Guides
What's on
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Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

O2 Apollo

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O2 Apollo

Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 6AP
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O2 Apollo (Some rights reserved by The Message)
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Originally built as a cinema in 1938, The Apollo is a majestic, Grade II listed Art Deco building which, for a 3500-capacity venue, offers great views of the stage wherever you stand, thanks to sloping steeped floor.

Springsteen, Dylan, Elton, Freddie Mercury, The Who, U2, Bowie, Oasis, Prince… The list of legends who’ve graced the Apollo stage is endless, and wildly eclectic; shows span every genre, from rock to pop, with lots of comedy in the programming, too.

With both fully seated and part-standing formats, this versatile venue increases its footfall and presentations year on year, and remains central to the British touring circuit, attracting Best Venue nominations and patrons from across the globe.

Want to read about more Manchester music venues? We have a guide for that.

Featured in

Photo of the Halle orchestra at Bridgewater
Music Venues in Manchester

Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.

What's on near O2 Apollo

Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Redactions at texture

For the four artists in texture’s reopening show, redaction is not absence but method – a way of exploring what’s been officially ignored, coded or suppressed.

Free entry
Press shot by Ché Deedigan.
MusicManchester
1000 Rabbits at The Abbey

Now Wave’s newly revived Hulme pub opens its doors with an ‘art pop picnic’ from London’s 1000 Rabbits.

From £12.00
jonathan schofield giving tour
Until
Manchester
The Kimpton Clocktower Tour

Explore the incredible history behind one of Britain’s grandest and most storied commercial buildings: Manchester’s Grade II listed Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

From £25.00
See all events

Where to go near O2 Apollo

Manchester
Shopping Centre
Longsight Market

Sick of overpriced “vintage” markets? Try Longsight’s bustling neighbourhood market which, every Tuesday, lays on a thriving flea market that’s a miniature (albeit slightly less glamorous) version of the famous Les Puces in Paris.

Much Ado About Nothing at Victoria Baths
Manchester
Event venue
Victoria Baths

Victoria Baths no longer functions as a ‘water palace’ and Turkish Baths, but the Grade II-listed building hosts regular events and is a stunning visit.

Manchester
The Circus House

Learn a new skill or take on a new challenge within a warm and friendly community of circus performers at The Circus House.

Manchester
Gallery
Chuck Gallery

Chuck Gallery is the first private art space in North West England dedicated to the promotion of contemporary African art in Manchester and beyond. Our focus is the provision of a varied collection of high quality, original and exceptional artwork

Manchester
Gallery
texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

Manchester
Library
Gaskell Society

These regular talks in both Manchester and Knutsford unpack the meaning and significance of Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing.

Manchester
Museum
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has been lovingly restored; you can now sit at her desk, see where Charlotte Brontë hid behind the curtains, and have tea in the downstairs café. The Pankhurst Centre is also nearby.

Manchester
Event venue
Number 70 Oxford Street

70 Oxford Street (the building formerly occupied by Cornerhouse) has been transformed into the Manchester Metropolitan University Arts and Culture Hub. It now hosts a vibrant and exciting programme of theatre, film, and creative writing.

See all places

Manchester District Guides

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Cross over the River Irwell, and you’ll find yourself in another city entirely – Salford, which is enjoying something of a regeneration.
The front of Didsbury restaurant Volta.
Didsbury, Manchester

Didsbury has the perfect split between big brands and independent businesses, welcoming all from far and wide.

Culture Guides

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

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.

Blue triangles with white clouds on them against a beige backdrop. A gold sun is in the middle.
Exhibitions

Five exhibitions worth your time this month - and between them, a lot of ground covered.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
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Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

One Leg One Eye
Music

From drone metal to art pop, free festivals to gigs in museums, here's one of our more eclectic music updates.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Community, memory, technology and love collide in this month's selection of thought-provoking theatre.

Food and Drink in the North

There’s been lamb, there’s been champagne, there’s been okra. Look at what you could have eaten, then plan the next few weeks accordingly.