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August Bank Holiday in Manchester and the North

Creative Tourist

Wondering what to get up to over the bank holiday weekend? Check out our handpicked list of things to do in Manchester and the North for a fun-packed three days.

The last bank holiday of the summer stretches from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 August, and while we can’t fix the weather, we can magic up ideas for keeping you busy inside as well as out.

Factory Square offers a bit of both, so grab a deckchair and hit the taco truck and coffee cart or head inside the Warehouse for an interactive storytelling adventure that mixes cinema and animation – this will be the penultimate weekend you can catch Sweet Dreams.

If the sun shines and you just want to kick back and drink it in, we’ve updated our guides to beer gardens and roof terraces; if you’d like food-related activities, including demos and talks, try the free Festa Italiana or Bolton Food & Drink Festival. Explore green spaces in the heart of the city such as Castlefield Viaduct or take in some outdoor art both near and a little farther.

Combine a park trip with an exhibition, taking in the John Lyons retrospective, Carnivalesque at the Whitworth or the Wild show down the road at the Manchester Museum, perfect for the whole family. The little’uns will also love the art-based events and activities going on at YSP and The Hepworth in Wakefield; the adults might like New Order and Blossoms in Wythenshawe Park.

For something a bit different, head to the Portico Library on the Saturday and learn about local myths in its Weird As Folk display or scare yourself silly with HOME’s Indie Horror Summer film programme.

Our top picks

Manchester Pride

It’s a double celebration as Manchester Pride Weekend falls over the bank holiday. Taking a look at our alternative guide to Pride, showcasing arts and cultural highlights from around the city, including exhibitions, live music and theatre.

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Knowing the oak tree by Soraya Thashima
Two women looking up at the camera, one is wearing sunglasses and a cap, holding a phone. The other has long wavy pastel hair.

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers, 7 Keepers Quay, New Islington Marina, Manchester , M4 6GL - Visit now

Excitingly for Manchester’s bar scene, Salmon Guru Madrid (ranked 16th in World’s 50 Best Bars), is set to take over Finders Keepers in Ancoats on Sunday, 25th August. This Manchester-first collaboration also celebrates Finders Keepers’ first birthday.

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Beer Gardens in Manchester & Salford

We’ve updated our guide to places where you can enjoy an alfresco tipple or two in Manchester and Salford – and you never know, there might well be sunshine this bank holiday weekend, so grab a bev and head into the great outdoors with our suggestions.

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Society Manchester

Factory Square

Factory Square, Aviva Studios, Water St, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 4JQ - Visit now

The riverside suntrap outside Aviva Studios hosts some excellent food and drink traders this summer, including the Super Serve taco truck. Here’s where to get your Mexican food kicks, from handmade tacos to mouthwatering salted caramel churros. Of course, you need the perfect drink to go along with that sunkissed food – how does a Limoncello slushy sound? Feeling devil-may-care? Work your way through the carefully curated margarita menu. Oh and did we mention £4 pints?

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Manchester Factory international Festival - People enjoying Festival Square in the city centre
Factory International

Wild at Manchester Museum

Wild at Manchester Museum, Manchester, Until 1 June 2025, free entry - Visit now

Designed for the enjoyment of all ages, Manchester Museum explores the concept of ‘wildness’ as a means of tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis. The Wild exhibition features an immersive installation, audio, film and interactive elements alongside two-dimensional artworks and pieces from the natural history collection.

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Wolf in Yellowstone
Jacob W. Frank

Castlefield Viaduct

Castlefield Viaduct, Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester, M3 4PU - Visit now

Manchester’s first ‘sky park’ Castlefield Viaduct garden is designed to provide interest throughout the year, and the gardening team change the planting on a regular basis to make sure there’s plenty to see. During the summer months, the focus falls on densely planted ferns, grasses and herbaceous perennials, with plenty of colour through flower and foliage.

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Roof Terraces in Manchester

Best roof terrace in Manchester? We know the lot, and we’re willing to share our hard-earned information. From dive bars high up to swanky cocktail joints, this is our pick of the best places for booze with views.

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Roof Terraces in Manchester

Outdoor Art in the North

Often free and publicly accessible, outdoor art has a special relationship to community, cultural heritage and the landscape it’s situated in. It also makes for a really good excuse to go and explore a new place. Take a look at our guide to the best outdoor installations in the North and get planning your trip out.

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Seasonal Guides

Easter Holidays in Manchester and the North
Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester and the North

Read our top ideas for things to do over Easter Bank Holiday weekend in Manchester and the North, with or without chocolate…
Easter Holidays in Manchester and the North
Things to do over the Easter Holidays

Looking for things to do with the family over the Easter school holidays? We’ve got you covered.
Mother's Day in Manchester and the North
Mother’s Day in Manchester and the North

From bespoke bouquet workshops and poetry royalty to slap-up Sunday roasts and gin tastings, check out our guide of things to do with your mum this Mother’s Day.
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.
Contemporary Dance at The Lowry
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…
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.
Chinese New Year in Manchester
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.

Destinations

Mother's Day in Manchester and the North
Spotlight on

Mother's Day in Manchester and the North

From bespoke bouquet workshops and poetry royalty to slap-up Sunday roasts and gin tastings, check out our guide of things to do with your mum this Mother's Day.

Take me there

Culture Guides

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
Exhibitions in the North

From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.

A woman with black curly hair sings on stage in front of a red curtain
Cinema in the North

David Lynch, International Women's Day and Manchester Film Festival are amongst our cinematic highlights this March.

Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
Literature Events in the North

It's like the Woolies pick'n'mix counter this month in live literature land – so much choice, we're not sure where to start digging in.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

DaDaFest’s 40th anniversary line-up, contemporary reimaginings and outlandish fringe, check out our top theatre picks for spring onwards.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

GROVE
Music in the North

We’re championing all things underground this month, with a selection of gigs and festivals that embrace the strange.