The 1996 IRA bomb tore through Manchester’s city center, but instead of breaking the city, it sparked a rebuild that’s still going. What followed was a wave of investment, creativity, and confidence that helped shape the Manchester you see today.
There are now more things to do in Manchester than ever. Whether you're here for the football, the music, the food, or just a proper night out, this is a city that knows how to deliver. And it won’t punish you for being skint. Many of its best bits are free or seriously good value.
Manchester is compact and easy to explore on foot. Just don’t forget a waterproof. It didn’t get the nickname “Rainy City” for nothing.
If you’re even slightly into football, this place is a no-brainer. The National Football Museum is packed with everything from historic balls and shirts to full-on displays about England’s highs (and many lows). You’ll see Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ shirt, the original Premier League trophy, and a serious collection of kits through the decades. It’s not just for looking, either; there are interactive zones where you can test your penalty skills or try your hand at match commentary.
Best of all, entry is free (though donations are encouraged). Set just behind Exchange Square, it’s easy to fit into any city stroll. Whether you support United, City, or your local Sunday league team, this is one of the best things to do in Manchester, fun, nostalgic, and full of sporting pride.
Front view of Old Trafford with The United Trinity, a statue of Manchester United's "holy trinity" of Best, Law and Charlton © Shutterstock
The Northern Quarter is where the city lets its hair down. What used to be run-down warehouses and textile mills is now a buzzing hub of street art, vinyl, vintage clothes, and late-night bars. The big chains are nowhere to be seen, which keeps the vibe fiercely independent.
Shop for zines and retro jackets at Afflecks, browse vinyl at Piccadilly Records, or sip a cocktail at Dusk til Pawn. The Craft & Design Centre, in a former fish market, has working studios where you can chat to local makers and pick up something unique. This neighborhood doesn’t try too hard; it just is. Come hungry: there’s excellent pizza, bao buns, and coffee on every corner. The area’s creativity and grit are a big part of the reason why Manchester is the UK’s new cultural hotspot: raw, independent, and full of character.
Tib Street, a hot spot of indie bars and coffee houses in Manchester's innovative Northern Quarter © Lachlan1/Shutterstock
Manchester has never been quiet when it comes to politics. At the People’s History Museum, you’ll walk through more than 200 years of protests, campaigns, and social movements that shaped modern Britain. This isn’t just dusty documents and faded photos, expect bold banners, suffragette posters, and videos that link past fights to present-day issues.
The museum covers everything from workers’ rights and the welfare state to LGBTQ+ activism and police surveillance. If you're curious about the city’s radical spirit, this is one of the smartest and most meaningful things to do in Manchester. The setting’s striking too: a converted Edwardian pumping station with a glass-clad extension right on the River Irwell. Entry is free, and donations go straight into keeping the conversation going.
Castlefield is all red brick, iron bridges, and cobbled towpaths. It’s the industrial heart of Manchester, where Roman ruins sit next to Victorian warehouses and lazy canal boats. You can start at the site of Mamucium, the Roman fort that gave the city its name, then follow the Bridgewater Canal past old cotton mills and into the guts of Manchester’s industrial revolution.
Stop for a pint at The Wharf or grab a coffee from a barge-turned-café. It’s not glossy or gentrified, yet, and that’s part of the charm. On a clear day, this is a great place to escape the crowds without leaving the city. For laid-back urban wandering, Castlefield is hard to beat.
Castlefield is an inner city conservation area of Manchester in North West England © SAKhanPhotography/Shutterstock
You don’t have to be a bookworm to love this place. Chetham’s Library is the oldest free public library in the English-speaking world, founded in 1653 and still very much in business. Step inside and you’re in a different century: creaky wooden floors, chained books, and oak reading desks worn smooth by time.
Marx and Engels studied here while writing The Communist Manifesto, and the librarian will even show you the seat where they sat (and maybe even plotted a revolution). There's also a weird burn mark on one of the tables, supposedly left by occultist John Dee after summoning the devil. If you're after unusual things to do in Manchester, this quiet, atmospheric spot delivers.
Part Hogwarts, part cathedral, this late-Victorian library is one of Manchester’s most impressive buildings. Opened in 1900 by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John, it’s now part of the University of Manchester, but the public are welcome to explore the grand reading room and galleries.
Look up at the stained-glass windows, admire the carved stone archways, and don’t miss the special collections, which include the oldest known piece of the New Testament and a 15th-century edition of The Canterbury Tales. It’s free to visit, though hours are limited, so check ahead. Even if you don’t care much for rare books, the building alone is worth your time.
John Rylands Library built in 1988 by Enriqueta Rylands, it opened to the public in 1900 © Debu55y/Shutterstock
Once a sea of shipping containers, The Quays is now home to some of Manchester’s boldest architecture and best cultural venues. The Lowry hosts theatre, comedy, and art exhibitions in a slick, glass-fronted space. Just across the canal, Daniel Libeskind’s sharp-edged Imperial War Museum North offers powerful exhibits on global conflict, entry’s free, but the stories linger. From the top of the Air Shard, you can see across the Ship Canal to the Pennines.
