Now a conference and events venue, the Grade II-listed Mechanics’ Institute was the birth place of the TUC in 1868.
It was also the birthplace of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (Umist) and the Cooperative Insurance Society.
Manchester’s young people created a time capsule to capture the essence of their world today: on display now, to be reopened in 100 years.
Free entry
Visit key locations associated with a moment that helped shape the future of the nation, tracing the footsteps of those who stood for change.
From £20.00
Manchester Art Gallery presents: ‘Holly Graham: The Warp / The Weft / The Wake’, a show that takes a closer look at the the exploitative legacy of the cotton industry.
Free entry
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
Stagger across three hundred years of Manchester’s drinking history in one of the city’s most fun-loving walking tours.
From £25.00
Hop on your bike for this guided cycling tour, exploring fascinating corners of Manchester you may never have seen before.
From £25.00
Explore the Suffragettes’ epic fight for equal rights on this guided tour around significant buildings and landmarks.
From £20.00
‘The Songs The Morning Sang’ is the result of a creative collaboration between poet Ian McMillan and photographer Andrew Brooks.
Free entry
Everything you want in a Canal Street club can be found here. Cruz 101 – better known as Cruz – is an institution, and a must-visit in Manchester.
The formerly known Hotel Brooklyn reopens as voco, a brand new and gloriously stylish hotel on Manchester’s Portland Street.
A cult tv and movie themed bar set below street level on Portland Street in Manchester.
Smack bang in the centre of Manchester’s Canal Street, colourful club on the corner, G-A-Y, is popular with a youngish crowd looking for pop tunes, cheap drinks and a lively atmosphere. And there’s a rooftop terrace for the smokers.
This multifaceted venue is primarily an award winning gay bar in Manchester’s Canal Street area – but that is not all…
This award winning bar is open six nights a week due to popular demand. Described as the ‘mecca of the north’ for the lesbian community, it is no wonder why.
Passionately adored by many Mancunian foodies (and the first Manchester restaurant in ages not to get a slating from notoriously picky Observer food critic Jay Rayner), this Szechuan restaurant rules the culinary roost from an unprepossessing basement on Portland Street.
Winsome delivers modern British food, cooked beautifully by chef-owner Shaun Moffat and his team.
Peru Perdu has an all-new food and drink menu, with some of the best-looking dishes in the city.
Glass House is the place to go for floral themed workshops, with expert and innovative florists in an idyllic building.
This residency restaurant opened in summer 2019, at Locke Hotels’ Whitworth Locke. The first residency comes courtesy of Mexican specialists El Camino.
Sackville Park is a lovely green space in Manchester city centre, home to the Alan Turing Memorial.
Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.
The sun is shining in the North, so use our guide to get out there and eat, drink and be merry in it.
Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.
July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.
From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.
Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.
Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.
This month's guide is truly eclectic - from free family festivals, to food events, circus school and more!
