Manchester is packed with lots of interesting and unique things to do; with so much choice, it can sometimes be daunting to find and discover new places to try – especially if you’re a student new to the city and in need of a guide.
Luckily for you, that’s where we come in.
From deals, discounts and discovering new things, to the uni hotspots, cultural cornerstones and much more, we hope to break down everything you need to do while being a student in Manchester in this helpful round-up.
Without further ado, here is your ultimate student guide to Manchester.
A guide to student life in Manchester – everything you need to know
Manchester’s many districts
A small deli in Ancoats.One of many Spinningfields spots.Manchester Pride Festival in 2023.Where else to begin a student guide than with each distinct Manchester neighbourhood? (Credit: The Manc Group/Supplied)
Let’s start this Manchester student guide with areas. Venturing out into a city can be a challenge in itself, but doing it on your own can be even more scary. For starters, this quick breakdown of the Manchester districts should hopefully help you familiarise yourself with this bustling and busy North-West city.
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Spinningfields is first on our list and is called home by many businesses and restaurants, making it the ideal entertainment destination for Mancs and everyone alike. In between both Castlefield and Deansgate, this leisure-based area is packed with fancy cocktail bars, designer brands and fine dining.
Packed with culture, Northern Quarteris one of Manchester’s cultural havens. From vintage clothing shops to record shops, it’s no surprise this trendy neighbourhood has made a name for itself with students. There’s a shop for everything here and you’re never bored with endless shops, activities and plenty of food vendors to fuel your curiosity, it’s hard to leave.
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Right next to the Northern Quarter is Ancoats, an area packed with great food, small businesses and cute little cafes. This is a nice little retreat of creativity, with lots of personality, it really feels like a home away from home. The area even features its very own tourist attraction, two rows of Victorian terraces that have been preserved, also known as Anita Street.
Manchester has a reputation for pioneering change, this is reflected in our next district,Gay Village, an area in the city which runs alongside the Rochdale Canal, hence the name Canal Street. This place is packed with many bars and clubs to dance the night away in and often becomes the start or ending of a great night out.
Manchester music venues
Sounds of the City at Castlefield BowlOutside The Deaf Institute.Views from inside Albert Hall.Credit: Sam Neill/Supplied
Gorilla is an intimate live music venue situated right next to Manchester Oxford Road train station. With a capacity of around 600, this is a great music spot to discover upcoming artists or maybe even get tickets to exclusive performances by some of the bigger names in the industry.
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Over the years, this independent vendor has been attracting the likes of Dua Lipa, Sam Fender and The 1975, who even hosted their very private listening sessions within these four walls in 2023.
Coming in with less than half the capacity of Gorilla, The Deaf Institute – also on Oxford Road (where you’ll be spending lots of your time) – can hold 250 music lovers and has done since 2008. This is the perfect spot for discovering that hidden gem that will more than certainly go on to make it big.
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, Johnny Marr and Florence Welch (yes, of ‘The Machine’) are just a few of the many acts to have graced the stage of this historic venue. As well as brilliant music, make sure to appreciate the decorum of the performance space – it’s quirky and loveable.
The next music venue you can’t miss… no, really you can’t. New Century Hallhas over 1000 LEDs spanning across the ceiling of the performance space and these lights are the ideal atmosphere-setter for any artist or audience member.
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Reopened in 2022, the lineup for this place has always been a treat too, even back in the day when they hosted the likes of The Hollies, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix and more. More recent acts include Snow Patrol, Kelela, The Japanese House and even hip-hop pensioner duo, Pete and Bas.
Ever fancied watching a gig in a chapel? Albert Hall has you sorted. There’s two floors to this historical venue and a fantastic draping lightbulb set-up hanging from the ceiling which artists use to create an atmosphere that can’t be beaten. Sam Smith, Kelis and Tame Impala are just a handful of names that have rocked this stage and the big names don’t stop coming!
The first and only outdoor concert spot on this rundown, Castlefield Bowl. Big names include Jungle, Avril Lavigne, Loyle Carner and everyone’s favourite Geordie Sam Fender, who left the crowd chanting a chorus of ‘woah-oh-ohs’ to ‘Seventeen Going Under’ for what felt like an eternity.
Attracting 8,000 spectators per show, it’s a biggie and a favourite of ours but it’s safe to say that these are just the tip of the iceberg. From the Ritz and the Apollo to the legendary AO Arena and the brand-new state-of-the-art Co-op Live, we do live music better than anyone. That’s just straight facts.
