History has been made, as all buses in Greater Manchester are now back running under local control this week.
It’s been a long time coming, but in a move that has been described as “heralding in a new era” of public transport and set to “transform” how people get around the region, all bus services in Greater Manchester are under local control and are accountable to the people and businesses within our communities.
This makes Greater Manchester the first area in the UK to do this in 40 years.
History made! 🐝🚌
Hear from some of the people who helped make it happen, as all Greater Manchester’s buses are back under local control.#BeeNetworkpic.twitter.com/PKPGXSGYRV
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), our region has taken several significant steps to reverse decades-long decline and deliver improved services, better buses, and more affordable fares in recent years.
This includes making changes to around 75 different routes to provide earlier, later, more frequent, and better-connected services, improving punctuality of services to be consistently 80% of above, introducing hundreds of new, greener and more-accessible buses, and reducing the average ticket costs by around 15%.
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TfGM says Greater Manchester “setting the blueprint for others to follow”.
The completion of bus franchising marks the end of the first phase of the Bee Network, while the next step will be to bring eight priority train lines under public control by 2028, as well as deliver the first new stations in more than 20 years and significant upgrades to make more stations accessible.
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Despite all of the challenges – legal and meteorological – we did it!
After 40 years of damaging deregulation, Greater Manchester has this morning successfully retaken control of the whole of its bus network. 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/nlrGHZWQ6O
“This is a historic moment for Greater Manchester,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“We are proud to be the first area in England to complete the re-regulation of buses and to have done it on time and on budget.
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“From today, every community in Greater Manchester will be served by cheaper, cleaner and greener buses, and run in a way which puts people before profit. We are now ready to help other areas looking to follow suit and improve their bus services after decades of decline.
“Whilst this is a nationally significant moment that we can all celebrate, it’s by no means job done.
“We’ll have an unrelenting focus this year on delivering a truly integrated, London-style transport system across bus, tram and train – the next chapter of the Bee Network’s story.”
Featured Image – TfGM
Boroughs
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 23 February – 1 March 2026
Emily Sergeant
February is only a short month, and it’s time to wave it goodbye at the end of this week.
While this month may be drawing to a close, as spring edges closer, we’re really not short of exciting events and activities to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester this week – with everything from 360° walk-through projection shows to world-premiere science exhibitions, and so much more 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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BRITs Fringe
Manchester City Centre
Monday 23 February – Sunday 1 March
BRITs Fringe 2026 / Credit: BRITs (via Supplied)
BRITs Fringe is a week-long programme in the lead-up to The BRIT Awards.
Under the banner ‘Manchester Seen and Heard’, BRITs Fringe harnesses The BRIT Awards’ global platform to amplify grassroots creativity, elevate local voices, and connect emerging talent with the wider music industry.
From a curated art trail championing North West artists, to a bespoke exhibition showcasing iconic music artwork, there’s so much happening, and this calendar of activity will transform the city into a cultural playground.
Find out everything happening for BRITs Fringe 2026 this week here.
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Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 23 February – onwards
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: Science Museum Group | BBC
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos has made its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum, and is inviting visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System.
Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition encouraging visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition propels families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Did someone say £10 pie? The Festival of Pie is back at The Black Friar is Salford, and this is your last week to make the most of it.
In case you didn’t know, that means delicious handmade pies are yours for a bargain price
Pick from the classic meat and potato, or opt for something a little different like garlic, chicken and leek, mushroom keema and onion bhaji, and our personal favourite, the truffle dauphinoise. Plus, you can add sides like mash and peas for just £3.
While Manchester Piccadilly is closed for now, the concourse space has been transformed into art gallery celebrating over three decades of iconic British – and, of course, Manchester – music design.
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‘A Microdot Design’ by Brian Cannon is now open, showcasing artwork created for some of the most influential names in British music – including the likes of The Verve, Cast, Inspiral Carpets, Super Furry Animals, and a little-known Manchester band by the name of Oasis (ever heard of them?)
The exhibition is completely free to visit, and runs up until Sunday 1 March, all ahead of The BRITs landing in our city for the first time in its history this weekend.
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LUMINISCENCE
Manchester Cathedral
Monday 23 February – 26 March
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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.
L.S. Lowry’s iconic masterpiece ‘Going to the Match’ is being brought to life right before your eyes in this brand-new exhibition now open at The Lowry.
LOWRY 360 is an immersive experience forming part of the legendary The Lowry theatre’s 25th anniversary programme, and it means that, for the first time ever, you can see one of Manchester’s most famous paintings by, arguably, the city’s most famous artist come to life through sight and sound.
Better yet, after you’ve immersed yourself in this incredible experience, then you can then see the actual painting in the full gallery – Modern Life: The LS Lowry Exhibition.
2008 called, it wants its Topshop back… and it’s got it.
If you’re old enough to remember the struggle of contorting yourself into a pair of Joni jeans, then you’re going to want to pay attention to this news… the iconic, irreplaceable Topshop is finally back in our lives, having officially launched 32 physical retail spaces last week.
