Tours and Activities in Manchester and the North

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Last Updated 17 November 2020

As we become used to doing things a bit differently, we’ve been pleased to discover that there are plenty of new experiences to try at home. Whether you’re interested in arts, exhibitions, drag or opera there’s something for you in this month’s tours and activities guide (plus lots more).

Manchester Jewish Museum will be taking a lighter, campier, funnier look at their archive, with Chanukah Lewinsky’s Big Quiz Night. A raucous evening of special guests and questionable rounds that’ll have you remembering why zoom quizzes became a staple of popular culture. Another highlight from Manchester’s Museum scene is the virtual tour from the People’s History Museum. This online museum experience lets you hear directly from the curators and experts themselves, making for a more indepth visit than you might have in person.

Although it may be a bit early for Christmas we’re very excited about Opera North’s Couch to Chorus festive edition. This series of online workshops lets you sing classic seasonal hits side by side with the chorus of Opera North. For the more artistically inclined, ArtMCR have redesigned their workshops. Join them for alcohol ink based bauble brilliance, with kits posted to you at home and an online workshop where you’ll be guided through step by step.

Or for those who are finding it hard to relax, you’ll be glad to hear that the Manchester Buddhist Centre have moved their daily meditation classes online.

Scroll down to find out more, alongside some other tops picks of tours and activities, and stay well folks.

Here are our picks

1. Virtual Tour of the People’s History Museum Main Galleries

People's History Museum

Take a 3D tour of PHM's main galleries, online, Until 31 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Experience the national museum of democracy in depth and online, with the immersive virtual tour of the PHM’s main galleries.

Read more
2. From Couch to Chorus: the Festive Edition

Opera North

From Couch to Chorus, online, Until 14 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Learn to sing opera classics alongside the chorus of Opera North, without having step outside your front door, in the festive edition of Couch to Chorus.

Read more
3. Alcohol Ink Christmas Baubles Workshop

ArtMCR

Alcohol Ink Christmas Baubles Workshop, online, 12 December 2020, from £35 - Book now

Enjoy unleashing your inner artist at home with an Alcohol Ink Christmas Baubles workshop from ArtMCR.

Read more
4. Online Meditation with the Manchester Buddhist Centre

Vidyapala Whitehead

Meditation at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, Until 30 April 2021, from £5 - Book now

As we learn to live with uncertainty, now is a better time than ever to explore meditation. Let the friendly community at Manchester Buddhist Centre help you on this journey.

Read more
5. Meet the activists, Radical Late from PHM

These Walls Must Fall

Meet the activists – online, online, 10 December 2020, free entry - Find Out More

Meet the activists working locally to combat the hostile environment created by the UK’s current detention policies, as they convene for a Radical Late.

Read more
6. Boobie Clay Pot: 2 Part Workshop

Boobie Clay Pot: 2 Part Workshop, 6 December 2020, from £43.5 - Book now

Artist Katie Nelson will guide you through the process of hand building your own boobie clay pot, in this clay based, body positive workshop double bill.

Read more
7. Manchester Cathederal: 360° Virtual Tour

Nikhilesh Haval for Manchester Cathederal

Manchester Cathederal: 360° Virtual Tour, online, Until 31 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

See the Cathedral in 360° of stunning photography in this virtual tour. Explore its distinctive chapels, grandiose high alter and intimate quire.

Read more
8. A Meeting Place | 会议地点 : A soundwalk in Chinatown

Educational tour of China Town by the Chinese Arts Centre, c.1997, (CFCCA Archive GB3451/OC/A/7/24)

A Meeting Place | 会议地点 : An audio-locative sound walk around Manchester’s China Town at Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, Manchester, Until 20 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Explore the history of Manchester’s Chinese community with a soundwalk from CFCCA’s current resident artist, Hayley Suviste.

Read more
9. NIA TV, from the Niamos centre

Niamos

Niamos TV, online, Until 22 December 2020, free entry - Visit now

Experience raw and entertaining local broadcasting from local artists in the most recent TV station to be launched in Manchester, NIA TV.

