: Red Riding Hood at Liverpool Everyman
Well, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to see Liverpool’s jukebox-sensational Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, would it?
Saltaire Living Advent Calendar
The Saltaire Living Advent Calendar has been a staple of the village since 2006, with community buildings and houses lighting up their windows with intricate illuminations.
Christmas at Gibside
Get away from it all at Christmas at Gibside, a fantastical fire and lantern trail. We all love a stroll in the countryside, but this is a brand new way to experience the stunning eighteenth-century house and gardens.
Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley & Josèfa Ntjam
FACT presents the final instalment of the Radical Ancestry programme with a new show by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley & Josèfa Ntjam.
Betty! A Sort Of Musical at the Royal Exchange
Looking to escape the traditional pantomime fare this Christmas? the Royal Exchange’s festive production should definitely hit the spot.
Room on the Broom at The Lowry
Join the adventures of the Witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane at The Lowry
Prepare to be transfixed in this dark, magical tale of a forgotten childhood live on stage at The Lowry this winter.
Claus – The Musical at The Lowry
With childhood wonder and festive magic, this world premiere musical brings L. Frank Baum’s classic tale to life.
Avatar: The Way of Water at VUE Printworks
See the latest from blockbusting auteur James Cameron on the biggest screen in the city.
Winter Funland at Trafford Park
Get the kids in the Christmas spirit at this amazing indoor funfair for families with children under 9!
Related Guides
Father’s Day
This year’s Father’s Day is Sunday 19th June. Get out and about and spend some quality time with the old man in Manchester.
International Women’s Day in Manchester and the North
Here’s a rundown of the most eye-catching events happening on and around International Women’s Day in Manchester and the North.
Toward the Unknown Region – RVW150 at The Bridgewater Hall
The Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic are joining forces to offer a unique Mancunian tribute to Ralph Vaughan Williams at 150.
Spring Bank Holiday
This year’s Spring bank holiday (or late May bank holiday) is Monday 31st of May. Here’s a round up of events to fill your long weekend with to celebrate lockdown easing.
Music Venues in Bradford
Bradford has a reputation for intimate gigs and rowdy rock nights, we’ve rounded up the best places to see both in our guide of music venues in Bradford.
Things to Do in Altrincham
Plan a day out down Altrincham way, and you’ll soon find that one day isn’t…
Things to do right now
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