The 26 best things to do in Manchester in 2025

What is it? A canalside neighbourhood that’s now very much the place to be. With a wave of a regeneration wand, this former textile district is a hit with both seasoned locals and visiting foodies.

Why go? Way back before it became a favourite hangout for food-obsessed millennials living in expansive digs with expensive dogs, Ancoats was known as ‘Little Italy’, in honour of the many Italian immigrants who came to live here during the late 19th century. Honour that heritage with superb pizza at the original Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza, which has proven so popular since setting up shop in 2015 that it’s spread itself thickly across the entire country. Or, if you’re after something spicy, try out Nam or Viet Shack for Sriracha-spiked noodles, zingy papaya salads and broths worth bathing in.

If you’re into seasonal small plates that punch way above their size head washed down with natural wine, swan over to Erst, Canto, Elnecot or Flawd (technically in New Islington but it’s barely a cork’s throw away). The latter’s little platters are served up by sunny day hotspot Ancoats Marina too, so saunter over on a lazy Sunday after scarfing down a cruffin at indie bakery Pollen.

Don’t miss: Mana, Manchester’s first Michelin-starred restaurant since 1977.

What is it? Ten thousand people all under one roof, raving in a mega warehouse.

Why go? Started in 2006 by local nightlife overlord Sacha Lord, The Warehouse Project (or WHP) has become an iconic after-hours institution. Moving with nomadic speed from Boddingtons Brewery to an air raid shelter under Manchester Piccadilly to Victoria Warehouse, it’s now located in the capacious space of Depot Mayfield.

Each season runs from September to NYD and is stacked with basically every single selector you could possibly think of; last year featured the likes of Bicep, Jon Hopkins, Kerri Chandler, Jayda G, Joy Orbison, Eliza Rose, the entire Rush Hour crew, DJ BORING, Bradley Zero, Dan Shake and Elkka (to prove a point, that was all in a single night on Saturday September 16). Tickets naturally sell like hotcakes covered in gold leaf, so be quick.

Don’t miss: Go to WHP for NYE – the Depot always delivers a big final night of the year.

What is it? A library commissioned by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who became Manchester's first multi­millionaire as the owner of the UK's largest textile manufacturing business. The building is home to reading rooms, a library and tall, spiralling stairways. 

Why go? In times of woe and in need of spiritual guidance, you could well find yourself wandering into The John Rylands Research Institute and Library mistaking it for a church, such is the late Victorian neo­-Gothic splendour of this magnificent building. However, inside you’d find something which could truly enrich the soul – about 200,000 books. 

ICYMI: Plus, this year, it’s marking its 125th anniversary with Rylands125 –– which might sound a little bit like a naff sports bar, but is actually a special year-long programme. It includes the grand opening of the Collections Gallery, a new permanent space showcasing everything from an early fragment of the New Testament to Joy Division manager Rob Gretton's notebook. There’s also a new exhibition opening in May – The Secret Public – featuring 100 posters, magazines, books and photographs from author Jon Savage's extensive archive of LGTBQ+ research materials.

What is it? Incredibly hungry and highly indecisive? You need to taste all the gastronomic options on offer at Mackie Mayor and the rest of Manchester’s great food markets. 

Why go? Mackie Mayor is a huge converted Grade II-listed building that promises 400 seats and cracking food from nine independent kitchens, including broth behemoth New Wave Ramen and pioneer of all things piquant Pico’s Tacos. If you can’t get enough, pop over to Grub for ever-revolving residents and banging plant-based options. Finally, try Society, featuring five ace local indie kitchens (including burger kings Slap & Pickle) and 40 different beers thanks to Vocation.

Don’t miss: Closer to Altrinham but craving the food of Mackie Mayor? Head to its regenerated sister venue Alty Market for the exact same scran and a change of scenery.

What is it? A landmark cultural space in the city centre, now open since June 2023. It’s swiftly become home to the city’s aesthetes and temporary digs for cutting-edge artists across the globe. No wonder TIME whacked it in their list of the World's Greatest Places 2024; it really is that great.

Why go? It would be a bit premature to call Factory International (or Aviva Studios, if you want the technical name of the building) iconic – but it’s genuinely not far off. For a sense of scale: it's the largest public investment in a UK cultural project since the Tate Modern, spans 143,000 sq ft and cost just shy of £250m to build. And to drop a few names, it’s already played host to exclusive shows from the likes of Yayoi Kusama, Danny Boyle and Laurie Anderson as well as gigs from Sampha, Doves and Fontaines D.C. Even when there’s not an event on, there’s a vast, Barbican-adjacent space (The Social) to grab a drink or, if you’re lucky, catch a poetry performance. It’s obviously a bit of a cliche, but it’s genuinely put Manchester on the map for a new generation of creatives and rivals any other cultural space. Seriously.

