Culture Guides
Destination Guides
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.
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.
Give Handmade this Christmas at Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Reliably festive, MCDC launches a season of Christmas-related events and workshops. It’s also the perfect place to pick up unique handmade gifts.
No Matter #10 at Gullivers
New poetry etc with the premiere of an Arts Council-funded New Matter commission from headliner Jade Montserrat and readings from Rachael Allen and Daisy Lafarge.
Meditation at the Manchester Buddhist Centre
Learn how to meditate with the welcoming community at Manchester Buddhist Centre. Their beginners classes are the perfect way to find your feet and develop your own meditation practice.
Cui Jie at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art
Described by the Wall Street Journal as one of ‘China’s Rising Art Stars’, encounter the work of Shanghai-based artist Cui Jie at CFCCA.
Cheng Ran – Diary of a Madman: Manchester Plan, New Bees at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art
See Manchester through entirely fresh eyes. CFCCA presents the latest installment of Cheng Ran’s ‘Diary of a Madman’ series.
Screen printing on glass workshop – Festive Decorations
Create your own Christmas decorations with Helen Tiffany, expert glass maker. Learn the basics of screen printing on glass to realise your own festive designs.
Winter Festival Songs with Manchester Community Choir at Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Take a trip through the magical world of winter festival songs with Manchester Community Choir at Manchester Craft and Design Centre.
Tea Lights Design Workshop at Chapter One
Let the Christmas chaos wash over you in a chilled out tea light design workshop at Chapter One Books. You’ll decorate 20 small Christmassy candles.
Tea Blending Workshop at Bird and Blend
Experiment with tea leaves and herbs to create your own brew with the guidance of Bird and Blend’s Tea Mixologists in one of their Tea Blending workshops.
Places to go / stay / shop / eat / drink
Manchester Visitor Guides
Free family things to do in Manchester
The world’s at your fingertips with free history, art, science and creative capers for all ages in Manchester.
Vegan Food in Manchester
Whether you’re a proud vegan or merely curious, let us guide you towards the best vegan food in Manchester.
Afternoon Tea in Manchester
The finest places in Manchester to sip Darjeeling, eat dainty finger sandwiches and slap extra clotted cream on a freshly baked scone.
Art Galleries in Manchester & Salford
Away from the buzz of London, Manchester and Salford arguably have one of the highest concentrations of fantastic art galleries in England. Here’s our pick.
Libraries in Manchester
Bibliophiles, rejoice: we have rounded up the best libraries in Manchester for your perusal.
Restaurants in Manchester
The very best restaurants in Manchester’s city centre, including ones you know, and future favourites.
Manchester District Guides
Medieval Quarter, Manchester
The Medieval Quarter, or Cathedral Quarter as it is sometimes known, is one of the oldest parts of Manchester and home to some historic gems and cultural must-sees.
Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester
Burton Road is the heart of West Didsbury, a beautifully maintained leafy hubbub of shops,…
Beech Road Chorlton, Manchester
A laid-back mix of gift shops, independent outfitters, restaurants, pubs and parks, on a sunny weekend afternoon it’s heaving.
Didsbury, Manchester
Follow Oxford Road South through the Curry Mile, along Wilmslow Road, past Platt Fields Park…
Chorlton, Manchester
Chorlton is a left-leaning suburb a few miles south of Manchester’s city centre (and only…
Cheetham Hill, Manchester
As an area, Cheetham Hill gets a pretty bad rep. The foreboding architecture of Strangeways…
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