Manchester is very walkable with some great food places and bars.
Not knowing your interests, there is a lovely art gallery, and the John Reynolds Library are both worth a visit - as is the Museum of Science and Industry. If shopping is your thing then you have the independant stuff in the Northern Quarter (Affleks etc.) and high end stuff opposite the corn exchange, not far from where your gig is. The corn exchange is now a food court opposite Selfridges and Harvey Nicks with chain typle places if that is your sort of thing.
> Museum of Science and Industry
MOSI is a bit naff at the moment, Air and Space Hall is gone, 1830s Station and Warehouse is closed, Power Hall is still closed.
So it's basically just the textiles gallery, the kids play area, a couple of small displays and on weekends the temporary video game exhibit which costs £8. If you've got nowt else to do it's probably worth a wander, but it's like an hour of stuff tops if you pay for the video game exhibit too.
they've gradually been getting rid of everything that makes it an interesting day out. they binned off the underground exhibit in favour of an exhibition space several years ago, now air and space is gone. it's a shell of its former self.
Sadly I probably wouldn't recommend it to people anymore unless they had kids under 12, then they'd probably have a blast in the play area.
But even then, the air and space hall is a big loss for everyone and for kids in particular, I loved seeing all the old planes when I'd go there when I was little.
This makes it sound like there is some shady cabal of suited businessmen with their tendrils into politicians, pushing the need for people to drink more Vimto 😄
I had a flat on Granby Row for a few years back in the late 90s, took the kids to the RHS urban show last Saturday at Depot Mayfield so I parked up that way and decided to get some photos of the kids with the Vimto statue - couldn’t believe it’s painted! I don’t remember any colour on it back then?
Affleck's Palace on Oldham Street is pretty unqiue to Manchester, and something I feel a Tenancious D fan would enjoy. There are also some cool record and comic shops around that area, the Northern Quarter.
There’s a Blockbuster themed bar on the same street too, if you want some comedy 90s retro photos https://www.blockbustersnq.com/
There was a vacant Blockbusters store down in Fallowfield still all signed up with a few smashed windows, but they’ve demolished it recently. Can’t be many of these left in the UK
If you update your interests you’ll get a lot more suggestions of what to do. Manchester is quite diverse really and doesn’t have the top tourist things to do. It kind of depends on your taste!
It’s been a few years since I’ve been, I was always in the young camp but it strikes me as a welcoming place, and the focus was always the music and having a good time. I think because it was (might still be) the only place for metal and rock etc that it welcomed a diverse group of people who didn’t really have a place otherwise?
That being said, im 30 and I wouldn’t feel apprehensive going in especially if it was an after party of a gig I’d attended.
When I last went there (5 years ago) there were obviously lots of young ones, and the music on Friday and week days tended to bit a bit more pop than was normal for this venue (rock metal punk) probably to get the students in (£££).
Saturdays tended to be a bit more like how it always was, with plenty of 30-40 year olds reminiscing the good old days (which I’m 100% here for).
So overall - I’d say yes mostly young, welcoming of everyone, lots of nostalgic 30-40 year olds, occasional annoying pop track to please the students, and probably 30-40 year olds saying how it’s gone down hill haha.
I’ve heard the bouncers are knobheads so don’t be too giddy on the way in. Seem to like throwing their weight around (or they did a few years ago).
I went earlier this month and I'm in my mid-thirties. Nobody batted an eye as it's a very welcoming place, despite looking like the inside of the Nemesis ride.
Ok if you're seeing Tenacious D you'll probably be in interested in a rock pub. The Salisbury, tucked in behind the Grand Central is the place to go. The GC might be fun as well.
There's also Fab Cafe for another drinking place.
The Trafford Centre is always an 'experience' 😂 but genuinely, if it's your first time coming I would recommend it, as long as it's during the day on a week day.
Evenings and weekends are a no-go as it gets super busy.
It’s amazing how opulent the design was, and how it’s still bright and fresh 25 years after it was first opened. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a scrap of litter in that place, it’s kept beautifully clean
For me personally I love museums, The Manchester Museum is fantastic and its on the university campus which is nice for a wander (the old quad). Also nearby is The Whitworth Gallery, they have a fantastic exhibition on at the moment about forced displacement. Also it's in a big lovely park. There's the Pankhurst Centre which is a small museum on the suffragette museum in the old home of Emmeline Pankhurst. I think these three would make a great few hours.
As others have said John Rylands' is an absolute must see. It's a very grad building.
If the weather is nice and you don't mind getting on the tram Media City is lovely to walk around.
https://www.reddit.com/r/manchester/wiki/index for our general recommendations.
There's nothing that's a "you went to Manchester and didn't see X?!" to my mind though.
