Tours and Activities in Manchester and the North

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

This month we’re taking a looking at an eclectic range of tours and activities on offer over the summer.

Kicking off we have Challah bread baking at Manchester Jewish Museum as well as guided tours of Chetham’s Library, the oldest public library in the English speaking world.

Whistle Punks is a great fun activity do do with friends if your outdoor summer plans get scuppered by the Manchester Weather, and the tours of Northern Monk Brewery in Leeds are a great alternative way to learn something on a pub crawl.

Finally, the Palace theatre are demystifying the process of how young people can get into theatre work with a series of workshops with the best in the business.

Scroll down to find out more, alongside some other top picks of tours and activities, and break away from your normal.

Our top picks

Whistle Punks Axe Throwing

Whistle Punks Axe Throwing at Great Northern, Manchester, Until 31 January 2025, from £20 - Book now

Learn how to throw axes at large planks of wood with wild abandon. Whistle Punks have been bringing axe throwing to Manchester since February 2017. It’s the perfect way to let off some steam and indulge in some catharsis.

Image Curtesy of Whistle Punks

Work in Theatre: Costume and Wardrobe at The Palace

Work in Theatre: Costume & Wardrobe at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 15 August 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Learn from the masters in this workshop for young people aspiring to work in Costume and Wardrobe, led by Jaheda from the Palace. 

Adam Kay - This is Going to Hurt... More
via ATG Tickets

Make It! Challah Baking at Manchester Jewish Museum

Make It! Challah Baking at Manchester Jewish Museum, Manchester, 31 July 2024, from £0.00 - Book now

Join MJM for a hands-on baking workshop where you’ll learn how to knead and shape your very own challah bread.

A close-up image of freshly baked challah bread. The bread is golden-brown, braided, and has a light, fluffy texture. Multiple loaves are visible in the background, all exhibiting a warm, inviting appearance with a slight dusting of flour.
Evgeni Tcherkasski by Unsplash

Guided Tours at Chetham’s Library

After Hours at Chetham's Library at Chetham’s Library, Manchester and online, Until 24 August 2024, from £6.50 - Book now

Experience the history, architecture and folklore surrounding Chetham’s Library in one of their daily guided tours.

A wood panelled corridor with lined with shelves of antique books
Chethams

Northern Monk Brewery Tour

Northern Monk Brewery Tour, Until 30 November 2024 - Book now

Northern Monk, one of Leeds’ best breweries, is kicking off the weekend with a brewery tour to kick start your Saturday afternoon.

via Leeds Inspired

An Evening With Richard Dawkins at the Lowry

An Evening With Richard Dawkins, 23 October 2024, from £30.00 - Book now

Expect to hear insightful wisdom alongside a very tangible empathy for the human experience in an evening with Richard Dawkins.

Portrait image of Richard Dawson wearing a navy suit with a white shirt, clasping his hands together in front of him.
Cuffe & Taylor

Bee Pedal Ready at Chorlton Water Park

Doctor Bike - Bee Pedal Ready at Sale Water Park and Chorlton Ees, Manchester, 7 August 2024, free entry - Find Out More

Join Bee Pedal Ready for workshops in Chorlton Water Park, where you can improve your bike maintenance and safety. 

People riding bikes
Bee Pedal Ready

Bat Walk at Temple Newsam

Bat Walk at Temple Newsam at Temple Newsam, Leeds, 3 August 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Meet the cutest flying residents of Temple Newsam, during their favourite twilight hours with a guided Bat Walk. 

Tree at night with the moon and bats flying
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Welcome Wednesdays at Victoria Baths

Welcome Wednesdays at Victoria Baths, Manchester, Until 25 September 2024, free entry - Visit now

Explore Victoria Baths for free on a Wednesday or enhance your experience with a cream tea or guided tour.

Grinning child on pool side
Victoria Baths

Sauna and cold plunge pools at iglu sauna

Sauna and cold plunge pools at Hebden Bridge Hostel, West Yorkshire, Until 31 August 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Award-winning sauna and cold-plunge pools experience located in the heart of Hebden Bridge, iglu brings the Scandi experience to Yorkshire. 

iglu sauna
iglu sauna

Leeds Black History Walk

Leeds Black History Walk, Until 5 October 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Join Joe Williams in the award-winning Leeds Black History Walk to discover the stories of incredible people, hidden in plain sight. 

Joe Williams, founder and guide of the award-winning Leeds Black History Walk
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Un-Convention Manchester 2024

Un-Convention Manchester 2024 at Band on the Wall, Manchester, 21 November 2024 - Book now

Un-Convention is the ultimate independent music industry conference and showcase taking place at Band on the Wall in Manchester this November. 

Image supplied by Band on the Wall

Gallery Tours at Manchester Art Gallery

Gallery Tours at Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, Until 20 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Take a deeper look into Manchester Art Gallery’s collection with their regular, informative and fascinating gallery tours. 

Gallery Ceiling
Image courtesy of Andrew Brooks.

Sí Manchester Daily Tour

Discover Manchester at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, Until 31 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.

Sí Manchester Daily Tour

More activity events

Until
ActivityManchester
Sí Manchester Daily Tour

Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.

free entry
Until
ActivityCity Centre
Whistle Punks Axe Throwing

This Autumn learn how to throw axes at large planks of wood with wild abandon. Whistle Punks have been bringing axe throwing to Manchester’s urban sprawl since February 2017. It’s the perfect way to let off some steam and indulge in some catharsis.

from £20
Woman in yoga pose
ActivityManchester
Yoga Rave at Waterside Arts

Join qualified yoga teacher Hebe Reilly, and disco, funk & house DJ Misscothèque, for a morning yoga rave jam-packed with your fave tracks. Yoga Rave is a fun fusion of guided floor-based yoga moves and stretches (with accessible options available), free-style movement and dancing to a live DJ, before we come back together for a guided cool down and relaxation.

from £10.00
life drawing
Until
ActivityManchester
Life Drawing Manchester

Whether you have never put pencil to paper or have been honing your artistic skills for years, Bee Creative studio runs life drawing sessions for people of all abilities.

from £10
Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

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.

£8.50 with concessions
ActivityManchester
Beyond the Music 2024

Hear directly from the people powering the music industry in both Manchester and the UK, as well as witnessing some of the North’s upcoming talent at Beyond the Music.

from £16.75
Pillock at Contact
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Fringe Theatre in Manchester and the North

Check out our top picks of shows previewing in the North West before heading to Edinburgh Fringe Festival later in the summer.

Take me there

Tours and Activities in Manchester and the North

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
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.

Cheshire
Cinema
Cinemac Cinema

Cinemac Cinema in Macclesfield is a cinema and live-performance venue which hosts a regular variety of cinema, comedy, theatre and more.

23 St. Mary's B&B
York
Bed & Breakfast
23 St Mary’s B&B

Just outside the city walls, stylish interiors, spacious rooms and famous breakfasts make 23 St. Mary’s the ideal base for exploring this wonderful city!

Cineworld ententertainment center Parrs Wood Didsbury
Manchester
Cinema
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.

Everyman Altrincham
Altrincham
Cinema
Everyman Altrincham

Altrincham’s Everyman is a supremely comfortable boutique cinema showing all of the latest blockbusters, independent hits and big screen events.

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Rebecca Watson author photo
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