What's on near Federation House
Explore the fascinating history of Brutalism in Manchester, while also exploring the movement’s wider intentions and ideals.
From £20.00
Marcos Kueh explores labour diasporas and Manchester’s industrial history at his first institutional solo show.
Free entry
Marking the anniversary of the Christmas Blitz, this walking tour explores Manchester’s history of conflict, from the English Civil Wars to the World Wars and beyond.
From £20.00
Create stunning pottery, jewellery, sketches, watercolours and more with the vast array of craft workshops at MCDC.
From £45.00
Band on the Wall bring people together to make, as well as watch, music. Join them to learn folk tunes from all over the world.
Fusing West African funk and disco with modern post-punk and electro, Ibibio Sound Machine inject some much-needed energy into January.
From £29
After a sold-out night earlier this year, Me Gusta Collective is back at Band on the Wall for the big one: New Year’s Eve.
From £10
This walking tour explores the neighbourhood’s streets, stories and hidden corners, offering a closer look at the places and people that have made Manchester.
From £12.00Where to go near Federation House
We visit Skof, Manchester’s most raved-about new restaurants, mere hours before 2025’s Michelin Guide announcement.
Dantzic is a great creative workspace in one of NOMA’s historic warehouse buildings.
Sadlers Yard is a public square and events space in Manchester from NOMA Mcr. Home of the Pilcrow Pub and PLANT NOMA.
at NOMA
Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.
The Old Bank Residency is a twelve-month occupation of a disused bank, allowing a space for creative practices to experiment, collaborate and grow. This project is funded and supported by NOMA to make Manchester an even more interesting place to be.
Hotel Indigo Manchester is an elegant and welcoming hotel in the heart of this vibrant city, with the equally excellent Mamucium as the in-house restaurant.
Head to this tiny Italian eatery for an authentic slice of Naples. It majors in mozzarella and the stuff here is a revelation: light, flavoursome, with oily, oozing pesto.
Chain cinema showing mainstream films, located in Manchester’s Printworks complex.
High-class restaurant next to Victoria Station in Manchester, and attached to Hotel Indigo. Famed for steaks.
eden is a brand-new botanical inspired all-day dining, drinking and entertainment destination based in The Printworks.
Chetham’s Library is one of the must-sees of any visit to Manchester. The library was founded in 1653, and is the oldest public library in the world – but the building dates back even further, to 1421.
A modernist, high-rise delight.
Manchester District Guides
Culture Guides
Winter brings a huge haul of seasonal shows, as well as productions that resolutely veer away from the fairy lights.
Manchester’s closing out the year – and looking to the new one – with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.
Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.
Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.
This season, exhibitions across the North West feel attuned to the world beneath the world – the forces and stories shaping how we see, feel and imagine.
There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.
Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.