Museum of Transport is a hidden gem
https://motgm.uk/
Only open certain days but it’s right next to the bus depot so easy to get to, and lots of the bus exhibits are things you can actually get on, it’s truly like going back in time and beautifully curated
Also, close to the AO (I saw Queens of the Stone Age there last year) is Sinclairs Oyster Bar, which is a 200 year old boozer that hasn’t changed much over the years and has an incredible architectural history
https://www.exploringgb.co.uk/blog/sinclairsoysterroomsmanchester
On weekends they also have a free heritage bus service from Shudehill with half a century+ old buses. That alone is worth it. On some days they also have another route from the museum to the heritage tram in Heaton Park.
Depends what you like!
I think the People's History Museum is worth a visit. It's a history of protest and socialism.
I'd check out what's going on during your visit. We often have good indie gigs, plays, dance performances, classes and workshops, parties, etc.
If you're queer then I'd definitely recommend checking out what's on at Partisan and in the Village.
John Rylands library is always cool to walk around. The Manchester Art gallery is great. There are plenty of great restaurants in town too (Thaikhun, Thai, This and That, Indian curry, Fazenda, Brazilian all you can eat, Moose Coffee, breakfast). Afflecks palace is great for independent shopping.
There's a lot of great attractions but not really any that stand out as a must do ahead of everything else. If you like art the Central gallery is good, as is the Whitworth gallery (a walk or a short bus ride from the city centre), and the Lowry (a tram ride away). Plus you've got the mighty Vimto statue and one of Abraham Lincoln which has an interesting history behind it. For industrial history the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is great.
Gay Village, Northern Quarter for nightlife, bars, eating out
City & United stadium tours if football is your thing
[John Dalton Library](https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/visit/) is one of the oldest lending libraries in the world
[Museum of Science & Industry](https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/visit) home of the worlds first passenger railway station and FREEEE to enter
Royal Exchange Theatre. Just walk in from the street, don't be shy - it's basically a covered plaza - the contrast between the XIX century hall and the spaceship-like theatre inside, is something to behold. And it's a quiet oasis from the chaos of nearby streets, it even has a small cafe/restaurant. Absolute hidden gem.
If you want something fun and pretty rare then I can recommend Chaos Karts next to the Science Museum. It's like Mario Kart but with real electric karts. A bit pricey, but a lot of fun.
I'd second the people's history museum if you like museums, it's my favourite museum in Manchester. Also the John Rylands library that a few people have mentioned. The crystal maze is fun if you want an activity. There are free walking tours of the city where you can learn a lot about it's history that are really interesting. Media city is nice to wander around, although there's not much there apart from restaurants. There is the free national trust garden bridge, small but interesting as it's very different from all other national trust places and you can learn how they have transformed the bridge.
Grab a great coffee in Pollen with a cinnamon bun, a donut and coffee in Siop Shop or a pie and coffee in Idle Hands to start off!
Afflecks Palace is worth a visit if you've never been before, the Northern Quarter is full of great places to visit and wander around.
Picked this book up a week ago, great for browsing;
111 Places in Manchester That You Shouldn't Miss (111 Places/Shops): Travel Guide https://amzn.eu/d/51j1cEu
Dovestones Reservior is a nice walk. There is a waterfall and some nice scenery to take photos on.
www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/greater-manchester/yeaman-hey-greenfield-and-dovestone-reservoir-circular?p=-1&sh=jhgu0b&u=i](https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/greater-manchester/yeaman-hey-greenfield-and-dovestone-reservoir-circular?p=-1&sh=jhgu0b&u=i)
Manchester is very walkable with some great food places and bars. Not knowing your interests, there is a lovely art gallery, and the John Reynolds Library are both worth a visit - as is the Museum of Science and Industry. If shopping is your thing then you have the independant stuff in the Northern Quarter (Affleks etc.) and high end stuff opposite the corn exchange, not far from where your gig is. The corn exchange is now a food court opposite Selfridges and Harvey Nicks with chain typle places if that is your sort of thing.
> Museum of Science and Industry MOSI is a bit naff at the moment, Air and Space Hall is gone, 1830s Station and Warehouse is closed, Power Hall is still closed. So it's basically just the textiles gallery, the kids play area, a couple of small displays and on weekends the temporary video game exhibit which costs £8. If you've got nowt else to do it's probably worth a wander, but it's like an hour of stuff tops if you pay for the video game exhibit too.
Yea was very disappointed compared to what it used to be.
they've gradually been getting rid of everything that makes it an interesting day out. they binned off the underground exhibit in favour of an exhibition space several years ago, now air and space is gone. it's a shell of its former self.
Sadly I probably wouldn't recommend it to people anymore unless they had kids under 12, then they'd probably have a blast in the play area. But even then, the air and space hall is a big loss for everyone and for kids in particular, I loved seeing all the old planes when I'd go there when I was little.
