Manchester is the effervescent unofficial capital of England’s north, where culture, history, sport and music all collide into one captivating melange. Sprinkle in a dash of Mancunian spirit with a little northern humor, and you have a beguiling city perfect for a long weekend break.
Whether it’s catching global superstars perform at the vast Co-op Live arena, barhopping in the Northern Quarter, watching a Premier League game, canalside strolling in Ancoats or exploring a seriously diverse array of museums, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in Manchester come rain or shine (definitely make the most of the latter, when it arrives).
Here’s our pick of Manchester’s best experiences.
1. Spend an afternoon in Ancoats
Separated from the Northern Quarter by Manchester’s ring road, Ancoats has evolved from a dilapidated area of empty factories into arguably the city’s most enigmatic neighborhood.
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Start in the beating heart of Ancoats, the art-splashed Cutting Room Square. Grab magnificent cocktails at the Jane Eyre, chomp on battered cod to slick beats at the Hip Hop Chip Shop or sip craft beer in the restored 19th-century pub the Edinburgh Castle. And on sunny days, head over to the breezy New Islington Marina where you can lounge out on the grass with a blanket or sit out on the canalside terraces with a coffee from Pollen or an organic wine from Flawd.
2. Hop between great pubs
Whether your watering hole of choice is a cozy traditional pub or a sleek modern taproom, sipping on a pint is always a pleasure in Manchester.
The maroon tiles of the Castle Hotel make it one of the Northern Quarter’s most distinct spots, while the angular Peveril of the Peak is Manchester’s most photographed pub. Or drop by the 200-year-old Britons Protection if you want to pair your beer with a quality whisky (which includes Britain’s biggest Jack Daniel’s collection).
Track Brewing Co is an airy trading estate brewery with convivial benches and a ton of beer styles, while Sadler’s Cat is a laid-back family-friendly taproom in Sadler’s Yard by local brewery Cloudwater.
Planning tip: When the sun’s out, hit the Old Wellington. Not only is this Manchester’s only remaining Tudor building (1552), its vast front terrace is great for soaking up a few rays with an ale or two.
3. Browse bizarre boutiques and rare records
If you have an insatiable need to rummage and poke around every inch of a store, Manchester has a cavalcade of curious options.
In the Northern Quarter, Afflecks multifloored maze of independent stalls and bizarre boutiques is a local institution, while Fred Aldous sells arts and craft materials alongside unusual giftware. Vinyl Exchange is wonderful for secondhand records and rarities, though for current releases recommended by passionate staff look no further than Piccadilly Records. A short walk over to Shudehill lies Paramount Books, a dusty gold mine of secondhand books, magazines and comics.
4. Catch the UK’s hottest live music
From Joy Division’s moody post-punk to Oasis’s skyscraping Britpop anthems, Manchester’s musical legacy is strong, and live music still brings color and verve to the city’s evenings.
Band on the Wall is a local institution showcasing an eclectic cast of artists covering everything from reggae to rock and folk, while Matt and Phreds on Tib St is Manchester’s only dedicated jazz club. Further south, the Deaf Institute is a 19th-century landmark with an upstairs room featuring a unique audience set up beneath a domed ceiling.
On a bigger scale, Co-op Live at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus is now the largest indoor arena in Europe, while Aviva Studios is an angular new riverside cultural space staging wildly diverse artists and shows every month.
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5. Dive into some diverse museums
Yes, Manchester does have its fair share of rainy days, but the range and diversity of its museums may tempt you inside even if the sun’s out.
Considering Manchester’s deep industrial heritage, the Science and Industry Museum is a fine place to begin (and a good introduction to the city’s growth). Near the banks of the River Irwell, the People’s History Museum delves into Manchester’s strong personalities and game changers, particularly within the realm of politics and social democracy.
With the success of its two teams – Manchester City and Manchester United – it’s perhaps only right that the National Football Museum resides in Manchester. Getting a little quirkier, the Greater Manchester Police Museum is housed within a former Victorian police station in the Northern Quarter. And over in a 19th-century former synagogue in Cheetham Hill, the Manchester Jewish Museum explores Jewish migration and settlement in Manchester.
6. Tackle a noisy nature trail
Manchester Airport is the busiest airport outside of London and handled 28 million passengers in 2023, but most visitors probably don’t know there’s a nature trail running beneath the runway as they’re coming in to land. The central section of Bollin Valley Way follows the River Bollin and takes you along the airport’s high-security perimeter fences before a tunnel dips below Runway 2 as the planes above roar into the sky.
Needless to say, further away from the tunnel is where you’ll have some great opportunities to shoot the likes of the hulking Airbus A380 as it touches down, especially near the Southside Fire Station.
