You’ll soon be able to come face-to-face with one of the most famous dinosaurs of all time at as part of a new exhibition in Manchester.
Just in time for schools across Greater Manchester to break up for October half term, Manchester Museum’s newest exhibition, Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat, will open to the public offering a close encounter with one of the most iconic dinosaurs in history.
Visitors will get the chance to come up close and personal with an incredible fossilised Triceratops skull as part of a family-friendly experience that will reveal how this three-horned giant lived, what it ate, and how it survived battles with predators like the mighty T. rex and more.
The exhibition – which opens later this month – is set to start with an ‘atmospheric glimpse’ into the Cretaceous world that Triceratops once inhabited.
Following this, visitors are invited to dive into the story of Triceratops in more detail, using its anatomy to reveal how it would have lived.
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A range of comparisons with other animals like bighorn sheep, deer, peacocks, and parrots will help visitors understand how traits and behaviours can echo across millions of years.
And then, at the heart of it all is, of course, the 1.9-metre long skull, which serves as a ‘striking connection’ to a lost ecosystem.
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“So many of us have a love of dinosaurs as kids and it’s not hard to see why,” commented Glenn Roadley, who is the Curator of Zoology at Manchester Museum. “But many people grow out of this curiosity as they get older, so we’re hoping this exhibition not only inspires the junior palaeontologists but also reignites that old flame among adults too.
Mancs can soon come face-to-face with one of the most famous dinosaurs of all time / Credit: Chris Bull | Manchester Museum
“Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat is built around a rare Triceratops skull fossil, which is in Manchester for a limited time only, and we hope this incredible specimen will provide a portal into a fascinating lost world while also helping us to better understand the animals we share our planet with today.”
The exhibition will include interactive elements, such as a digital touch replica of the Triceratops skull that will allow visitors to feel its facial features in order to learn more about each element, and there’ll also he a hands-on fossil dig to learn how palaeontologists piece together the past.
Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat officially opens at Manchester Museum on opens this month on 25 October and runs until 22 February 2026 – with the exhibition being free to enter, but tickets still needing to be booked in advance.
‘Manc the Biff’: the Co-op Live crowd made the Clyro boys welcome on debut
Danny Jones
It feels like we’ve been waiting a long time to welcome Biffy Clyro back to Manchester, and they really didn’t disappoint on their Co-op Live debut.
Here’s our review of what was a proper rock show.
After a strong lineup of support acts with The Armed and Soft Play (formerly Slaves) injecting plenty of early energy into the crowds, already knew two things: the Scots wouldn’t disappoint, and a Manc crowd NEVER lets you down.
We knew everyone was on top form from the moment the Kilmarnock icons stepped out on stage under a swathe of blankets to the opener from their latest album, Futique.
Once the curtain was eventually lifted during ‘A Little Love’, which has quickly become one of the most popular singles for some time, you could see the sea of fans below start bouncing.
Rolling into the likes of ‘Hunting Season’ and Only Revolutions classic, ‘The Captain’, those bounces quite quickly turned into a healthy-sized pit, and those up in the stands with us finally got on their feet.
That was maybe our only complaint: we love seeing a seated section pretending they’re in standing from their start, but we get it and each to their own, of course.
In fact, the same goes for the rest of the session players joining them on the road this year.
One thing we weren’t expecting was quite how cool the production levels were going to be. We’ve never been Biffy fans for their creativity when it comes to toying with stage design or lighting rigs, but they threw in some fun effects regardless.
Highlights from the night included ‘Tiny Indoor Fireworks’, ‘Bubbles’, and ‘Black Chandelier’, though we were sad not to hear ‘Victory Over The Sun’, and it was especially gutting that one of our favourite tracks from the new record, ‘True Believer’, didn’t end up on the setlist.
Again, you can’t have anything – we’re just glad we got to be there and see a truly great British rock band proving that they are well and truly an arena-level band.
Lastly, even after all the years and an X-Factor cover trying its hardest to take the credit away from them, ‘Many of Horror’ is still an unbelievable rock ballad, and d’ya know who is an unbelievable rock band? “Biffy. F***ing. Clyroooooo.”
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 19 – 25 January 2026
Emily Sergeant
Another winter week full of things to do is upon us.
Now that January is in full swing, we’re really not short of exciting activities and events to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester – with everything from smash-hit musicals to 360° walk-through projection shows happening this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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LUMINISCENCE
Manchester Cathedral
Monday 19 January – 26 March
LUMINISCENCE / Credit: Supplied
Manchester Cathedral has been lit up with a ‘truly stunning’ new 360° walk-through projection show this winter.
Combining 360° video mapping, new orchestral arrangements of iconic songs, and a narrative story celebrating everything that makes Manchester and its residents so special, visitors are now invited to step into a ‘spellbinding fusion’ of light, sound, and storytelling.
LUMINISCENCE pays tribute to Manchester’s rich cultural heritage through specially arranged orchestral renditions of iconic anthems – with the setlist including songs by Oasis, The Verve, Joy Division, and Elbow, just to name a few.