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The closure of Topshop and Topman stores back in 2021 left a gaping hole on British high streets, but the brand is now back in-person.
You can visit Topshop inside John Lewis stores across the country, including here at the Trafford Centre, and find out more about this exciting return here.
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Ever fancied learning to ski as an adult?
Ski season is officially here, the Winter Olympics have been in full swing for the past couple of weeks, and people are jetting off to the slopes left, right, and centre. But if you’ve never been skiing before, and you’re heading on your first ski holiday, luckily you can learn the ropes here at Manchester’s very-own Snow Centre first.
Over a two-hour beginner lesson here, you can learn everything from how to get your skis on, to snow ploughing… and even getting back up again after falling over.
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Our Amy’s currently on her first-ever ski holiday this week, so we took her for her initial lesson👇
Looking to escape the elements and have your mind boggled this half term? Sounds like a trip to Museum of Illusions is on the cards then.
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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.
You can now get a taste of Mexico, Japan, Nashville, Naples, and Greece, all under one roof and without even boarding a flight, as Manchester Airport has now opened up a brand new foodie hub in Terminal 2.
Great Northern Market is a new food hall with six kitchens, plus a kiosk from our beloved Gooey.
Whether it’s a souvlaki and an airport pint, or breakfast butties and a smoothie, your pre-flight scran has just taken off to a new league.
Manchester Board Game Festival 2026 / Credit: MBGF (via Facebook)
Manchester Board Game Festival is set to kick off 2026 in style, returning for the first festival of the year with a full weekend of board games, role-playing games, indie traders, and community-led fun in the heart of the city.
The festival features a huge board game library, giving fans access to hundreds of games – with ‘Library Bees’ on-hand to help people find games, learn the rules, or jump into sessions with other players.
There’ll also be bookable sessions, like RPGs and Blood on The Clocktower, and seminars to take part in over the three-day event.
Yes, that’s right – for the first time in its illustrious 48-year history, British music’s most prestigious awards show will be leaving the capital London and heading up to the capital of the North, set to electrify Manchester’s newest – and Europe’s biggest – live entertainment arena, Co-op Live, this weekend.
It’s part of a two-year deal being described as a ‘bold new chapter’ for the legendary event, and there’s an impressive roster of artists lined up to perform too – like Harry Styles, Rosalia, Olivia Dean, and more.
While you won’t be able to get tickets to go and watch the show in-person, The BRITs will be broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX this Saturday (28 February) from 11am.
The full list of nominees can be found here, performers can be found here, and you can see all the other BRITs events here.
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Featured Image – MBGF | The Manc Group | BRITs
Boroughs
Two brothers from Oldham are beating out the likes of Taylor Swift in the iTunes charts
Danny Jones
A pair of brothers from Oldham who simply go by Two Connors are now holding on to the top spot in one of the biggest iTunes charts, and they’re beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and many more.
Stuff your global music stars, we’ll back a duo from Greater Manchester all day long.
Danny and Callum Connor, a couple of blokes from Oldham in their mid-30s, are currently number one in the iTunes singles charts with their latest song, ‘Familiar Faces’, but this isn’t the first time they’ve gone big with a release online.
Carving out their own little corner not only in the old Lancashire borough but a small pocket in the UK’s wider grime, drill, rap and hip-hop scene, they’ve only gotten bigger over the last 18 months or so.
After releasing their first two tracks back in 2024, Callum and Danny have been on a very gradual rise, but they quickly gained a cult local following in and around Oldham.
Writing about life and around the area, with high personal and anecdotal lyrics that feel like niche references and in-jokes specifically for‘Roughyed’ residents – it’s not just music by them but FOR them.
In addition to recording their own unique cover of ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran, they also went fairly viral for releasing a music video featuring crowds of local children.
Putting their own chant-based chorus slant on ‘Hi Ho, Hi Ho, “It’s off to Work We Go”‘, written by Mitch Miller and The Sandpipers (yes, as in the main theme from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), it was a fairly radio-friendly tune that was easy for kids and more to sing along with.
With various other natives getting involved in the music video, joining them on the town centre streets and lip-syncing the lyrics, it was circulated online all over Britain and beyond.
You can watch it in full down below.
Fast forward to February 2026, and not only have they grown their following across the region, but even further afield now, as it turns out; currently sitting ahead of ‘Opalite’ from worldwide smash-hit album, The Life of a Showgirl, who needs big label backing, eh?
Bringing smiles to even more Greater Mancs by quite literally shining the spotlight on ‘Familiar Faces’ and punters from nearby pubs such as The Up Stepps Inn and former nightclub Sruples, it is a real tribute to their homeland.
Only time will tell how long they’ll cling to that iTunes top spot, but with nearly 73,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and counting, they might be one of the biggest music names to come out of OL in some time.
In other big news over in Oldham, on the sporting side of things, RLFC are staring down yet more uncertainty, with local hero Bill Quinn also wrapping up his time at the club.
Emily Sergeant -
6th January 2025 