Manchester food and drink
The tasty selection at Zouk.Manchester’s legendary entertainment complex, Printworks.Drinks at Yard and Coop.No guide to Manchester is complete with a section on ‘scran’ – that’s food and you’ll need to know where to get it cheap as a student (Credit: The Manc Group)
Manchester is home to a vast landscape of impressive palates from all different kinds of cuisine. This city has always been bustling with rich food culture but it’s only getting bigger and better.
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Take Zouk for instance: they serve up traditional Indian and Pakistani dishes fit for everyone to enjoy. They offer students a 10% discount between 8am-4pm with their restaurant only being a 2-3 minute walk from both University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, it’s irresistible.
Northern Quarter Chicken restaurantYard and Coopprovides students with a Manchester ‘Yard Card’. This scheme entitles them to 20% off their bill Monday to Thursday and free wings on a Wednesday, with veggie options too! All you have to do is download an e-card to the wallet on your phone.
The Courtyardknows the way to a student’s heart – cheap drinks! Cocktails start at £2.70. These drinks are great fun to order with examples like ‘Minion’, ‘Haribo’, ‘Post Water Malone’ and ‘Bubble Trouble’ just to name a few. This bar also offers a beer and burger deal for £8 which runs from Sunday-Friday for all to enjoy even veggies and began.
We have tonnes of these recommendations, by the way – you just need to keep an eye out on The Manc Eats Instagram, where there are plenty more deals to be found.
Another Northern Quarter delight is Korean-influenced food joint Wolf at the Door, which has an array of food choices and its own happy hour. Also available from Sun-Fri from 3-7pm, glasses of wine and house beers are £3.50 with selected cocktails priced at £6. Sign me up!
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Cafe Marhabaoffers up curries for under £10, a perfect way to enjoy a meal out while trying not to break the bank. This authentic Pakistani cuisine fits a cosy 20 diners but also provides a takeaway service too. Located on Back Piccadilly, it’s right in the heart of Manchester city centre.
There’s also a collection of restaurants, activities and bars to take advantage of at Printworks. All the retailers are easily accessible and compiled into their useful and handy app of the same name. Most places within this venue offer some neat student prices and offers that you should definitely check out.
If Manchester’s foodie scene was a meal, consider this barely even a starter. We hope you have big stomachs…
Manc nightlife – a.k.a. the best in the world
The lively 42’s nightclub in Manchester.Viva La DIva, Main Queen and Owner of BarPop.Inside Satan’s Hollow.
Our city is no stranger to bars and clubs – after all, we were home to the infamous Haçienda which hosted artists like Oasis, New Order, Madonna and even The Stone Roses. Manchester has clubs galore, and many fit any music taste, no matter how niche.
Calling all Indie and Alt music lovers, 42’s (42nd Street) is the place for you! There’s poster upon poster draping these walls and an LED tunnel for you to walk through before you enter the dancefloor and bar area. You normally hear some Arctic Monkeys or Catfish and the Bottlemen blasting through the club, but sometimes you’ll even catch a cheeky ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ by Sophie Ellis-Bextor if you’re lucky.
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FAC251– more commonly known as Factory – caters to all. This club is made up of three different floors, the first being Pop/R&B and Rap, then up two flights of stairs for Indie and another flight for the third room which sounds out house, techno, as well as drum and bass. Factory is a student staple and is a happy medium for friends who all have very different musical interests.
This next spot is made for metalheads, moshers and those who proudly proclaim emo was never ‘just a phase’ is aptly named Satan’s Hollow. This club isn’t just all talk: the interior boasts a fully-fleshed horror theme; there are cut-out cages, a figures and frames and a caricature devil lurking in the corner. Don’t forget their £2 tuesdays where entry costs less than a meal deal… before 12am.
The next two night out destinations are situated in Manchester’s Gay Village and are just one of many bars and clubs located on Canal Street. You really are spoilt for choice.
The Brewers Manchester boasts an impressive light-up dancefloor and hosts special drag events such as ‘Filthy Gorgeous’ every Tuesday, which is also their weekly student night. Bar Popusually has a drag queen DJ on hand to provide some dancefloor fillers that you and your friends can let loose to as well.
Retail and shopping
Afflecks Palace in Manchester.The famous Vinyl Exchange.Fashion at Blue Rinse.
Studying and student life can be hard, so what better way to unwind than some retail therapy? Manchester has plenty of shops to fill that clothes-shaped void. Here are just a few favourites.
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Starting strong with Afflecks, if you don’t find anything to buy here, we’ll be impressed. This three-storey building houses many independent retailers stocking everything from clothes to posters, badges, jewellery and even piercings. There’s a whole selection of cafe’s and food hubs to sit back and relax after carrying all your bags around.
