August Bank Holiday in Manchester and the North

August Bank Holiday weekend is upon us, and after the past year and a half, we’re expecting this to be one of the best yet. There are many reasons to be positive – the vaccination rollout is working as expected, restrictions have been eased without a huge uptick in cases and more importantly, when it comes to the August Bank Holiday, there’s a good chance we could have some sunny weather.

The last few Bank Holiday weekends have been something of a damp squib, largely based around online events (which are great, but a real-world experience is always that touch more engaging). But now we can get out there, go and enjoy Manchester’s beautiful and important venues and make the most of what the city has to offer.

Do Manchester proud and be considerate to those around you

There’s everything on offer for the end of August, including galleries and museums, plus practically all restaurants, bars and pubs that have weathered the storm are back open for business. It’s worth a moment’s pause to think about the many great spaces that didn’t make it through the past year and unfortunately had to close. We wish all the owners and staff the best, and hope they return stronger than ever.

And, of course, keep in mind that the pandemic isn’t entirely over so be careful of those around you. Many people are still vulnerable, so if you sense those around you feeling uneasy or cautious, do Manchester proud and be considerate. Wear a mask if it seems like the right thing to do. We’re not out of the woods yet, so let’s do our best, people. And in the meantime, here are some of our must-visit picks for the weekend itself.

Here are our picks