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.
Beloved play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time set to return to the stage in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
One of the most beloved stage plays of the 21st Century is returning to Manchester.
Based on the celebrated 2003 novel of the same name that captivated readers worldwide, and inspired a groundbreaking National Theatre production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is returning to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages in early 2027 as part of a major UK tour.
The new play is adapted from Mark Haddon’s multi-million-selling novel by acclaimed Playwright Simon Stephens, and will be directed by Ned Bennett.
Taking over the Manchester Opera House stage in March 2027, critics have described the production as ‘inventive, gripping, and moving’.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time combines the intrigue of a whodunnit with a powerful coming-of-age story to create an ‘unforgettable’ theatrical event.
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If you’re not familiar with the plot, the play tells the story of Christopher Boone – a gifted child with a brilliant mind for numbers, but unsettled by the unpredictability of people and everyday life.
When a neighbour’s dog is killed, he finds himself under suspicion, but determined to prove his innocence, Christopher becomes both detective and suspect, drawn into a mystery that grows darker and more complex with every clue he uncovers.
What begins as the search for a culprit soon reveals secrets closer to home, ultimately forcing him to confront truths that will test his courage, his family, and his understanding of trust, independence, and the wider world.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is coming to Manchester / Credit: Supplied
“The journey of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been an extraordinary adventure,” commented Playwright Simon Stephens, as the new adaptation was announced this week.
“It has taken me all over the world. From church halls to enormous auditoria, and from school drama clubs to Wembley Way.
“I am thrilled that Christopher Boone is about to head out again through the United Kingdom. He is a boy defined by his determination and his bravery. This feels like a time when those characteristics are more urgently needed than ever.”
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is coming to Manchester Opera House as part of its UK tour from Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 March 2027, and tickets go on general sale next Friday (21 November) at 10am.
Lightwaves returns to Salford Quays next month with mesmerising FREE outdoor light trail
Emily Sergeant
One of the North West’s most mesmerising light art festivals is returning to Salford once again this festive season.
After having successfully lit up MediaCity like never before in recent years, and going on to become an undeniable winter season highlight in Greater Manchester, Lightwaves Salford is set to return for another year early next month, and will be joining the growing list of light trails already in place across the region and beyond.
Presented by Quays Culture, the popular festival is returning for its twelfth year, and there’ll be 12 illuminated artworks along a 1.5km fully-accessible trail around MediaCity and Salford Quays.
The mesmerising immersive experience will include installations of different scale, all making use of light, sound, and technology in innovative ways.
The themes of the artworks vary from celebrating the nostalgia of a seaside arcade, to highlighting climate change and our connection to the natural world all set to represented, aiming to offer people a sense of optimism and togetherness.
Organisers are calling this year’s festival their ‘most interactive yet’.
“This year the focus is on artworks that visitors can engage with on a more human scale,” explained Rachel Candler from Quays Culture, “so we’re looking forward to seeing playful moments and even some dancing.
Lightwaves returns to Salford Quays next month with a mesmerising FREE outdoor light trail / Credit: Dave Sloan | Liz West
“Year on year, Lightwaves delights audiences of all ages, and we’re sure that 2025 will be no exception.
“For many of our visitors, Lightwaves Salford marks the start of the festive period, getting together with friends or family for a dazzling evening of light art as we head into the winter months.”
Emily Sergeant -
2nd October 2025 
