Christmas in the North

Creative Tourist Last Updated 13 December 2024

Christmas comes but once a year, and it’s a great time to make the most of what the region’s independent scene has to offer. From not-on-the-high-street Christmas Shopping to our top festive theatre and concert picks, we’ve pulled together our recommendations of things to do for maximum fun, minimum stress.

For those looking for an appropriately excessive Christmas gorge, our Christmas Food and Drink guide is for you, and if you’re looking to party on the biggest night of the year, check out our round-up of the best-looking events for New Year’s Eve.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Theatre and Concerts

With the big day approaching, theatres and concert halls across the North are pulling out all the festive stops. Here are our top picks.

Find out more

Christmas Shopping in the North

We’ve compiled an alternative list of gift-central suggestions to keep you as far from the hellish throngs of Market Street as possible this Christmas.

Find out more

An illustration people shopping at The Hepworth Wakefield Festive Market — The Hepworth Wakefield / Michael Driver

Christmas food and drink

Don’t worry about the calories, the holidays are here and that means it’s time to eat, drink, be merry and overdo things to a shocking degree.

Find out more

New Year’s Eve in the North

From house raves to live funk and soul, orchestral concerts to DJs spinning global sounds, here’s our guide to New Year’s Eve in Manchester and the North.

Find out more

Christmas Markets in the North

We round-up the pop-up Christmas markets you should be heading to this festive season, if you’re looking for alternative gifts and an obligatory glug of gluhwein.

Find out more

Seasonal Guides

Valentine’s Day

Don’t leave Valentine’s Day to the last minute. You’ll find plenty in our guide, from top restaurants to outside-the-box activities.

Two young girls dance with a human disco ball

Things to do over February half-term

Looking for things to do with the family over the February half-term holiday? We’ve got you covered.

Chinese New Year in Manchester

Colourful cultural adventures abound as Manchester rings in the Lunar New Year. Here’s our round-up of what’s on.

Helen Chadwick posing with a sculpture called Piss Flowers taken during the exhibition Helen Chadwick: Effluvia, held at the Serpentine Gallery, London, in 1994

Cultural Calendar 2025

Our editors’ biannually updated list of some of the best-looking arts and cultural events in Manchester and the North in 2025.

Alcohol-free things to do in the North

So you’re off the booze and you’re wondering what there is to do in Manchester that doesn’t involve drinking…

New Year’s Eve in the North

From warehouse raves to live funk and soul, vegan street food to fancy dining, here’s our guide to New Year’s Eve in Manchester and the North.

Christmas food and drink

The holidays are coming so that means it’s time to eat, drink and be merry for Christmas 2025.

Destinations

Spotlight on

Things to do in Blackpool

Fancy a day trip? Explore our guide to Blackpool and build yourself an itinerary featuring attractions, galleries, restaurants and more.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

Food and Drink in the North

New year, new you. Let us tell you exactly what food and drink you should consume over the coming weeks.

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still

Cinema in the North

Street art, LGBTQ+ History Month, and the first film festivals of the year are amongst our cinema highlights this month.

Theatre in the North

Feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. All in our latest theatre guide.

Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.

Family things to do in the North

We might be past the holiday season, but Manchester and the North's arts and cultural calendar is still packed with brilliant events and activities for families

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.

Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

Tours and Activities in the North

We're enjoying an arty start to the new year in 2025 in Tours and Activities with plenty of arts based events, games and workshops.