MediaCityUK is here too, home to the BBC and ITV. It’s a solid example of how Manchester keeps reinventing itself, blending local history with big ideas. Jump on a tram from the city centre, it’s just 20 minutes away.
“No spitting. No bombing. No heavy petting.” You can’t swim here anymore, but the rules from Victoria Baths’ heyday still hang proudly on the tiled walls. Opened in 1906, this is one of the most beautiful public baths in Britain, think stained glass, mosaic floors, and three separate pools built in Edwardian grandeur.
Today, it hosts open days, vintage fairs, art installations, and even the odd film screening in the old gala pool. If you’re into architecture or local history, this is a standout stop. Volunteers run most of the tours, and they’re full of stories. Booking ahead is smart, and while there’s a small charge, the money helps fund ongoing restoration.
Lowry theatre gallery in Manchester © SAKhanPhotography/Shutterstock
If you’ve ever watched Team GB fly around the Olympic velodrome, here’s your chance to see where the magic happens. Opened in 1994, the National Cycling Centre is one of the best indoor tracks in the world. When the pros aren’t training, the public can book a taster session on the Siberian pine track, complete with coaching and a helmet included. It’s a thrill even if you’ve never clipped into a pair of pedals before.
There’s also an indoor BMX park and mountain biking trails at nearby Clayton Vale. You don’t need to be a superfan to enjoy it; this is elite sport, up close and unfiltered. For something active and unexpected, it’s one of the most adrenaline-pumping things to do in Manchester.
It’s just a red-brick youth club on a quiet side street, but for fans of The Smiths, Salford Lads Club is sacred ground. Immortalised on the cover of The Queen Is Dead, the club has become a pilgrimage spot for anyone with a soft spot for melancholic lyrics and Mancunian swagger.
Inside, there’s a room dedicated to the band, packed with fan letters, photos, and memorabilia, as well as plenty about the club’s wider community history. It’s run by volunteers and only open on certain days, so check before you go.
View of a footbridge in Salford quays in Manchester, England © trabantos/Shutterstock
Live music is Manchester’s heartbeat, and Band on the Wall has been pumping it out since the 1930s. From punk and reggae to jazz and experimental noise, this intimate venue champions sounds that don’t fit neatly into genre boxes. Everyone from Joy Division to Björk has played here, and today it still books a smart, global mix of acts.
It’s not fancy, and that’s the point; this is grassroots music at its best. Grab a drink at the bar, squeeze in close, and let the music do the rest. If you’re wondering what keeps Manchester’s scene so alive, this place is part of the answer.
There’s no shortage of decent food in Manchester, but for a full-on flavor overload, head straight to Wilmslow Road in Rusholme. Known as the Curry Mile (though it’s closer to half), it’s lined with Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, and Middle Eastern restaurants, open late, no frills, and packed with locals.
Go for grilled lamb at MyLahore, tandoori chicken at Al Madina, or a towering dessert from one of the newer late-night lounges. The neon signage alone is an experience. It’s cheap, messy, and completely unpretentious.
Just behind the Town Hall, Manchester’s Chinatown is the second-largest in the UK. It’s a tight cluster of bakeries, supermarkets, restaurants, and bubble tea joints, tucked behind a bright red arch and lit by lanterns after dark. Stop in at Wong Wong Bakery for egg tarts or check out the food court below the Chinese Centre for no-nonsense noodles.
The vibe here is local, lived-in, and full of character: less tourist trap, more everyday eats. For something low-key but rewarding, Chinatown’s always worth the detour.
Blossom Street in the Ancoats district of Manchester © Lachlan1/Shutterstock
Manchester’s not just about bands and football. HOME, a modern arts complex near Deansgate, proves the city knows its cinema and contemporary art too. Inside, you’ll find indie films, experimental theatre, rotating exhibitions, and a decent café bar that’s full of students, creatives, and film nerds.
It’s stylish but not stuck-up, and the programming always leans toward the thought-provoking. From gender politics to climate art, it’s one of the smartest cultural hubs in the city. If you’re looking for alternative things to do in Manchester, this place will stretch your brain in a good way.
If you want to see Manchester from above, skip the generic rooftop bars and head to Cloud 23. Perched on the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower (the glass one that hums in high winds), this sky bar serves up serious skyline views alongside overpriced but decent cocktails.
You’ll spot Old Trafford in one direction, the Pennines in another, and the city centre grid below. Come just before sunset for maximum drama. It’s a bit of a splurge, sure, but for a one-off drink with a view, it delivers. Just don’t turn up in muddy trainers, they might turn you away.
written by
Olga Sitnitsa
updated 14.07.2025
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