Things to Do in Manchester

Creative Tourist

Last Updated 4 April 2018

Spend a day in the city and it rapidly becomes apparent just how much it has reinvented its industrial past into a new, trendsetting present – and an ambitious future. There’s plenty of things to do in Manchester too, from award-winning theatre and exhibitions to an exciting food and drink offer and thriving literature and music scenes.

Discover our top picks

Theatre 19–23 March 2019, from £5.00

Scottee: Fat Blokes at HOME

Following the sell-out run in May, Fat Blokes is ready to stage another fat rebellion at HOME this March. A pragmatic dialogue about fat queer masculinity.

Music 31 March–6 April 2019, from £21

The Pilgrim’s Progress by Ralph Vaughan Williams at RNCM

Inspired by John Bunyan’s novel, Ralph Vaughan William’s opera ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ will be one of the highlights of RNCM’s Spring Season.

Music 24 March 2019, from £12

Shiva Feshareki at The Lowry

Electro-composer Shiva Feshareki comes to Salford, fresh an enormously successful 2018 where she performed at the BBC Proms and picked up multiple awards including the Women Make Music PRS Award and BBC/Guardian Young Composer of the Year.

Bimingham Royal Ballet: Beauty and the Beast at The Lowry

Dance 20–23 March 2019, from £19.00

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Beauty and the Beast at The Lowry

Birmingham Royal Ballet return to The Lowry with David Bintley’s glorious, gothic adaptation of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in his farewell season.

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Cinema 22 March 2019, from £8

Decontamination #16 Contralto at RNCM

For Decontamination #16, RNCM has programmed Sarah Hennies’ ‘Contralto’, a work for video, strings and percussion that explores transfeminine identity.

MIF19 David Lynch at HOME Manchester International Festival

Festivals 4–21 July 2019, from £12.00

MIF19 – Manchester International Festival

The complete Manchester International Festival 2019 line-up is now out, and it’s fair to say that we’re more than a little excited by the calibre of this year’s programme.

Theatre 7–23 March 2019, from £18.50

Barber Shop Chronicles at the Royal Exchange

LAST CHANCE. Following two sold-out runs at the National Theatre, acclaimed performances in Leeds, Inua Ellams’ Barber Shop Chronicles closes at The Royal Exchange this weekend.

Music 7 April 2019, from £30.60

James Blake at Victoria Warehouse

Following his acclaimed new album ‘Assume Form’, James Blake’s gig at Victoria Warehouse will be one of the most exciting of the spring season.

Music 4 April 2019, from £10

Kelly Moran at Band on the Wall

Combining the prepared piano with electro-acoustic techniques, Kelly Moran’s music is as mesmerising as it is unique.

Cinema 22 March–9 April 2019, from £5.00

¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival at HOME: Film Programme

HOME’s annual celebration of the best in new Spanish and Latin American filmmaking returns with an exciting line-up of UK premieres, one off events and filmmaker Q&As.