Kick off December with a bit of fizz at this acrylic painting workshop where you can relax and explore your creative side whilst sipping a glass of bubbly. The perfect addition to a day out Christmas shopping, or a creative treat for that Christmas day out with friends or festive work do.
Part of Give Handmade this Christmas – Manchester Craft and Design Centre‘s season of festive events.
Handmade crafts and gifts in this Craft Centre studio.
Oak Street Café at Manchester Craft & Design Centre does fresh, healthy salads, soups, sandwiches, quiches and, best of all, cakes.
Boutique charity shop in the heart of the Northern Quarter.
Northern Quarter stalwart Common Bar in Manchester serves excellent pub food, fine cocktails and decent coffee. It’s a firm Creative Tourist team favourite.
Home Sweet Home in Manchester’s Northern Quarter is a cafe and milk bar that does a mean line in cake, puddings and all things sweet – but its savoury menu isn’t half bad either.
This small shop has a well-curated range of stock that focuses on vintage homeware and gifts. From Japanese hemp socks to botanical paperweights and HAWS plant misters, each object is beautiful, practical and well made.
Ziferblat is a pay as you stay café in the northern quarter, where everything is free – except the time you spend.
Gordon Ramsay-approved Northern Quarter restaurant run by three sisters, featuring some of the city’s finest Chinese cuisine.
Essentially three bars under one roof, Cane & Grain encompasses a rib joint and tap room, hidden speakeasy, and Tiki-themed Liar’s Lounge.
The sister store to NOTE’s original Tib Street branch, here you’ll find footware, clothes and brands inspired by the skateboard scene. If it’s a new board you’re after, head to Tib Street.
Highly-rated bar based in Manchester’s bustling Northern Quarter, seconds away from Common.
57 Thomas Street is the third outlet belonging to Manchester’s best-known microbrewery, Marble Beers. Unlike the lavish decoration of the Grade II-listed Marble Arch (which also doubles up as a brewery) or the traditional pub layout of the Marble Beer House in Chorlton, this tiny Thomas Street digs has room for just two things: beer and food.
Get priority booking on the best seats, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and much more. Are you in?
from £45.00
Manchester’s beloved Castlefield Gallery is turning 40! Join in the celebrations – check out the exciting programme of events taking place throughout the year
free entry
‘Bees: A Story of Survival’ seamlessly marries art and science to tell the fascinating story of bees and their essential role in nature.
from £0.00
From Mario to Sonic and Pong to Fortnite, play your way through five decades of the best video games. Fun and educational. Win-win.
from £8.00
Whether you have never put pencil to paper or have been honing your artistic skills for years, Bee Creative studio runs life drawing sessions for people of all abilities.
from £10
Art Plays Games is a new show at FACT, celebrating games created by digital artists and independent video game developers.
free entry
Whether you’ve half an hour or a full day, you’ll always find something new to discover at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.
Boris Maas responds to the work of Victorian painter John Atkinson Grimshaw in a new exhibition of light installations and photographs.
free entry
Hollywood greats and early bird film fest tickets are on our horizon as we start the New Year.
Readings are springing up everywhere as the live literature and spoken word scene starts to defrost.
Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.
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
Documentary performance, groundbreaking dance, world premieres and fresh takes on classic works - check out our early theatre highlights for 2025.
New year, new you. Let us tell you exactly what food and drink you should consume over the coming weeks.
Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.
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.