Spring bank holiday in Manchester and the North

This May Bank Holiday gives us something to celebrate, at last, after a tough year for everyone. The first May Bank Holiday, on the 3rd, is more a teaser, to get back in the swing of things in a limited manner, but the 17 May is when we can legally go inside venues so we can safely expect Monday 31 May to be an explosion of joy for everyone in Manchester and across the North.

The weather is warming up (no more freezing beer gardens) and the ability of venues to use both their inside and outside capacity means less wandering about desperately trying to find a place with a spare table. This coincides with a host of events from Manchester’s greatest arts venues and cultural spaces, taking in everything from a gripping exploration of data privacy and cybersecurity at The Science and Industry Museum, to an exhibition showcasing the glory days of English football at the National Football Museum – a nice palate cleanser for football fans after the recent activities of ‘the big six’.

And of course, we’ll point you towards some of the best pubs, bars and restaurants for drinking and dining outside, keeping our fingers firmly crossed that we’re granted rays of sunshine rather than clouds of rain.

Now more than ever we need to reconnect with our friends and family and do the things that make us happy, whether that’s engaging with art galleries, cocktails, interactive exhibitions or simply a cup of tea at a cafe. And now finally, after months of lockdown misery, we can head out into the world, blinking like a newborn lamb ready to enjoy Manchester at its best. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive list of what’s on offer to help you organise your weekend into something special.

For more ideas, take a look at our culture guides which feature exhibitions, music, cinema, theatre, literature and family events in more detail, plus our food and drink guide for all those thirst-quenching and stomach-filling suggestions.

Here are our picks