Don’t miss: Factory International is now home to Manchester International Festival or MIF, for short. The biennial (that’s every two years, we get confused too) event is a two-and-a-half-week celebration of the arts and is back for 2025 (July 3-20) with a new Creative Director, Low Kee Hong, at the helm. You might even catch some rays in Festival Square, the outdoors area, too.

What is it? Independent record stores such as Vinyl Exchange, Eastern Bloc and Piccadilly Records have been supplying Mancs with mega tunes for years, paving the way for the next generation of local bands.

Why go? The city centre’s vinyl emporiums have become world-renowned for their collections. But there are some gems tucked away in the suburbs, too. Take a quick trip to Burnage, for example, and you’ll find Sifters, immortalised in the Oasis song ‘Shakermaker’. Over the way in Chorlton, Kingbee Records offers a treasure trove of rare cuts among the Wet Wet Wet and Meat Loaf albums nobody wants any more. In fact, so good is Kingbee’s collection that some have been known to regularly come all the way from New York to visit (arriving with an empty suitcase and leaving with one that won’t zip up). 

Don’t miss: Rubber Ducky Records, a barge stacked with total tunage. It’s come back from a disastrous sinking incident and is now once again touring Manchester’s canals, so get down to Ducky for a day of dance music digging.

What is it? Only Manchester’s most historic pub ever,  first opened way back in 1552. 

Why go? It’s a slice of old Manchester, and a pretty great spot for a sunny day too. If you fancy a bit of a historic pub crawl, check out the also-geriatric but equally great Sinclair’s Oyster Bar next door, and Briton’s Protection too for a legendary ale house that reputedly treated people on its bar that were injured in the Peterloo Massacre. 

Don’t miss: You might miss this as it’s so small; squeeze into The Circus Tavern on Portland Street, the smallest pub in the city and one of the tiniest in the entire country. Best though is Peveril of the Peak – or The Pev for short – a green-titled powerhouse of a public house complete with jukebox, pool table, dartboard and some of the best vibes around.

What is it? Deflate your lilo and ditch the beach balls – we’re not talking about an aquatic amusement park à la the Algarve. Instead, we’re referring to South Manchester's lakeside nature reserves, Chorlton Water Park.

Why go? As soon as a smidgeon of sun arrives, this park (along with its equally-as-stunning buddy Sale Water Park) become total hotspots. And if it’s raining? Get your mac on! You can stroll (or run) around the reservoirs, post up next to the waterfront with a picnic (head to Unicorn Grocery first for the ultimate picky bits) or go canoeing, kayaking, rowing and whatever else might float your boat. Just note that you can only officially take a dip in the water during certain slots.

Don’t miss: If you’re up for some wild swimming, Lumb Falls near Hebden Bridge is probably a better bet. Also, let’s just say that the ‘No Swimming’ sign at Pickmere Lake isn’t exactly adhered to. 

What is it? Manchester produces some of the finest craft beer in the world, so make sure you stumble to some of its best breweries and beer houses. 

Why go? Make a beeline – or should that be a beerline? – towards crafty bars like Pelican, the Piccadilly Tap (run by the team behind London’s Euston Tap) and Beermoth, all within a few minutes’ walk of Piccadilly Gardens. After something more specific? Try one of a number of bars run by local brewers; new kid-on-the-block North Westward Ho from Pomona Island, Blackjack Brewery’s Smithfield Market Tavern (just next to Band on the Wall), Seven Bro7hers’ Bar in Ancoats or the historic Marble Arch pub on Rochdale Road, which showcases Marble’s newest beers.

Don’t miss: More of a wine person? Steer clear of the pints and book a Manchester Wine Tour, group tours which stop at the best spots in the city (casual and fancy). Private tours are also available. 

What is it? The second largest Chinatown doesn’t just serve up Chinese food; it’s home to a whole host of Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Japanese joints.

Why go? If you’re doing any sort of East Asian cooking, skip the Big Four and head to the area’s array of authentic supermarkets. Blue Whale is king when it comes to procuring seafood fresh from the tank, while Hang Won Hong and its delivery service TukTuk Mart have a wicked selection of fresh herbs and store cupboard essentials. Not keen on getting the wok out? Go to Pho Cue for the best Vietnamese food you’ll ever eat or join the serpentine queue at Happy Seasons for its signature roasted dishes.

Don’t miss: Sunk a few too many Tsingtaos with your spring rolls? Need to dance it off? Bop to Vina, K2, Orchid or all three for a proper karaoke experience.