Just in time for the October half term, the jaw-dropping multi-sensory experience has already captivated eight million people in a whopping 75 cities right across the world, and has proven to be just as exciting for children as it is for adults – perhaps even more so.
With 3,000 images from the seminal Dutch artist’s renowned body of work digitally emblazoned onto supersized backdrops, and paintings that are ready for little ones to literally climb right into, Van Gogh Alive is so much more than a visit to a gallery, or a ‘don’t touch’ museum trip.
Organisers assure that it’s “immersive, interactive, and inspiring” for people of all ages.
Thinking of checking it out? Here’s five reasons why babies, toddlers, kids, and teens should be first in line for half term week when the purpose-built venue lands at MediaCityUK on 22 October.
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Van Gogh Alive has been called a “glorious, stunning, but also very moving” exhibition / Credit: Van Gogh Alive
1. It’s the world’s most visited multi-sensory experience
We weren’t kidding – eight million people have already flocked to Van Gogh Alive when it’s visited other cities across the world.
It’s a feast of sight, sound, and scent set to an evocative score that will help younger visitors to understand the emotion and tone of each artwork as they explore the space, while also enjoying the authentic fragrance of Provence wafting through the air.
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Even the most hard-to-please teenagers are bound to be entertained by the larger-than-life imagery and a mirrored room filled to the brim with sunflowers – which makes for a cracking photo opportunity.
2. It’s fun, educational, and interactive
No one will be shushed, no one will be told not to touch, and no one will be bored – this is the kind of awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience that parents desperately search for.
Van Gogh is one of the world’s most important artists of all time, and throughout this experience, young visitors will discover his work, his life, his descent into madness, and his legacy, meaning it’s pretty much the best art, history, and geography lesson they could ever hope for.
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Whether the idea of learning excites your kids or not, they will learn – and they will love it.
Not only will you be able to step straight into Van Gogh’s world, both kids and adults alike can try their hands at using his techniques and learning his craft, with three graded tutorials on offer at the dedicated Art Activity Area, and even the opportunity to recreate some of the artist’s most famous works.
So you can leave the grey Manchester skies outside, and step into a world of kaleidoscopic colour and 360-degree delight.
The jaw-dropping multi-sensory experience has already captivated eight million people / Credit: Van Gogh AliveIt’s a feast of sight, sound, and scent set to an evocative score that will help younger visitors to understand the emotion / Credit: Van Gogh Alive
3. Climb into an actual painting
This is your chance to, quite literally, climb inside of an actual painting.
There’ll be a life-sized recreation of ‘Van Gogh’s Bedroom’ – one of his most famous pieces – truly bringing art to life at the installation, and families can sit on Van Gogh’s bed, his chair, use his mirror, and pose for a photo in one of the most recognisable bedrooms in history.
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Where else does a painting spring out into life sized, touchable, three-dimensional reality?
It’s another layer of magic that the whole family will love.
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Van Gogh Alive opens its doors from 22 October 2021 – 23 January 2022 at MediaCityUK, and tickets are on sale now.
It’s £22 for adults and £15 for children, with concessions and school group discounts available.
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Event organisers are hoping to raise vital funds for The Christie charity to help it continue its incredible work leading the way for cancer care, research, and education – and visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to make a donation either when purchasing tickets, or while at the exhibition.
Controlled visitor capacities and managed visitor flow mean visitors can easily respect any COVID-19 guidelines and enjoy the experience safely.
Sacha Lord set to back local hospitality again with money behind the bar of Manchester pub
Danny Jones
Local figure Sacha Lord is once again looking to help support Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene once again this spring by putting a total of £2.5k behind the bar of one lucky pub.
Well, let’s be honest, we’re about to be the real lucky ones.
It’s far from the first time that the Night Time Economy Advisor has done this, having previously put sizeable sums towards shared tabs on a few occasions over the last few years.
Lining up his next handout for this coming early May bank holiday (perfect timing), it’s going to be a super and potentially very sloppy Sunday…
Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester.
Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.
Sharing the video above online earlier this week, the 54-year-old simply wrote, “Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester. Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
The message is as straightforward as ever: “Support your local pub.”
Now obviously, the fact that people can reply with their go-to boozers and help influence the decision is one thing – something that has certainly always created an attraction each time he’s done this – but it’s also just a good way of marketing these watering holes to begin with.
Whether or not someone’s favourite public house tucked away in one of the 10 boroughs, or their bar of choice here in Manchester city centre, ends up being selected or not, it’s obviously great publicity having their names plastered on a notable social media account.
This is especially so when you see how much the post itself ends up being reshared and the overall exposure Lord ultimately lends them via creating such a big crowd discussion.
Confirming the chosen pub in a subsequent post, he said: “I asked you to choose a pub you wanted me to support. This Sunday, 4pm, I’ll be turning up at The Ape and Apple on John Dalton St, Manchester, and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
Here’s hoping we get proper beer garden weather over that long weekend – especially with that lovely refurbished outdoor terrace space up on the first floor of the Joseph Holt watering hole.
It’s also worth noting that the further support stunts like this have helped garner support for other regional businesses – in particular, indies that are battling the cost of living crisis and so many other challenges within the sector – has proved crucial for some places to stay open to begin with.
A good example is the Thirsty Korean, who teamed up with the Altrincham-born entrepreneur to cover hundreds of bills back in 2023, and has now been able to expand into a larger venue down the road from their original Chorlton location.
The obstacles facing the hospitality industry remain varied and numerous, but gestures like this can go a long way to helping prop up those who need it.
Which ones are you calling your favourites these days?
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with FREE tacos and frozen margaritas at House of Social
Danny Jones
Manchester, get ready for a fine ol’ springtime fiesta, as city centre food hall, bar, and meeting place, House of Social, is hosting a special Cinco de Mayo celebration with tonnes of free tacos and frozen margaritas up for grabs.
Well, one of their wonderful in-house vendors will be sorting the scran and margs, but either way, you don’t want to miss this one.
Teaming up with local ‘Mexicali’ kitchen, OK Taqueria, the popular First Street neighbourhood hangout will be slinging lip-smacking cocktails, fresh tortillas packed with the good stuff, and serving up good vibes throughout the day.
We will warn you – the freebies will only be available for a limited time, but we still know where we’ll be for this year’s Hispanic holiday.
They made things pretty simple for Cinco de Mayo 2026; as the post read, they’re giving away “FREE build your own tacos from 12-2pm, along with a healthy supply of frozen margs this Tuesday 5 May, quipping: “Is it even a Tuesday without a free taco?”
And yes, if it’s only just clicked, the name does just mean the fifth day of May (honestly, it took us until our late teens to realise this).
Clarifying that the offer is strictly first-come, first-served – and once they run out, they are out – there’s not much else to tell you, really.
Just take their advice: “Get in early, get involved, get FED”.
OK Taqueria is one of five fabulous indie traders currently located inside House of Social (HoS), including the likes of Mughli, Choi Wan, Burger and Beyond, and Dough Religion, who recently gave us that viral and rather large chicken Caesar wrap.
Yes, it is as hefty and delicious as it looks.
But back to OK Taqueria, their fusion of smoky Mexican street snacks and the Californian food truck culture speaks for itself, and we can’t wait to fill our faces come lunchtime on 5 May, 2026.
Whilst you’re here, if you haven’t visited HoS yourself yet, you really need to tick it off your list; with a great selection of food and drinks, multiple floors and a lovely terrace with numerous benches, coverings and even outdoor heaters, it’s perfect for this time of year.
Emily Sergeant -
8th October 2021 
