May

Creative Tourist Last Updated 9 May 2023

Summer is just around the corner, festivals are coming into view, and the warmer weather is getting everyone feeling a bit more inclined to get out there and explore what Manchester and the North’s has to offer by way of culture.

Happily there’s a whole lot. Spring Half Term and Spring Bank Holiday are always filled with great exhibitions, theatre shows and gigs, and the region’s many excellent restaurants are rolling out fresh new seasonal menus.

And if the increasing temperatures have got you feeling really brave, why not try some wild swimming? Or adventure activities? Or take it easier while exploring the North via the best of its Outdoor Art.

Seasonal Guides

Summer Holidays: the best things to do with kids

Check out our definitive and regularly updated guide of things to do with the family over the summer holidays.

Festivals

Here’s our guide to the best summer festivals with experiences taking place in a field or on the streets near you.

The Jungle Book at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Open Air Theatre in Manchester and the North

Open air theatre shows are happening across the north over the next few months – we’ve collated our top picks into a neat guide for you.

Cultural Calendar 2024

Our editors’ biannually updated list of some of the best-looking arts and cultural events in Manchester and the North in 2024.

Father’s Day in Manchester and the North

This year’s Father’s Day is Sunday 16 June. Get out and about and spend some quality time with the old man in Manchester.

Things to do over May half-term

Looking for things to do with the family over the May half-term holiday? We’ve got you covered.

Wild Swimming in the North of England

The definitive guide to wild swimming in the North, taking in lakes, rivers and reservoirs across the region.

Spotlight on

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

Culture Guides

Food and Drink in Manchester and the North

Gearing up for a sunny July? Take some eating-out tips from this month's guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

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.

Tours and Activities in Manchester and the North

Make bread, throw axes, learn costume design and drink beer like you've never done before in this month's Tours and activities guide.

Music in Manchester and the North

All-dayers make a strong showing in our latest music picks, from dance music marathons to vibrant showcases of South Asian artistry.

Family things to do in Manchester and the North

School year, complete! And as we say goodbye to what seems like a rather long summer term, we can look forward to the summer holidays, with lots of exciting activities...

Cinema in Manchester and the North

This month we look at Indie Horror Summer, outdoor movies, and a brand new film festival in Sheffield.

Theatre in Manchester and the North

Interactive circus, arts festivals and new writing, our guide features a show-stopping selection of theatre happening indoors and outside.

Literature Events in Manchester and the North

In between working out, then working through, your holiday reading pile this summer, find inspiration for your next bookish acquisitions from our selection of live events and exhibitions.

Dark landscape photo with a tree outlined against pale starry sky. There are green traces of fireflies in the foreground.

Exhibitions in Manchester and the North

Virginia Woolf and lasers, environmental recovery through wildness and thoughts on motherhood - all this and more in our exhibition top picks!

Classical Music in Manchester and the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

Seasonal Guides

Destinations

Fringe Theatre in Manchester and the North

Culture Guides