This October, Manchester's already busy cultural calendar will get a new addition; Manchester Curious.
Drawing inspiration from London Open House and Heritage Open Days, the festival aims to encourage us to explore the urban built environment around us, hoping to make architecture more accessible. With more than 20 separate events being held across the weekend, the programme has something to appeal to everyone; whether you prefer the historic architecture of Manchester Art Gallery, the vintage charms of the Old Granada Studios or 21st century design with previews of Kampus Project and 2 St Peter's Square.
The three day festival will see some of Manchester's most iconic buildings getting involved. Highlights of the programme this year include tours around the newly re-opened Whitworth Art Gallery, which was recently declared The Museum of the Year and has also taken home a RIBA Building of the Year award. Music fans should check out the behind the scenes look at the Royal Northern College of Music, plus the chance to get a rare glimpse of the Warehouse Project while empty of the usual revellers of a Saturday evening.
If the stark architecture of Manchester's recent history is more your thing, then check out the tour led by The Manchester Modernist Society: 'Building For The New Century: Bombs, Booms And Busts'. Starting at the National Football Museum, the tour will ask the question that many Mancunians probably wonder as new construction projects pop up across the city; will this be remembered as a golden age for architecture?
Tours and talks will be taking place across the city and spaces are limited, so check out the programme now to be in with a chance of snooping around the hidden corners of some of Manchester's finest buildings.
Manchester Curious, October 2-4, various venues. Tickets from £2.
See more things to do in Manchester from Time Out.