For music aficionados, there are record shops aplenty in Manchester’s NQ; one in particular, Vinyl Exchange, has been stocking rare and most-wanted vinyl records since 1988. Make sure you check out both floors as you might just find that album that you’ve been wanting since forever.
Vintage shops are quite common round here too, with Blue Rinse being one of the largest. Alongside offering some incredible knits, jackets and tees, this second-hand clothing shop also has a kilo sale where shoppers fill a bag with whatever they like for a set price per weight. You’ll never be indecisive again!
Pop Boutiquehas a lot of retro inspired clothing and is only a minute away from Blue Rinse. This is another vintage shop which has everything from clothing to furniture and accessories. Another pro to this retailer is you get to walk around with a cute reusable branded bag for the rest of the day – win-win.
Sometimes it’s good to know that you can come home to a nice comforting cuppa. Bird and Blendoffers just that, in a whole array of flavours you never knew existed. Ever had birthday cake tea? How about candy floss? This tea shop has it all. With an instore brewery too, you can walk out of the shop with a tea to go and one all wrapped up for later. Keep it handy for the mooch around the rest of the shops.
Manchester Arndale is the city centre’s leading shopping centre which boasts a collection of fashion retailers, foodie joints and its own independent market.
This retailing giant hosts an annual fun-filled MCR Student Social which is a day packed with events and discounts which benefit students across Manchester. This year sees the event taking place on Thursday 26 September from 12pm through till 7pm, don’t miss it!
Beyond the city centre – there’s a reason they call it Greater Manchester…
Although there’s needless things to do in Manchester, it can also be good to venture out of the city every once in a while – and you’re never short of your next day out!
Trafford Centremay possibly be one of Manchester’s best shopping centre’s to date. With a long list of retailers and food chains this is a shopper’s paradise. Not to mention the phenomenal architecture which takes you back to the Roman and Greek design style with grand staircases, statues and fascinating fountains.
This next destination is all about the brands. From Calvin Klein to Champion, New Balance to Nike, Cheshire Oaks has got you covered. It may be a longer drive than the last location but the shops certainly make up for it. They even have an enticing student discount ranging from 10% to 20% depending on which brand you settle on. Discounts are always welcome around here!
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As you head towards the outskirts of the city and Greater Manchester, it’s a whole new world and you might find you stumble across a favourite spot like the so-called ‘student central’ areas of Fallowfield, Rusholme, Withington and so on. Don’t worry, we cover those two – for instance:
As ever, Manchester city centre and the nine other boroughs have a lot to offer, so we obviously couldn’t list ever single place on this student guide.
However, this is a great starting point for getting around and can help begin your journey in our jam-packed city centre and the surrounding areas. Being a student is a truly special chapter in life and you’ve picked a wonderful place to start it.
Go on now, off you pop! Get enjoying the best city in the world.
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Oh, and if you still need to order any essentials for uni, it’s worth us reminding you of those little tips like this to make things even that tiny bit easier.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 13 – 19 July 2026
Emily Sergeant
School’s out for summer.
That’s right, the school summer holidays arrive at the end of this week, and that means there are, of course, loads of things happening across Greater Manchester to be getting up to these next six weeks. If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do, no worries, as 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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Looking for somewhere to watch the World Cup in Greater Manchester?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently well underway, and England are in the semi finals.
But if you didn’t grab tickets to catch a game in person over in North America or Mexico, and you don’t fancy sitting at home watching on your own, then thankfully, our region is filled with places where you can catch all the action surrounded by hundreds of other football fans.
FIFA World Cup 2026 / Credit: Road to Victory
You’re absolutely spoiled for choice this year, as there’s plenty of places in Manchester city centre and beyond screening all the games.
Will England bring football home though? Only time will tell.
Check out our round-up list of all the best places to watch the World Cup in Greater Manchester here👇
Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.
Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme has now launched – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.
Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.
Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.
World Cup Playground / Credit: Sophia J Carey (Supplied)
A massive World Cup ‘playground’ has now opened in Greater Manchester.
MediaCity has announced its biggest programme of events to date to celebrate, from a baller league-style football pitch, to big name creator takeovers, and much more – but at the heart of all the action is the new World Cup ‘playground’, where football fans will be able to play five-a-side on a bespoke pitch, while watching matches on giant screens.
As the home of the BBC’s World Cup coverage, MediaCity says it’s ‘going big’ this summer, and that includes bringing some of the UK’s biggest Gen Z creators down for full takeovers and tournaments, and even getting the BBC pundits involved in the action too.
