Culture Guides
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It is May! The month where we get not one, but two bank holidays. What better time to push the boat out and try something new than this most carefree and liberated of moon cycles. Begin your transition to summer with a new hobby or experience that will keep you inspired to get creative in the coming months. We’ve rounded up some of our top recommendations of Tours and Activities to try below, should you need a bit of guidance in this pursuit.
Manchester Music Tours are back. They originally started as the legacy of Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill, who devoted his life to Manchester’s music scene. Join them for an insightful look into the city that helped form bands such as The Smiths, Oasis and Joy Division.
Get creative this month with Pop-up painting. Their relaxed and informal art nights will have you creating familiar masterpieces with a paintbrush in one hand and an artisanal beverage in the other. They’re a great way to shake up your usual drinks with mates. For something more calming, why not check out Laura from Chunkynfunky’s polymer clay jewellery workshop in Leeds. Have fun mixing colours, shapes and patterns to design your own bespoke items of Jewellery.
If you’re looking to escape the routine of visiting the same places to eat and want to branch away from the familiar, we recommend Manchester Food Walks. This sumptuous exploration of the Northern Quarter will have your bellies full and your minds opened to new culinary possibilities.
Finally, Alliance Française Manchester, the francophile hub of culture and learning in the heart of the city, are keeping their film club going strong with online and in person screenings. After watching each film (in French with English subtitles) they’ll be a short presentation as well as a discussion of some of the themes. It is worth noting that discussions will be held in French.
Scroll down to find out more, alongside some other tops picks of tours and activities, and stay well folks.
Here are our picks
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1. Manchester Music Tours
Manchester music tours Manchester Music Tours at Vinyl Revival, Manchester, Until 25 June 2022, from £32.10 - Book now
Dive into the cultural cornucopia of Manchester’s musical past with Manchester Music Tours.
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2. Polymer Clay Jewellery Workshop
via Leeds Inspired -
3. French Film Club at Alliance Française
Thomas Demol Cine-club, 10 June–27 May 2022, free entry - Find Out More
Alliance Française host free film screenings of French speaking cinema with English subtitles both online and onsite in French Film Club.
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4. Mindgames Arcade at The Green
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5. Paint Street Art at Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse with PopUp Painting
Image courtesy of PopUp painting. Paint Pop Art at Common with PopUp Painting at Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse, Manchester, 29 May 2022, from £32.99 - Book now
PopUp Painting invites you to unleash your creativity with a beverage in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.
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6. Northern Quarter Taster Walk with Manchester Food Walks
John Ryan Northern Quarter Taster Walk at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, Until 31 August 2022, from £40 - Book now
Join John Ryan for a mouth watering taster walk as you eat your way through the back streets of the Northern Quarter learning about the local history and culture as you go.
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7. Hull Lido
Hodson Architects -
8. Cloud Aerial
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9. Floating Art Workshops
Floating Art Floating Art Workshops at Chapter 1 Books, Manchester, Until 31 May 2022, from £24.30 - Book now
Join expert teacher Ula for relaxed painting workshops that will have you creating work you can be proud of, no matter your level of artistic experience.
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10. Leeds Craft Cider Tour
via Leeds Inspired -
11. Gin School with Manchester Gin
Spirit of Manchester Gin Gin School with Manchester Gin at The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, City Centre, Until 31 July 2022, from £95.00 - Book now
Learn about the different styles of gin and distil your very own bottle with Gin School at the Spirit of Manchester Distillery.
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12. Behind the Scenes Tour of Central Library
Matt Cocker Behind the Scenes Tour at Manchester Central Library, Manchester, 26 May–28 July 2022, from £12.50 - Book now
Get an access all areas view of Central Library in Manchester, with a brand new behind the scenes tour.
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13. Eden Project North
Eden Project North -
14. Manchester Museum
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15. The People Of
Kate Daley -
16. Chester Rows
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17. Tours in Chester
Carmel Smickersgill Tours in Chester at Chester Tourist Information Centre, Chester, Until 31 August 2022, from £0.00 - Book now
Roman Soldiers, blue badge holders and Medieval Longbowman walk the streets of Chester sharing their passion for history with a wide selection of tours.
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18. Partisan Film Drawing Club
Photo by Lum3n from Pexels -
19. Clay Studio Manchester
CLay Studio Manchester -
20. Goodtime Games
Goodtime Games
More Tours & Activities
Manchester Taxi Tours
Manchester Taxi tours are the most personalised guided glimpse of the city you can find and now you can get to know Manchester better whilst enjoying a delicious afternoon tea.
Skyliner: Alternative Tours of Manchester
Join Skyliner for the anti-tour of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The route interrogates current developments in the city as well as visiting the area’s most notable pieces of street art.
Embroidery with Sara Dennis at Lancaster Castle
Learn embroidery in a fun and relaxed environment with the BBC’s Sara Dennis at Lancaster Castle’s famous Witches Tower.
Blacksmithing at Forge Four
This beginners workshop will teach participants the traditional skills associated with blacksmithing, in the ‘Steel City’ of Sheffield.
Stone carving at West Riding Stonecarving Association
The West Riding Stonecarving Association is dedicated to keeping the art of hand-carving stone alive and bringing it to the general public.
Textile taxidermy with Jaki Bogg at Craven Arts Studios
Head to Skipton’s Craven Arts Studios to create a unique mounted animal head for your home with local textile artist Jaki Bogg.
Candle making at Cheshire Workshops
Try your hand at candle making with the experts at Cheshire Workshops, this fun and creative skill is suitable for all ages.
Pottery at Earth Pig Pottery and Fine Art in Buxton
Try your hand at pottery at Earth Pig Studio in Buxton’s Green Man Gallery; a longstanding community arts hub, shop and gallery.
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.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions
Whatever the weather, we’ve got tonnes of new art for you to enjoy. This month we bring you lots of choice: from large, all-encompassing displays to smaller and equally as interesting shows to suit all tastes.
Literature
Live literature has plenty for readers and writers alike this spring, with emerging names and established authors taking to a mic near you, along with the opportunity to perform or put pen to paper yourself. There’s lots to listen to in real life and there are still opportunities to join in to events online. Read more here…
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink
Enjoy spring and summer at some of the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North.
Destination Guides
Related Guides
Food and Drink
Enjoy spring and summer at some of the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North.
Exhibitions
Whatever the weather, we’ve got tonnes of new art for you to enjoy. This month we bring you lots of choice: from large, all-encompassing displays to smaller and equally as interesting shows to suit all tastes.
Theatre
Check out our updated theatre guide for provocative dance shows, prosecco-popping outdoor performances and site-specific Shakespeare.
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Cinema
Ennio Morricone, Charlie Chaplin and 80s vampires. There’s something for everybody on the big screen this month.
Music
From the North’s best festival line-ups to the wildest collaboration you’ll catch on a Manchester stage this year, check out our latest music picks.
Places to go / stay / shop / eat / drink
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