Broadening minds since 1781, ideas are the currency of Manchester Lit & Phil, whose creatively curated programme of talks and lectures will challenge your opinions and encourage you to see the world through a different lens. From arts and culture, to politics and philosophy, to science and technology, you’ll hear about today’s most pressing issues and stimulating subject matter, explored by charismatic speakers.
The Royal Exchange’s Christmas show is always a festive highlight – this year it’s Emma Rice’s smash-hit adaptation of the Noël Coward classic.
from £12.00
Fuelled by some of the most revered love stories, the Royal Exchange’s new Autumn/ Winter Season is absolutely unmissable.
from £10.00
Phoebe Éclair-Powell’s 2019 Bruntwood Prize-winning play is the thrilling final instalment in the Royal Exchange’s awesome Autumn/ Winter Season.
from £10.00
Every Wednesday at Ape & Apple, Manchester’s official underground comedy club, Comedy Balloon’s friendly and warm comedy night takes place.
free entry
Keep the kids entertained while you do the Christmas shopping at Festive Sundays in Manchester City Centre.
free entry
To close out the year, Manchester Camerata presents what has become a much-loved festive tradition – the orchestra’s annual Christmas celebration at Albert Hall.
from £4.30
Whether you’re a high-fashion fanatic or just couture curious, Unpicking Couture gets up close and personal with pivotal moments in fashion history.
free entry
Calling Christmas elves, fairies and festive foxes, Ember & the Vixens present a Christmas edition of their spectacular adults-only cabaret.
from £24.12
The ‘biggest bookshop in the North’ right here in Manchester.
The Botanist on Deansgate, Manchester, does botanical cocktails and toothsome food with aplomb.
Based in a converted Methodist church, Gaucho is one of the best-looking restaurants in Manchester, with a steak-heavy menu to match.
Elegantly laid out with simple wooden tables and Burgundy-coloured banquettes, Côte in Manchester does brasserie food, and does it well.
Kai is a Turkish restaurant on Deansgate, set up by the brains behind the well-regarded Zouk restaurant. Expect excellent mezze plates and an open grill that releases wonderful aromas throughout the venue.
Lunya is a Spanish and Catalan deli and restaurant in Manchester’s stunning Barton Arcade. The food is reliably fresh and the staff both charming and incredibly knowledgable.
Great-looking events space beneath the Grade II listed Barton Arcade
San Carlo Cicchetti in Manchester does Italian small plates with aplomb.
The Royal Exchange is one of the most celebrated theatres in the country, highly regarded for both new writing and its take on the classics.
Historic Grade I listed church on St Ann’s Square, Manchester.
Bite-size basement dive alternating techno-house and indie nights, this stalwart of the Manchester music scene can be found just off Deansgate, next door to St Ann’s Square.
Bloom Cafe is a stunning cafe based on Deansgate in Manchester, serving up an array of hot and cold drinks, including a range of CBD options.
Provocative new writing, glitzy burlesque and big budget shows, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.
Keep warm with festive feasts, Hollywood stars and 90s nostalgia across the North's cinemas this December.
It might be curl-up-with-a-book season, but there's lots to get out and about for and plenty of events where you can stock up on new reads.
Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.
Festive frolics, monstrous theatre and magical outdoor adventures all feature in our latest picks of things to do with the family.
While rainy late autumn may not be the most energising of seasons, there is plenty of new art to see and inspire this month!
We're unapologetically entering into the Christmas spirit here at Tours and Activities with some alternative festive fun.
The best food and drink options in Manchester and the North for the upcoming winter months.