The award-winning smash-hit musical The Bodyguard is back.
Taking over the iconic Palace Theatre stage in Manchester this week, leading lady Sidonie Smith stars as Rachel Marron, Olivier Award nominee Adam Garcia as Frank Farmer, Sasha Monique as Nicki Marron, and Coronation Street and Hollyoaks stars as Matt Milburn as Sy Spector.
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge, but what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
Looking to escape the elements and have your mind boggled this winter? Sounds like a trip to Museum of Illusions is on the cards then.
It’s time to let your competitive side out – get ready to experience the city’s most unique attraction like never before. Race through the vortex, create the best mirror image, and complete the brain gym the fastest to win the dazzling trophy at the end.
Whether you’re team building with your work lot, or taking your mates for a bit of healthy competition, it’s a great one to have a go at.
A huge gaming event is happening in Manchester at the moment.
With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP at the Science and Industry takes ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming, with everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more.
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Power UP is taking place each weekend only throughout this month, with each ticket including unlimited play all day.
Did you know what Manchester Airport is currently hosting a HUGE January sale with up to 40% off travel essentials?
January is often considered one of the least-favourite months of the year, with many people dreaming of their next holiday, which is why Manchester Airport has decided to launch a big January sale – with up to 40% off everything from fast-track security to parking.
While you won’t be able to bag a couple of quid off flights unfortunately, tourists will be able to save on a range of other services instead.
That’s not all either, as Manchester Airport has also announced that it’s launching seven exciting new routes to destinations right across the world, and you can find out what they are and get booking your next holiday here👇
Fancy making the most of all the January dining deals on offer over these next couple of weeks?
The time has come again for Manchester’s restaurants and bars to slash their prices in a bid to entice customers to keep eating and drinking out all throughout January, and that means hundreds of places are offering up half-price scran, added freebies, or two-for-one offers this month.
There’s loads of offers beyond Manchester city centre too, as suburban gems are getting in on the action in 2026.
So whether you’re looking for a date night for less, an affordable family dinner, or a cheap eat after work with your mates, we’ve got you covered.
Read our massive round-up of January dining deals here.
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NEW OPENING – The Matcha Kyoto
Lincoln Square
The Matcha Kyoto has found a permanent city centre home.
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There’s no denying that this viral matcha spot has gone crazy in Manchester, with pop-ups all over our city, but now, after huge fan demand, they’ve finally opened the doors to their very-own home, and are bringing a little slice of Japan to Lincoln Square.
Step inside their new cafe and you’ll find with traditional Kyoto details, as well as their famous matcha drinks topped with satisfying cream swirls and banana pudding.
They’ve even got a full food menu now, too. Think a range of sandwiches, including egg mayo, teriyaki chicken and black truffle mushroom, and delicious baked treats.
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Winter Beer Fest 2026
Fairfield Social Club
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Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 January
Winter Beer Fest 2026 / Credit: Fairfield Social Club
Manchester’s popular Winter Beer Festival is back this weekend and tickets are only £5.
Running from Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 January at Fairfield Social Club, you can expect there to be plenty of local brews to taste test over the course of the four-day festival – with loads of pop-up brewery bars and more than 30 guest taps too.
Abyss, Brew York, GlassHouse, Pastore, and Vault City are just some of the breweries you can sample tipples from.
Could a trip to the theatre could be on the cards this year?
Greater Manchester has firmly earned itself a spot as a place for world-renowned touring theatre productions to make a stop off at.
This beloved industry has now well and truly bounced-back post pandemic – with the region’s three main theatres, Palace Theatre Manchester, Opera House Manchester, and The Lowry, all having welcomed some absolute show-stopping productions in 2025.
Our region’s theatre events calendar is already jam-packed with award-winning musicals, family-friendly plays, inventive dance productions, and so much more in 2026, so we’ve rounded up some of the best shows to see and grab tickets for this year.
If there’s one thing Manchester is known for across the world, it’s music.
Our region is not only a historic musical hub in and of itself, having been the birthplace of so many legendary famous names, but it’s also a major UK stopping point on many global artists’ tour schedules too, thanks to the city’s various sizes of stage and venues.
This means there’s a jam-packed schedule of gigs happening all throughout 2026 – with something for everyone, no matter your taste in music.
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Read our picks for 10 of the best gigs happening in Manchester this year here.
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What else is there to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2026?
Oh, so much. So so much.
The next 12 months are shaping up to be another monumental year for Manchester, with absolutely loads of huge developments, events, and reopenings on the horizon. Expect major global events like the BRITs and The MOBO Awards, huge openings like The Medlock Hotel at the expanded Etihad Stadium, and the relaunch of venues like Manchester’s popular Cat Cafe, and The Spinners Rest (formerly known as The Shamrock).
We’ve rounded up some of the best things to look forward to throughout the year here.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd October 2025 