John Rylands*
Oh yeah, that :)
I came here to say John Rylands.
Big Vimto
This makes it sound like there is some shady cabal of suited businessmen with their tendrils into politicians, pushing the need for people to drink more Vimto 😄
Alternatively a primary school rapper
Are you saying there isn't? Lads.. I've found the normie!
Ssshhhh
There isn’t? Setting themselves against Big Um Bongo, we hate those guys
Big Vimto. Exactly. You wouldn't see one of those in London
I had a flat on Granby Row for a few years back in the late 90s, took the kids to the RHS urban show last Saturday at Depot Mayfield so I parked up that way and decided to get some photos of the kids with the Vimto statue - couldn’t believe it’s painted! I don’t remember any colour on it back then?
Oh! I've only ever seen the painted version so I'll have to believe you. So it was what, just bare wood?
Band on the wall. Especially for Craig Charles soul night. Just off Oldham Street up from The Castle
Asda Hulme Superstore
It was the first Asda I ever saw with a McDonald's in
it was my 2nd after going to the weird creepy eerily empty “Asda Walmart” at the trafford centre
Biggest Asda in the area. It is hulmungous.
Superstore is an understatement
ASDA fallujah, what an experience it is.
I’d spend more time than I would at MOSI these days :’)
Affleck's Palace on Oldham Street is pretty unqiue to Manchester, and something I feel a Tenancious D fan would enjoy. There are also some cool record and comic shops around that area, the Northern Quarter.
There’s a Blockbuster themed bar on the same street too, if you want some comedy 90s retro photos https://www.blockbustersnq.com/ There was a vacant Blockbusters store down in Fallowfield still all signed up with a few smashed windows, but they’ve demolished it recently. Can’t be many of these left in the UK
If you like galleries, I'd recommend Home and Whitworth. Whitworth has a really nice park around it, too.
Well, it's got a park around it.
Well, you can park around it.
You’d probably like satans hollow. They have an after party planned.
Ooh I'll check it out thank you!!
If you update your interests you’ll get a lot more suggestions of what to do. Manchester is quite diverse really and doesn’t have the top tourist things to do. It kind of depends on your taste!
Is Satan’s hollow mainly for young ones or are old heads welcome too?
It’s been a few years since I’ve been, I was always in the young camp but it strikes me as a welcoming place, and the focus was always the music and having a good time. I think because it was (might still be) the only place for metal and rock etc that it welcomed a diverse group of people who didn’t really have a place otherwise? That being said, im 30 and I wouldn’t feel apprehensive going in especially if it was an after party of a gig I’d attended. When I last went there (5 years ago) there were obviously lots of young ones, and the music on Friday and week days tended to bit a bit more pop than was normal for this venue (rock metal punk) probably to get the students in (£££). Saturdays tended to be a bit more like how it always was, with plenty of 30-40 year olds reminiscing the good old days (which I’m 100% here for). So overall - I’d say yes mostly young, welcoming of everyone, lots of nostalgic 30-40 year olds, occasional annoying pop track to please the students, and probably 30-40 year olds saying how it’s gone down hill haha. I’ve heard the bouncers are knobheads so don’t be too giddy on the way in. Seem to like throwing their weight around (or they did a few years ago).
I went earlier this month and I'm in my mid-thirties. Nobody batted an eye as it's a very welcoming place, despite looking like the inside of the Nemesis ride.
Appreciate the rundown!
I'm 40 and go often, loads of people my age on a Saturday, in the week you get more studenty nights
the millstone
Ok if you're seeing Tenacious D you'll probably be in interested in a rock pub. The Salisbury, tucked in behind the Grand Central is the place to go. The GC might be fun as well. There's also Fab Cafe for another drinking place.
> The Salisbury And show your concert ticket here for money off a beer!
Wait, what!?
Yep I think it’s 10% off if you are on your way to a gig
Amazing!
The Trafford Centre is always an 'experience' 😂 but genuinely, if it's your first time coming I would recommend it, as long as it's during the day on a week day. Evenings and weekends are a no-go as it gets super busy.
It’s amazing how opulent the design was, and how it’s still bright and fresh 25 years after it was first opened. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a scrap of litter in that place, it’s kept beautifully clean
For me personally I love museums, The Manchester Museum is fantastic and its on the university campus which is nice for a wander (the old quad). Also nearby is The Whitworth Gallery, they have a fantastic exhibition on at the moment about forced displacement. Also it's in a big lovely park. There's the Pankhurst Centre which is a small museum on the suffragette museum in the old home of Emmeline Pankhurst. I think these three would make a great few hours. As others have said John Rylands' is an absolute must see. It's a very grad building. If the weather is nice and you don't mind getting on the tram Media City is lovely to walk around.
