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Manchester’s most characterful, independent district is a jumbled network of streets to one side of Piccadilly Gardens – once home to busy textiles warehouses and even the occasional umbrella factory. Now, the red brick buildings with their New York-style fire escapes are regularly used in film sets, and the streets are bursting with independent cafés, shops, bars, and cultural hotspots.
The Northern Quarter has become a destination in its own right, with the laid-back, bohemian vibe during the day transforming at night into teeming pavements of people in search of good food, craft beer, pop-up events and live music.
When walking around, keep your eyes peeled for public art, including the sculptures of birds high on a wall on John Street (reflecting the area’s reputation in Victorian times as a ‘pets paradise’), the illuminated, 12 metre-tall Big Boys Toy on the top of the NCP car park, and the artistic graffiti on the outhouse in the middle of Stevenson Square.
The Other Room: Charles Bernstein, Susan Bee and Maggie O’Sullivan
The Other Room introduce poet, essayist, editor and critic Charles Bernstein, artist Susan Bee, and Maggie O’Sullivan.
Women in Comedy Festival
The Women in Comedy Festival has been building in size, and now boasts a bumper crop of top talent. Comics to keep an eye out for include local lass Jackie Hagan, Hayley Ellis and the award-winning Lauren Pattison.
HAND CRAFT at Manchester Craft & Design Centre
49 Manchester-based artists. One iconic hand crafted mural.
PR in China at CFCCA
PR in China will look the (mis)representations of Chinese people in theatre (including Yellow Face Theatre) and films.
Stars of the Lid
Since forming in 1993, Stars of the Lid (one of the most apropos names in all of music) have scratched out quite a niche for themselves as one of the most influential drone/ambient music projects on Earth.
Ladyfest Manchester 2016
Ladyfest Manchester returns 7-9 October, bringing an eclectic lineup of live music, film, performance, art and ideas with it. Celebrating music and art created by women, this year’s festival takes place across eight venues in the Northern Quarter.
Manchester District Guides
Deansgate, Manchester
The busy thoroughfare of Deansgate runs through Castlefield, joining the dots between it, Spinningfields and…
Tib Street, Manchester
It’s not often that you find a street you could while away a whole day…
City Centre, Manchester
Visit Manchester Town Hall in the city centre and you’ll spot bees picked out in…
Cheetham Hill, Manchester
As an area, Cheetham Hill gets a pretty bad rep. The foreboding architecture of Strangeways…
Northern Quarter, Manchester
Manchester’s most characterful, independent district is a jumbled network of streets to one side of…
Chorlton, Manchester
This left-leaning suburb a few miles south of Manchester’s city centre (and only ten minutes…
Manchester Visitor Guides
Second Hand Shopping
We’ve trawled the stalls to find the best second hand shopping in Manchester. From vintage fashions to…
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.
Cinemas in Manchester
The collection of independent cinemas here may be small, but the venues are special enough to make you forget that – here’s our guide.
Theatres in Manchester
If you’re looking for theatre in Manchester, these are our top places to explore.
Art Galleries in Manchester
Manchester’s galleries span ancient to contemporary art, via some of the best collections of paintings, objects and even wallpaper in the country. Here’s our guide.
Museums in Manchester
Manchester is studded with fantastic museums – read our picks of the best here.
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