Manchester Arena – now the AO Arena – is one of the busiest venues in the world and one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe.
Since opening in 1995, the Arena has hosted the biggest names in live entertainment including U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Pavarotti and the record-breaking 2010/2011 residency by local comedian Peter Kay.
Ember & the Vixens bring their creepiest cabaret yet to Fairfield Social Club just in time for spooky season.
From £18.00
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
Runaway Brewery Tour & Tasting is a chance to enjoy one of Stockport’s breweries in the flesh and, of course, sample the end product.
From £18.00
UrbanArtistry is back for a second season starting with a behind the scenes account of Rome’s most wanted street artist in The Art of Disobedience.
From £7.50
A month-long horror extravaganza this October. Nobody does Halloween quite like CULTPLEX.
From £8.00
Dialled In, the artist-led collective dedicated to South Asian expression, return to Manchester with a unique triple bill at Band on the Wall.
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.
Eat your way through the dairy based delights of Manchester, with the Manchester Cheese Crawl walking tour.
From £25
The Virgin Red Room is a new private members space located at Manchester’s AO Arena, with VIP access to some of the city’s biggest gigs.
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.
High-class restaurant next to Victoria Station in Manchester, and attached to Hotel Indigo. Famed for steaks.
The Mezz is the new VIP area at the AO Arena, offering high-end food and drinks with great views of the stage.
Sadlers Yard is a public square and events space in Manchester from NOMA Mcr. Home of the Pilcrow Pub and PLANT NOMA.
The baby in the family of Manchester’s concert halls, The Stoller Hall greatly enhances the city’s already enviable live music provision.
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.
Federation House in Manchester is a pop-up project space that provides opportunities for artists, artist groups and artist development agencies.
We visit Skof, Manchester’s most raved-about new restaurants, mere hours before 2025’s Michelin Guide announcement.
Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.
The National Football Museum is now open to the public, ready to show off its impressive array of football-related exhibits and activities.
A modernist, high-rise delight.
This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.
Galleries around the North are gearing up for a new season of exhibitions - from iconic art prizes to smaller, artist-led gems.
This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.
From corrupted shoegaze to experimental electronica, post-hardcore to Indian classical, these are the shows that should be on your radar.
"Tours, tours, tours!" If this month's Tours and Activities guide were a sentient speaking person, this is what it would say.
Take some eating-out tips from our August guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
September and beyond brings culture, theatre, disgusting history and loads of fun.
