Tours and Activities in the North

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

The start of the academic year brings the sense of new beginnings and fresh starts. What better time to discover a new hobby and throw yourself into a new community. We’ve rounded up a selection of Tours and Activities that’ll have you starting the year with a rejuvenated body and inspired mind.

In Liverpool you can find zen watercolour workshops in the heart of the Market, a safari where you’ll be searching for a particularly Scouse bird, and autumnal wreath making. (Yes. We are entering that phase of the year already.)

In Manchester, get belly laughing with your baby at the edge with Mum’s the word comedy, canoe down the Mersey or hear David Olusuga speak about influential weapons at Lowry. And don’t forget about GNCCF – the biggest craft fair of the season.

Leeds is the place to go if you’re looking for release. Here we’re looking forward to bathing in forests and carving up the queer nihilist dance floors as we transition out of the summer.

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

Our top picks

Doomsday Disco at Testbed, Leeds

Doomsday Disco at TESTBED, Leeds, 25 October 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Part clubnight, part post-apocalypse, Doomsday Disco is set to infuse the dance floor with the nihilism of watching the world burn. 

A group dances in a dimly lit room, bathed in red and orange light. A DJ, centered in the background with headphones on, plays records. The image is intentionally blurred to obscure faces.
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Yoga & Forest Bathing in the Woods

Yoga & Forest Bathing in the Woods, 4 October 2025, From £27.00 - Book now

Ground yourself and calm your nervous system with a double bill of yoga and forest bathing near Leeds. 

A lady sat at the base of a tree in a woodland holding a mug and looking reflectively
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

SCRAP Community Junk Market

SCRAP Community Junk Market, 8 November 2025, From £20.00 - Book now

Discover hidden treasures and the full supplies for a new hobby amongst the tables of the SCRAP Community Junk Market in Farsley.

looking through junk
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2025 at Victoria Baths

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Victoria Baths, Manchester, 16–19 October 2025, From £7.50 - Book now

GNCCF is back in the beautiful surroundings of Manchester’s Victoria Baths this autumn, with stalls from over 200 incredible makers.

WS OF GNCCF POOL C
JO SHAW

Floating Art: Studio Ghibli Painting Workshop

Floating Art Workshops at Duke Street Market, Liverpool, 16 November 2025, From £30.00 - Book now

Join expert teacher Ula for a relaxed painting workshop getting to grips with the stunning world of Studio Ghibli. 

The Liver Bird Safari Walking Tour

The Liver Bird Safari Walking Tour at Bluecoat, Liverpool, 20 September 2025, From £10 - Book now

Experience the History of Liverpool through its architectural civic symbols in this ornithological safari.

Autumn Wreath Workshop at Bluecoat

Autumn Wreath Workshop at Bluecoat, Liverpool, 5 October 2025, From £48.00 - Book now

Be inspired by professional upcycler Gemma Longworth and make your very own autumn wreath to kick off the season.

Bluecoat
Bluecoat

David Olusoga: A Gun Through Time

David Olusoga: A Gun Through Time at Lowry, Manchester, 10 November 2025 - Book now

David Olusoga explores how three particular weapons shaped the world in A Gun Through Time at the Lowry. 

The Lowry Theatre and Gallery in Salford Quays Manchester.
Image courtesy of Visit Britain

Mum’s The Word Comedy at The Edge

Mum’s The Word Comedy Club at The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre, Manchester, 10 October 2025, From £10.00 - Book now

Mum’s the Word is an afternoon of the comedy circuit’s best stand ups, which you can enjoy alongside your baby.

mtw
the edge

Canoeing and Kayaking on the Mersey

Canoeing and Kayaking on the Mersey, Until 30 September 2026, From £25.00 - Book now

Experience the River Mersey from a more intimate perspective with canoeing and kayaking trips from Venture Out. 

Art and Soul Workshop at Flow at Transcend Studios

Art and Soul Workshop, 26 September 2025, From £20.00 - Book now

In a city that rarely slows down, Flow at Transcend Studios moves to a gentler rhythm. Their Art & Soul Workshop, led by creative coach and holistic therapist Andrea, is part collage workshop, part social gathering, part escape from the outside world.

Flow By Transcend
Nora Brody/Pexels

A walk around the Headingley Hill and Hyde Park Conservation Areas

A walk around the Headingley Hill and Hyde Park Conservation Areas, 14 September 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Join Tony Ray, a retired Town Planner, for a walk around the Headingley Hill exploring its history and architecture.