Read more
10. World of Music Choir (Autumn 2020)

Band on the Wall

World of Music Choir (Autumn 2020) at Band on the Wall, Manchester, Until 15 December 2020 - Book now

Join the World of Music Choir to learn a mixture of traditional and modern tunes. With no previous experience necessary and an ethos of no judgement, it’s the most friendly introduction to group singing you could wish for.

Read more
11. Zombie Uprising: The Barracks

Photo by Heorhii Heorhiichuk from Pexels

Zombie Uprising: The Barracks, Until 2 January 2021, from £20 - Book now

Unearth terrifying thrills whilst you battle your way though a zombie ridden war zone. Zombie Uprising open their military facility gone wrong to the public in, The Barracks.

Read more
12. Goodtime Games

Goodtime Games

Goodtime Games, 212 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LW - Visit now

Goodtime Games is the latest arrival to Burton Road. Serving up delicious vegan and vegetarian food alongside a plethora of table top fun.

Read more
13. Alliance Française de Manchester

Alliance Française de Manchester, 125 Portland St,, Manchester, M1 4QD - Visit now

Le français, c’est chic! The Alliance Française de Manchester has a large range of online and onsite French courses starting 14 September.

Read more

Activity Until 31 December 2020,

Wait I’m From Wuhan with HOME

Follow Jasmine’s story, as she struggles to decide whether or not to search for her birth family in Wuhan, told via a series of Instagram and blog posts.

Activity Until 31 December 2020,

Homelands

Very different from what we’re seeing elsewhere during the lockdown, Homelands is for anyone who needs a creative outlet and a sense of connection during this time.

Activity Until 31 December 2020,

Love Letters to a Liveable Future with HOME

Part of Homemakers, this ongoing project offers the space to imagine how we would like our world to change once we emerge from lockdown.

Activity Until 26 January 2021, FREE

Shared reading live with The Reader

Join The Reader for their free sessions of lockdown-inspired literature every Tuesday from 1pm, and every first Thursday of the month at 7pm – it’s free and anyone can join in.

Activity Until 22 December 2020, from £35

Floatation Therapy at Zero Gravity

Try a new immersive relaxation technique at Zero Gravity with their state of the art i-sopods and floatation therapy.

Activity Until 15 December 2020, from £20

All Ages Sewing Workshops at Sew Creative

Join Sew Creative for sewing workshops where you decide what garments are created and, with the help of expert sewers, bring those clothes to life.

Activity Until 28 February 2021,

Mothers Who Make at HOME

Mothers Who Make is a support group for any kind of maker and any kind of mother. The groups meets to talk, share and emphasise with the challenges faced by creatives in mother (or grandmother) – hood.

Activity Until 13 December 2020, FREE

Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair | The Online Edition

When looking for a print this Christmas, whether it’s for your loved ones or a present to yourself, be sure to check out Woolwich’s hand picked collection.

Activity Until 31 March 2021, FREE

Fabric of the North: Gift Directory

Fabric of the North is a blog with an excellent gift directory. They champion independents maker from across the North who are creating beautiful and ethical work.

Culture Guides

Cinema in Manchester and the North

Our guide to cinema in December features artist film, seasonal streaming and plenty of new releases.

Exhibitions

Galleries may be closed once again, for now, but there’s plenty of new exhibitions on the horizon to forward to.

Families

Need some inspiration for online activities and creative family fun? Look no further than our top picks online for families across Manchester and the North.

Literature

Live Literature Land has you covered for entertainment and intellectual stimulation with Zoom book launches, online readings and virtual open mics in plentiful supply as we head towards Christmas and beyond.

Music

Discover the best upcoming music events taking place on a stage or a screen near you.

Theatre

Bringing live Christmas shows alongside online theatrical advent calendars…whatever tier you’re in…our guide offers performances you can enjoy inside a venue or at home.