Detour: Head back into the city center for another transport-related stroll along Castlefield Viaduct. This leafy disused railway trail is a wonderful elevated escape, similar to New York’s High Line (but without the skyscrapers).
7. Watch football (soccer)
Manchester’s cultural cache doesn’t just come from its music or history. Football is a religion here and hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world come to see the city’s two huge football teams, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Both team’s stadiums – Old Trafford and the Etihad – are easily reachable by tram from the city center, though tickets for United games are harder to source than City’s. With the news that United will be moving to a new stadium (possibly by the 2030–31 season), it might be worth taking the Old Trafford Tour & Museum and enjoying a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s great football cathedrals before it’s demolished.
Planning tip: If you’re struggling to find United tickets, their hospitality packages are expensive but more widely available. Alternatively, check out the other end of the football pyramid with real grassroots games at FC United of Manchester.
8. Spend a weekend with festival fever
Manchester loves a party, so it’s little surprise that there are some spectacular festivals throughout the year. Music is an inevitable starting point here and Parklife is Manchester’s biggest music festival, taking place every summer in Heaton Park, boasting a diverse range of acts from several genres. And Sounds of the City is a multiday outdoor summer music festival at the 8000-capacity Castlefield Bowl, with big acts headlining each night.
The Greater Manchester Fringe is a month-long arts festival each July unfolding across Greater Manchester with a focus on comedy and theater, while the South Manchester Food Festival in Wythenshawe hosts some of the country’s best street-food traders. Live music adds to the buzzing atmosphere.
9. Explore the Northern Quarter’s street art
Several ingredients go into why the Northern Quarter is such a vibrant area, and one of them is art. Specifically, street art.
From artist Nick Hamilton’s bright cartoonish scenery in Stevenson Square to the mystical earth, wind, fire and water mural on the corner of Church St and Red Lion St, this art-splashed neighborhood is a constant feast for the eyes. And when night falls and the murals are less visible, several bars around the Northern Quarter become lit by vivid red neon, making it splendid for some moody evening photography.
Detour: Beyond the NQ, you’ll also find interesting street art around the Gay Village and beneath the rail arches off New Wakefield St.
10. Stroll and shop around Stockport
Sitting 13km (8 miles) south of Manchester, the town of Stockport has become something of an independent nirvana with the main action happening around the Underbanks, and particularly the plethora of boutiques and bars lining Little Underbank and Lower Hillgate.
Rare Mags is an airy magazine shop selling high-end glossy mags and further down the street SK1 Records offers stuffed shelves of vinyl covering everything from dubstep to Krautrock. The Petersgate Tap’s revolving cast of cask ales pair well with their warm pork pies on a winter’s day, while inside the glass-covered Market Hall (dating to 1862) WineBoy pours some lovely natural wines.
When night falls, catch a show at the 1932 art deco Plaza Theatre or eat at the sustainably-focused Where The Light Gets In, one of Greater Manchester’s most acclaimed fine-dining restaurants.
11. Experience an iconic LGBTIQ+ scene
If you’ve spent any time on Canal St, you’ll know that Manchester is one of the most LGBTIQ+ friendly cities in the UK. With pride flags fluttering, music pumping and bars spilling out onto the convivial car-free street, it’s a joyous spot in a city that’s long championed gay rights.
Put your dancing shoes on at G-A-Y and On Bar, but remember there’s more to the Village than just Canal St. There’s a huge queer icons mural on the side of the Molly House pub on Richmond St, while the memorial statue of Alan Turing in Sackville Gardens is poignant and peaceful. And kicking off every August, Manchester Pride is one of the UK’s leading Pride festivals.
Detour: Sandwiched in between the Northern Quarter and Ancoats is Queer Lit, holder of Europe’s biggest selection of LGBTQ+ books. The serene downstairs is perfect for a quiet read with a hot drink.
12. Stay at Station Agent’s House, a historic rail-themed home
Manchester has Britain’s best hotel scene outside of London, with an especially wide mix of boutique stays, but it’s also home to a genuine piece of travel history that now doubles up as accommodation.
Present at the birth of rail when the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened as the world’s first intercity railway in 1830, the Station Agent’s House is a handsome three-floor house that’s been sympathetically restored and tastefully furnished (especially the retro rail posters). The house itself was once the dwelling of the first Station Agent, Joseph Green. Almost 200 years later, it still sits on the corner of Liverpool Rd and is just a five-minute walk to Deansgate’s shops, bars and restaurants.
Planning tip: This is a large multifloored self-catering property, so it’s ideal for a family trip or a weekend with friends (and they’ll no doubt be impressed by your creative thinking).
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