The Golden Beam
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Botanical Art: Cacti with Artist Monair Hyman at Leeds Central Library

Botanical Art - Cacti with Artist Monair Hyman at Leeds Central Library, Leeds, 29 November 2025, From £38.00 - Book now

Immerse yourself in the surprising softness of cacti with this watercolour workshop from artist Monair Hymen at Leeds Central Library.

A watercolour painting of a dark green cactus, with red flowers sprouting at the top.
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

The Modernist App – architectural city tours

The Modernist App - architectural city tours, online, Until 31 December 2027, Free entry - Visit now

Delve into the treasure trove of 20th Century architecture design with the expert knowledge and passionate curation of the Modernist App.

Image of The Modernist App in use
The Modernist

Gallery Tours at Manchester Art Gallery

Gallery Tours at Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, Until 20 December 2027, Free entry - Visit now

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

Gallery Ceiling
Manchester Art Gallery. Image courtesy of Andrew Brooks.

Music for the Senses

Music for the Senses, Until 30 September 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Music for the Senses, a city-wide art trail by global art producer Wild in Art, takes over the streets of Manchester this summer.

Cathedral of Sound - Lazerian
David Oates

Shiverpool: Ghost and History Tours

Shiverpool: Ghost and History Tours, Until 27 February 2027, From £13.50 - Book now

Expect chilling street theatre and immersive thrills as the award winning Shiverpool return to Liverpool’s streets. 

Heritage Tours with Bryan Biggs at Bluecoat

Heritage Open Days: Heritage Tours with Bryan Biggs at Bluecoat, Liverpool, 16–21 September 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Join Bryan Biggs for a deep dive into the 300+ year history of the Bluecoat Grade I listed building. 

Bluecoat
Bluecoat

Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock Tours at Maritime Museum, Liverpool, Until 31 January 2028, 8.50 with concessions - Book now

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.

NML-Old-Dock-Tour-EDIT-2022-©Robin-Clewley-

Woodhouse Heritage Music Walks

Woodhouse Heritage Music Walk, 25 October 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Join heritage experts Joe Williams and Matthew Bellwood for deep dives music walks around Woodhouse in Leeds. 

Heritage walkers on Monument Moor in Leeds, walking towards the statue of Henry Rowland Marsden. A seagull is sitting on the statue's head.
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

SUPERMASSIVE at Depot Mayfield

SUPERMASSIVE at Depot Mayfield, Manchester, Until 13 September 2025, From £16 - Book now

Part interactive gallery, part surreal playground – SUPERMASSIVE crash lands on the rooftop of Depot Mayfield.

SUPERMASSIVE
SUPERMASSIVE.

Tour of Windermere & the Lake District

Windermere & the Lake District, Until 31 March 2027, From £76.25 - Book now

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.

Windermere & the Lake District Tour
Rabbie's Tours

Earth & Sky at Penistone Hill Country Park

Earth & Sky at Penistone Hill Country Park, Bradford, Until 12 October 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Explore the uplands near Bradford with a sound walk from opera north featuring newly commissions sonic worlds as well as the music of Bradford’s compositional son Frederick Delius.

A woman wearing a long green jacket and a speckled dress stood infront of a wall.
Courtesy of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: Tom Arber

Get Outside with Bradford 2025

Get Outside with Bradford 2025, Until 31 December 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Discover the wealth of outdoor free activities, artworks, walks and sound trails to be explored as part of Bradford City of Culture 2025.

Get Outside with Bradford 2025: An image of a large man made pool with fountains in front of a historic building with a clock tower
VisitBradford

Brewery Tour and Tasting at Cloudwater’s Unit 9 Taproom

Brewery Tour and Tasting at Cloudwater Brew Co, Manchester, Until 2 December 2029, From £25.00 - Book now

Cloudwater is a jewel in Manchester’s local brewery crown. Join them for a brewery tour and tasting at the Unit 9 Taproom. 

Cloudwater Production One
Cloudwater Brew Co.

Bradford on Foot

Bradford on Foot, Until 18 October 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Explore Bradford and the surrounding area through the eyes of locals and experts with a series of walking trails compiled by Bradford 2025.

Bradford on Foot
Courtesy Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: David Lindsay

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

With its rich industrial past, iconic architecture and vibrant arts scene, Manchester is a city that begs to be explored step by step.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Image by Jonathan Schofield.

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