The coronavirus outbreak has caused many countries and states around the world to initiate a lockdown. But with the vaccine being administered to people gradually, we expect everything to go back to normal sooner or later.
When everything does return to normal, there are surely some things you will want to tick off your bucket list. This article will discuss a list of things you can do in the Manchester area post lockdown.
Take In All The Countryside of Manchester
North of the city of Manchester, you will find nothing less than 500 sq mi of electrifying countryside that you can explore once the lockdown is over. From historical waterways to picturesque towns, there is plenty of attraction in the city’s countryside.
For example, in Wigan, there is the Country Park and Haigh Hall that has canal towpaths and up to 40 miles of woodland trails. Another highlight in the countryside is the elegant Dovestone Reservoir. It takes around an hour to walk around, and you’ll also see the scenic Pennine village of Saddleworth.
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Visit Chinatown
Another interesting place worth visiting in Manchester city after the lockdown is Chinatown. It is the second-largest in the UK, and several things make the place stand out. There are numerous quality restaurants with a wide range of great meals that will treat your tastebuds to delight.
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The annual Chinese New Year festival, held in February, is also one of the major highlights in Chinatown. It features the dancing dragon famous parade as well as other notable events.
If you love gambling on casino games, you’ll also find a couple of top-class land-based casinos in Chinatown where you can play games like Blackjack and Roulette. However, if you prefer playing online, Platin Casino live UK is a good choice. If you’d like to find out more, check out goldenslot.
Head Out To A Beer Garden
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If you love nature and enjoy drinking beer, a visit to a beer garden in Manchester should be on your list of things to do post lockdown. There are a couple of amazing beer gardens in the city with spectacular views.
While indoor hospitality is gradually coming back up and running, many people will undoubtedly prefer hanging out outdoors, and a beer garden is a great choice for this. It will give you a chance to soak in some vitamin D while also enjoying a few pints.
Some of the notable beer gardens in the city include White Hart in Lydgate, Eagle and Child in Ramsbottom and Worsley Old Hall in Worsley.
Conclusion
Although the coronavirus outbreak has forced many cities into lockdown, we are hopeful that everything will return to normal soon. If you’re in Manchester city or planning to visit, we’ve highlighted a few things you can consider doing post lockdown. You can explore the countryside, where you can see picturesque towns, waterways and other spots of attraction.
Besides that, you can visit Chinatown where you can enjoy great meals at the restaurants. You can also head out to a beer garden and enjoy some nice views as you drink some pints of beer. Whatever you decide to do after the lockdown, make sure you have some fun.
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Altrincham named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2026 in The Sunday Times’ annual ranking
Emily Sergeant
A popular Greater Manchester town has been named among the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times in its annual ranking.
That’s right… it’s that time of year, once again.
The Sunday Times is known for pulling together a list of what it considers to be the most sought-after places to live in the UK every year, and 2026’s ranking has officially been published today – with dozens of locations across the country making up the comprehensive guide, and six of those coveted locations being right here in the North West.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all locations on the list, and assessed factors such as schools, transport, culture, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high streets, and much more to devise the always-talked-about annual ranking.
Macclesfield in Cheshire, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Lancaster in Lancashire, and Aigburth in Liverpool are just some of the North West areas named by the publication in the 2026 list.
Altrincham has been named one of the best places to live in the UK / Credit: The Manc Group
A spotlight has also been shone on two Greater Manchester towns, and one of two has even been given the regional North West title… but which are they?
Where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2026, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester’s very-own Altrincham.
The publication described the Trafford town as ‘classy, cool and effortlessly comfortable’.
“Altrincham is a top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands, and now it’s flying even higher,” The Sunday Times said.
The fact that co-working has now arrived on the high street thanks to the conversion of the old Rackhams department store, and that the town’s cultural and creative ‘cachet’ is also on the rise, have been highlighted as reasons as to why Altrincham has been chosen as the North West’s winner, as well its newly-flourishing fitness scene.
Of course, the town has also been praised for its transport links into Manchester city centre and across the region, as well as it being a great place for families thanks to the excellent local schools on offer.
Didsbury was the other Greater Manchester town chosen to represent the best of the North West – with the Manchester suburb described as being ‘stylish, solid, safe, and, yes, a little bit smug in parts… but that’s okay’.
You can read the full Altrincham feature here, and see where else The Sunday Times included in its list for 2026 here.
Featured Image – Geograph
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11 arrested and £70k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
11 people have been arrested, as well as a large amount of cash and drugs seized, during early-morning raids across Greater Manchester.
The raids took place during the early hours of the morning yesterday (Thursday 19 March 2026), where Greater Manchester Police (GMP) successfully executed eight warrants simultaneously across Tameside, Oldham, and Rochdale to tackle a ‘suspected criminal network’ involved in the distribution of class A drugs and firearms.
Officers from Tameside Programme Challenger team, the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), and GMP’s Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) were deployed to each of the addresses.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and preparation, a total of 11 people – each aged between 24 and 77 – were arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences during the raids.
Eight men and three women were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, being part of an organised crime group, possession with intent to supply, money laundering, and possession of an offensive weapon.
They all remain in police custody for questioning at this time, GMP confirmed.
During searches of the addresses, various class A, B and C drugs – including crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and nitrous oxide – were seized, while further recoveries of £70,000 in cash, a zombie knife, a BB gun, and four vehicles were also made at the same time.
Speaking following the success of the raids yesterday, Chief Superintendent Shan Nasim, District Commander for Tameside, said: “[This] operation has been a powerful example of our continued, determined effort to dismantle organised crime in our district and Greater Manchester.
“We have 11 people in custody being questioned by our investigation teams in relation to an organised crime group (OCG) that have been causing widespread harm across our communities.
“This action caused significant disruption of an organised crime group (OCG) and has prevented drugs and weapons from reaching the streets, as well as the associated harms that come hand in hand with organised crime.
“Organised criminals exploit vulnerable people and blight our communities; we will take robust action to catch offenders, keep our communities safe, and protect vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.”
The Manc -
21st July 2021 