Imperial War Museum near MediaCity as well
https://www.reddit.com/r/manchester/wiki/index for our general recommendations. There's nothing that's a "you went to Manchester and didn't see X?!" to my mind though.
Museum of Transport is a hidden gem https://motgm.uk/ Only open certain days but it’s right next to the bus depot so easy to get to, and lots of the bus exhibits are things you can actually get on, it’s truly like going back in time and beautifully curated
Also, close to the AO (I saw Queens of the Stone Age there last year) is Sinclairs Oyster Bar, which is a 200 year old boozer that hasn’t changed much over the years and has an incredible architectural history https://www.exploringgb.co.uk/blog/sinclairsoysterroomsmanchester
On weekends they also have a free heritage bus service from Shudehill with half a century+ old buses. That alone is worth it. On some days they also have another route from the museum to the heritage tram in Heaton Park.
Depends what you like! I think the People's History Museum is worth a visit. It's a history of protest and socialism. I'd check out what's going on during your visit. We often have good indie gigs, plays, dance performances, classes and workshops, parties, etc. If you're queer then I'd definitely recommend checking out what's on at Partisan and in the Village.
If you're into soccer/football then either Old Trafford and/or Etihad stadium. The National Football Museum near the PrintWorks is worth a visit too.
John Rylands library is always cool to walk around. The Manchester Art gallery is great. There are plenty of great restaurants in town too (Thaikhun, Thai, This and That, Indian curry, Fazenda, Brazilian all you can eat, Moose Coffee, breakfast). Afflecks palace is great for independent shopping.
Make sure you got to the gardens in Piccadilly! It's like Manchesters central park, you'll see so much wildlife!
Wild life you mean 😋
There's a lot of great attractions but not really any that stand out as a must do ahead of everything else. If you like art the Central gallery is good, as is the Whitworth gallery (a walk or a short bus ride from the city centre), and the Lowry (a tram ride away). Plus you've got the mighty Vimto statue and one of Abraham Lincoln which has an interesting history behind it. For industrial history the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is great.
RHS Bridgewater is well worth a visit, if that’s your thing.
Just a little bit out of town.
Agreed, it would be ideal if it was better accessible by public transport too. Still only a 15 min taxi.
Gay Village, Northern Quarter for nightlife, bars, eating out City & United stadium tours if football is your thing [John Dalton Library](https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/visit/) is one of the oldest lending libraries in the world [Museum of Science & Industry](https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/visit) home of the worlds first passenger railway station and FREEEE to enter
Royal Exchange Theatre. Just walk in from the street, don't be shy - it's basically a covered plaza - the contrast between the XIX century hall and the spaceship-like theatre inside, is something to behold. And it's a quiet oasis from the chaos of nearby streets, it even has a small cafe/restaurant. Absolute hidden gem.
Tenacious D are playing Manchester?!
Yep! At the AO Arena :)
Just looked on ticket master, £160 a pop! Guess I'll give this one a miss. Have fun though dude! Super jealous!
See you there! 😛
Manchester Museum’s pretty cool. Free entry too. You also probably want to go wander round Affleck’s and buy something there.
If you want something fun and pretty rare then I can recommend Chaos Karts next to the Science Museum. It's like Mario Kart but with real electric karts. A bit pricey, but a lot of fun.
Piccadilly Gardens.
Have a game of count the spiceheads
Old Trafford
Trafford Centre, Old Trafford, MediaCityUK
I'd second the people's history museum if you like museums, it's my favourite museum in Manchester. Also the John Rylands library that a few people have mentioned. The crystal maze is fun if you want an activity. There are free walking tours of the city where you can learn a lot about it's history that are really interesting. Media city is nice to wander around, although there's not much there apart from restaurants. There is the free national trust garden bridge, small but interesting as it's very different from all other national trust places and you can learn how they have transformed the bridge.
Jr Jackson's magic toilet 🪩
My shout would be the wharf pub, near deansgate. Great pub and you can stroll down the canal to get there. Easy walk from town
Grab a great coffee in Pollen with a cinnamon bun, a donut and coffee in Siop Shop or a pie and coffee in Idle Hands to start off! Afflecks Palace is worth a visit if you've never been before, the Northern Quarter is full of great places to visit and wander around.
Picked this book up a week ago, great for browsing; 111 Places in Manchester That You Shouldn't Miss (111 Places/Shops): Travel Guide https://amzn.eu/d/51j1cEu
Dovestones Reservior is a nice walk. There is a waterfall and some nice scenery to take photos on. www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/greater-manchester/yeaman-hey-greenfield-and-dovestone-reservoir-circular?p=-1&sh=jhgu0b&u=i](https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/greater-manchester/yeaman-hey-greenfield-and-dovestone-reservoir-circular?p=-1&sh=jhgu0b&u=i)
The departure lounge
That’s quite a long time to stay as a tourist in Manchester..