12 Best Things to Do in Manchester

Manchester Museum is a grand institution on the same scale as the British Museum in London. The permanent exhibits showcase over 4.5 million items, ranging from dinosaur skeletons to ancient Egyptian mummies. There’s even a vivarium, where researchers breed extremely endangered frog species.

In this amazing museum, you’ll find an on-site café and a picnic area, so you can take a break between galleries. The museum’s free to enter, so you can also spread your exploration across a number of days.

Manchester has several big shopping malls, but the Trafford Center stands out as one of the most popular and among the largest indoor malls in the UK. This massive mall is home to high street brands like H&M, Marks and Spencer, Mango and Selfridges.

Trafford Center is also an entertainment hub featuring a mini-golf course, bowling alleys and a 20-screen movie theater, among others. This amazing mall is a foodie heaven with one of Europe’s biggest food courts and dozens of cafés and restaurants.

Salford Quays was once an industrial powerhouse, but was abandoned for many years. It has now been revived as a hub of media and culture. This waterfront region just west of Manchester City Centre is home to some of the UK’s biggest TV media organisations, The Lowry theatre and gallery, The Quays Shopping Centre, and Imperial War Museum North, among other attractions. 

The maze of glass buildings makes it a particularly beautiful place to watch the sunset, and the many bars and restaurants nearby also make it a good place to be after dark.

Old Trafford is the home stadium of Manchester United, one of the best-known football clubs in the world, with supporters spread right around the globe. Naturally, their home stadium is something of a Mecca for football fans, which explains why it’s one of the largest stadiums in the UK.

The atmosphere on match days (usually Saturdays) is electric, but there’s lots to see even during the week. Be sure to check out the museum and stadium tour, which includes a look at the club’s extensive collection of trophies.

The home of Manchester Chinatown’s considerable East Asian community is among the largest Chinatown districts in the UK. After passing under the iconic Chinese arch on Faulkner Street, you’ll find dozens of Chinese restaurants, shops, supermarkets and even banks and a casino.

The Chinese New Year celebrations here get bigger and more vibrant with every passing year. Be sure to check out Red Chilli for excellent Sichuan food, or Ho’s Bakery for authentic Chinese buns. Here you can also find bustling nail salons and beauty parlors to have a relaxing manicure or a facial.

The lush and versatile Heaton Park is among the biggest city parks in the UK, spanning more than 600 acres. Among the woodland and grassland, you’ll find ornamental gardens, an 18-hole golf course, several ponds and a number of well-preserved historical buildings.

It’s a popular spot for families, thanks to the playgrounds, boating lake and several cafés. You’re also to bring your own picnic to enjoy in the beautiful park. There are miles of paved running and walking routes through the park, as well as a volunteer-run tramway to help you get around.

Heaton Hall is a Grade I-listed building right in the middle of Heaton Park, the biggest municipal park in Europe. The main entrance to the hall faces north, with uninterrupted views of the Pennines. When you get inside, you'll be treated to an experience of how the 18th-century upper class lived.

The house includes some classic features of stately homes, like lion statues guarding the entrance, a library and a music room. Even so, the biggest attraction is the Etruscan ‘Cupola Room’. Inspired by Ancient Roman architecture, this room has a dome-shaped ceiling, with mirrors lining the walls, and is only one of 3 examples of this type of room surviving in the UK.

When you visit the Science and Industry Museum, you'll find yourself immersed in the rich history of transportation technology. There are exhibits highlighting aircraft and locomotives, along with a 3rd exhibit showcasing Manchester's history with computing technology and how it affected communications across distances.

This museum is home to a replica of the Manchester Baby, which was the first electronic stored-program computer in the world dating back to the 1940s. You can explore large industrial machines including old steam engines and hot air engines. Most of them are still operational, so you can see them in action at the museum during scheduled presentations.

The amazing Hidden Gem is literally a hidden gem, a beautiful but little-known attraction in the heart of Manchester. A fairly modest red brick building on a quiet street of similar structures, St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic church in Manchester.

The unassuming exterior hides a treasure trove of marble sculptures, artworks, and stained-glass windows. Look out for the critically acclaimed Stations of the Cross series of 14 striking modern artworks by Norman Adams, on the left-hand wall as you enter.

The Coronation Street Experience takes you around the nation’s favourite street and setting of the popular British soap opera of the same name. The tour offers a behind-the-scenes peek that lasts around 90 minutes. You’ll be taken on a guided tour through the fictional town of Weatherfield with plenty of opportunities for a selfie at your favourite spots.

You’ll love hearing the bits of info about what goes on behind the scenes, and who knows, if you’re really lucky, you might see one of the cast floating about. The tour takes place at the ITV Studios near the Imperial War Museum. The quickest and easiest way to the tour from Manchester City Centre is by tram or bus.

Manchester nightclubs are known for their diversity and lively atmosphere with clubs playing everything from indie and house to hip hop and rock. Most clubs have themed nights, so you can find one that suits your musical taste.

Manchester is home to some iconic clubs that attract big-name DJs and events. The Warehouse Project is famous for its massive warehouse raves whereas Factory 251 boasts multiple dance floors, a Funktion-One sound system and a VIP area. If you enjoy live music and indie nights, try Soup Kitchen. If you're into funk, soul and electric disco, head to Mint Lounge. The Gay Village on Canal Street offers a vibrant and inclusive clubbing experience with LGBTQ+ bars and clubs.

Wilmslow Road, to the southeast of Manchester City Center, is known as the Curry Mile and one of the best places to enjoy a spicy meal. Indian cuisine is very popular in Manchester, with the “rice ‘n’ 3” (rice with 3 different curries) being a popular dinner option for locals.

The neon-lit road is slowly evolving as more shisha bars start to open, but the Curry Mile remains a lively hub of Indian and Pakistani food and culture. Be sure to check out Ziya Restaurant, Bardez and Chit 'N' Chaat for the best dining experiences.