Attractions in Manchester
Creative TouristLooking for Manchester attractions? The city is studded with gems, from the sprawling museums and galleries to world-class concert halls, intimate stages and family friendly fare.
Our top picks
Imperial War Museum North (IWM North)
IWM North was designed by Daniel Libeskind, whose beautiful waterfront building was based on a globe shattered by war and houses a permanent collection, special exhibitions and events that consider the many ways conflict shapes society.
The Whitworth
The Whitworth underwent a £15m redevelopment in 2015, which saw it double in size; the gallery now juts out into Whitworth park, seamlessly transitioning from old to new. It’s been met with national and international acclaim – for its new architecture and for its brilliant exhibitions programme.
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
John Rylands Library houses a collection of rare books that spans five millennia – including an original Gutenberg Bible – in a neo-Gothic building that took nine years to build.
Science and Industry Museum
The Science and Industry Museum is housed in the buildings of the world’s first inter-city passenger railway; this sprawling, interactive land of scientific exploration includes a working steam train.
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery houses 25,000 artefacts across six centuries and contemporary exhibitions by world-leading artists in a beautifully-restored neo-Classic gallery, slap band in the city centre. The architect also designed Highclere Castle (or Downton Abbey).
HOME Manchester
Manchester’s new, £25m arts complex boasts 500 square metres of gallery space and five cinema screens as well as its 500 seat theatre; host to UK premieres, visiting companies and internationally focused work, the offering at HOME is as ambitious as it gets.
People’s History Museum
The national museum of democracy, couldn’t have a better home than Manchester, the birthplace of the British Labour Party and universal suffrage.
Manchester Museum
Manchester Museum boasts six million pieces in its archive, an impressive Egyptology collection and new discovery space The Study all in one gothic, Grade II*-listed building.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has been lovingly restored; you can now sit at her desk, see where Charlotte Brontë hid behind the curtains, and have tea in the downstairs café.
Royal Exchange Theatre
This former trading hall underwent a £32m redevelopment after being severely damaged by the 1996 IRA bomb in Manchester’s city centre – and has been delivering stellar productions from its unusual seven-sided glass and steel theatre-in-the-round (the biggest in the UK), and smaller (but still excellent) studio, ever since. Productions here are renowned – both Vanessa Redgrave and Helen Mirren have graced the Royal Exchange’s stage.
Where to go in Manchester
Manchester
Ducie Street Warehouse
Ducie Street Warehouse’s new menu is full of hearty dishes, large and small.
Manchester
HOME Manchester
Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.
Manchester
Cultplex
Billing itself as Manchester’s home of cult films, video games and cool nerd stuff, Cultplex is a small cinema offshoot of indie street food destination Grub Manchester.
Altrincham
The Altrincham Garrick Playhouse
Established in 1914, Altrincham Garrick Playhouse presents a variety of performances and screenings, as well as hosting term-time drama classes and a popular summer school for young people.
Altrincham
Everyman Altrincham
Altrincham’s Everyman is a supremely comfortable boutique cinema showing all of the latest blockbusters, independent hits and big screen events.
Manchester
Everyman Manchester St John’s
Experience luxury moviegoing at this three-screen boutique cinema and bar located close to Spinningfields.
Manchester
Odeon Great Northern
Located within the historic Grade 2 former railway goods distribution warehouse, the Odeon Great Northern is a 16 screen multiplex cinema.
Manchester
Vue Manchester Printworks
Formerly run by Odeon, Vue Manchester Printworks is the biggest cinema in Manchester with a whopping 23 screens capable of seating 4,472 people. The programming covers all of the latest…
City Centre
AMC Cinema Manchester
A mainstream chain cinema showing a mix of new releases and blockbusters. Located in The Great Northern Warehouse complex.
Manchester
Cineworld Didsbury
With only 11 screens (only!), this is one of the smaller multiplexes in Greater Manchester – but its advantage is its location in the lush surrounds of Didsbury, not far from a roster of good bars, cafés and restaurants.
Manchester
Moston Small Cinema
Volunteer-run cinema
Manchester Visitor Guides
Beer Gardens in Manchester & Salford
Make the most of the sun in one of Manchester's many top-notch beer gardens.
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Music Venues in Manchester
Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.
Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield
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Italian Food in Manchester
It's hard to think of a more varied and reliably delicious food than Italian cuisine. Check out our expert guide to Manchester's very best Italian restaurants.
Places To Eat Outside in Manchester
Looking for somewhere to eat outside in Manchester in these hot summer months? Here's our guide to the restaurants in Manchester with the best areas for al fresco dining.
Gin Bars in Manchester
Where in Manchester can you find the best gins, the best gin cocktails, or just those unusual little bottles that you might not find anywhere else? Here's our guide.
Hidden Bars in Manchester
Manchester's best secret, hidden and hard to find bars - here's our guide.
Chinatown Manchester Restaurants
Head over to Manchester's Chinatown and you'll be spoilt for choice. That famous Faulkner Street arch looks down on some of the city's most exciting eateries. Here are five of
Chinese restaurants in Manchester (outside Chinatown)
Look outside Chinatown and you'll find everything from little backstreet haunts, to celebrity-packed multi-million-pound mega-restaurants. The one thing they have in common is excellent food. Here are the city's best
Manchester District Guides
Spotlight on
Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield
Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.
Take me thereDestination Guides
Culture Guides
Theatre in the North
Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.
Food and Drink in the North
The sun is shining in the North, so use our guide to get out there and eat, drink and be merry in it.
Tours and Activities in the North
Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.
Cinema in the North
July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.
Literature Events in the North
From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.
Exhibitions in the North
Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.
Music in the North
Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.
Family things to do in the North
This month's guide is truly eclectic - from free family festivals, to food events, circus school and more!