From cheese crawls and ghost walks to canal-side kayaking and hands-on workshops in galleries and print studios, the North is packed with ways to explore beyond your usual haunts. Big cultural moments like Hockney at Aviva Studios sit alongside city walking tours, brewery tastings and craft sessions – all easy excuses to turn an ordinary day into something a bit more memorable.
Slow down, get hands-on and learn something genuinely useful in this small-group workshop offering a practical introduction to the sewing machine.
Fans of the world-famous and still-anonymous street artist Banksy, gather round. Spring 2026 sees The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind take over Depot Mayfield.
Following sold-out runs in both London and Manchester, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) is back in Aviva Studios this winter.
Join the Portico Library for a mindful days of workshops and intriguing evenings of talks with artists, curators and researchers.
Dungeons and Flagons are extending the table top fun throughout Manchester with boardgames nights popping up regularly around town.
Learn through doing with a packed programme of hands-one workshops at Bluecoat, including crafts, family friendly arts and printing socials.
This guided walking tour will bring those stories to life. Led by a local expert, the experience is set to be a lively introduction to the people, places and ideas that have shaped one of the UK’s most influential cities.
Check out the ways you can get hands on creatively with workshops at FACT in Liverpool, as well as taking their daily guided tour.
Enjoy a day long workshop or week long courses exploring the boundaries of printmaking at Leeds Print Workshop.
Leeds is a city best explored on foot. With a local guide leading the way, this 90-minute walking tour offers an engaging introduction to a city.
A friendly place for adult learning in Leeds, whether you’re interested in art, philosophy, language or just meeting new friends.
Eat your way through the dairy based delights of Manchester, with the Manchester Cheese Crawl walking tour. The city’s very own homage to fromage.
Meet like minded creatives both professional and amateur in HOME’s regular group sessions and one off workshops.
Create stunning pottery, jewellery, sketches, watercolours and more with the vast array of craft workshops at MCDC.
Experience the River Mersey from a more intimate perspective with canoeing and kayaking trips from Venture Out.
Delve into the treasure trove of 20th Century architecture design with the expert knowledge and passionate curation of the Modernist App.
Take a deeper look into Manchester Art Gallery’s collection with their regular, informative and fascinating gallery tours.
Expect chilling street theatre and immersive thrills as the award winning Shiverpool return to Liverpool’s streets.
The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.
From the urban hum of Manchester to the serene embrace of the Lake District, Rabbie’s one-day tour offers a poetic escape into one of England’s most storied landscapes.
Cloudwater is a jewel in Manchester’s local brewery crown. Join them for a brewery tour and tasting at the Unit 9 Taproom.
With its rich industrial past, iconic architecture and vibrant arts scene, Manchester is a city that begs to be explored step by step.
Explore Manchester’s Medieval Quarter on an architect-led walking tour uncovering the city’s oldest streets, historic buildings and centuries of hidden history.
From £20.00
Take a walking tour of both Alexandra Park and wider Whalley Range, uncovering the tales that lie within its mighty buildings, its churches and its people.
From £20.00
Slow down, get hands-on and learn something genuinely useful in this small-group workshop offering a practical introduction to the sewing machine.
From £35.00
Take a storybook journey from Manchester into Brontë country and the limestone folds of the Yorkshire Dales – landscapes that have shaped some of England’s most enduring fiction.
From £57.00
Coinciding with the release of Richard Linklater’s film Nouvelle Vague, this HOME course offers an accessible overview of one of cinema’s most influential movements.
From £65
Explore the fascinating history of Brutalism in Manchester, while also exploring the movement’s wider intentions and ideals.
From £20.00
A magical adventure in a topsy-turvy wonderland awaits.
From £12.00
Join Jonathan Schofield Tours for a stroll around the internationally important village of Worsley, taking in a superb canalscape and many historic buildings.
From £20.00
Explore Manchester’s ghostly past with Jonathan Schofield. Uncover eerie tales of lost...
A tour through idyllic Derbyshire and the Peak District, where rolling hills,...
Salford Lads Club shot to global fame as the iconic backdrop on...
From wild buildings to wilder characters, explore hidden histories and architectural oddities...
Stagger across three hundred years of Manchester's drinking history in one of...
Leeds has long been a city built on beer — from its industrial-era brewing giants to the new wave of craft innovators reshaping the scene today.
Brewery tours across the North offer more than just a behind-the-scenes look at hops and fermenters. They’re a window into the region’s character.
A growing number of breweries and independent tour operators now offer behind-the-scenes access to the city’s thriving beer scene.
Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.
To make life easy when it comes to booking your stay, here’s our guide to Manchester's best hotels.
There’s no shortage of hotels in Liverpool, but you don’t have to go far to find something a bit more stylish than a Travelodge. Here’s our guide.
Leeds has plenty of new types of accommodation, from sleek, modern luxury to affordable art hostels and grand accommodation in green space.
For a weekend break in a private apartment or an overnight stay in high luxury, we've rounded up the best places to stay in Bradford, Ilkley and Saltaire.
HATCH is Manchester’s pop-up retail, food and drink destination on Oxford Road.
The ever-popular Maray’s third site, based at the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool, has beautiful views and flavours in equal measure.
Much-loved Liverpool restaurant, specialising in forward-thinking small plate dishes.
A smart, modern Mexican restaurant in Liverpool’s Albert Dock, with an extensive menu featuring showstopping dishes such as half a pig’s head and butterflied sea bass.
Modern all-day dining space in Stretford, with a well-stocked bar.
Three Little Words is a stylish bar and restaurant near the Great Northern and Deansgate in Manchester, serving up stunning Sunday roasts to packed crowds every week.
Habas is a modern Middle Eastern-influenced restaurant in the very centre of Manchester. It’s the latest venture from El Gato Negro’s Simon Shaw.
Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
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