Thrill seekers, this one’s for you – as Zip World Manchester has launched its new Forest Tubing experience, and it’s bringing the UK’s longest outdoor tubing slide is coming to Heaton Park.
The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure gives visitors the chance to soar along two slides, winding through woodland at one of the largest parks in the North West.
Suitable for children aged four and above, visitors can book an hour-long session – with unlimited rides during that time slot – and either ride solo, or share the experience with fellow adventurers.
National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails
North West
Monday 13 July – onwards
National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails / Credit: James Dobson | Annapurna Mellor
National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up for an exclusive trading card game and immersive trail.
The partnership is set to bring together the places the National Trust cares for and Pokémon’s spirit of play and discovery.
Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are going to be running throughout summer at 14 National Trust places nationwide, combining ‘imaginative play’ with ‘gentle physical activity’ inspired by Mega Evolution Pokémon.
Find out where to get involved and book tickets here.
Manchester’s biggest exhibition of local artists is back again for the summer.
Taking place every two years, Manchester Open is a celebration of local talent, showcasing the work of 420 artists inside the gallery space over at HOME. The exhibition includes work from artists in all media formats who have been selected from each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, ranging in age from four to 80 years old.
Oh, and the whole thing is completely free to visit. Find out more about the return of this incredible exhibition here.
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Fancy a wholesome summer activity?
It’s strawberry season, and Kenyon Hall Farm has officially opened up its strawberry fields (plus plenty of other pick-your-own produce) for the season for you to frolic amongst, with loads of summer treats in its cafe and award-winning farm shop too.
Strawberries have been growing at Kenyon Hall Farm for nearly 50 years now, and it’s proven as popular ever since.
Did you know you can visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer?
For the past three years running now, Chester Zoo has officially been named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews, and now this summer, you’ll get to see exactly what makes it such a special place worth visiting for a cut price, as £10 tickets are now available to book for a limited time only.
With the offer only applicable to afternoons this summer, Afternoon Tickets allow entry to Chester Zoo from 2pm onwards – with the last entry being one-hour before it closes.
You can visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer / Credit: Chester Zoo
Without this offer, standard admission tickets to Chester Zoo usually cost up to £38 for adults, £37 for students, and £28 for children, all including a 10% donation to the zoo’s conservation efforts, so it really is worth making the most of these limited-time £10 tickets while you can.
Find out more and book your tickets in advance here.
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Or did you know that Manchester’s big wheel is returning to the city centre this summer?
Well… sort of.
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Celebrating the launch of its new Cloud Frappuccino blended drinks range, Starbucks’ Summer in the Clouds arrives in Exchange Square this Friday and Saturday (24 and 25 July), inviting people to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy panoramic views of the city below from a big Ferris wheel.
Summer in the Clouds / Credit: Cédric Dhaenens (via Unsplash) | Starbucks
The two-day takeover will give customers the chance to unlock a ride on the big wheel with the purchase of any Grande or Venti iced drink from participating Manchester city centre Starbucks stores.
You can also expect prizes, live music, and a free photobooth with digital and printed photos.
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme and it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with these next six weeks.
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser.
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Find out more and book tickets for your visit here.
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Day Out With Thomas: Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour
East Lancashire Railway
Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 July
Day Out With Thomas / Credit: ELR
Everyone’s favourite little blue engine has once again made a long-awaited return to Greater Manchester for the summer.
The beloved Day Out With Thomas experience is said to be ‘a train ride like no other’, and this year there’s an exciting rock and roll theme.
Families will have the chance to hop onboard the East Lancashire Railway’s replica of the cult-classic blue train character when he returns this weekend for a 45-minute trip through the Greater Manchester countryside.
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in June, so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new in July, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too.
Featured Image – Cédric Dhaenens (via Unsplash) | Science Museum Group | Supplied
The Guides
Beaches close to Manchester that you don’t need to drive for hours to reach
Danny Jones
Now, when we’re lucky enough for the sun to hit big and hard in and around the North West, it’s common for people to start searching ‘beaches close to Manchester’, and that’s exactly why we’re here – you’re welcome.
Ian Brown of The Stone Roses famously said, “Manchester has everything but a beach”, and while he’s technically right, we are lucky enough to be close to a fair few.
Whether it’s down the other end of the Mersey, over near our friends in Yorkshire, or up in nearby Cumbria, you can get to plenty of beaches and/or similar settings that are roughly 90 minutes or so from Greater Manchester.
Let’s not waste one more single second of sunbathing time, shall we?
The top 10 best beaches near Manchester
1. Urmston Beach – Trafford
First up, we’re going with the only kind of beach in the 10 boroughs that comes to mind: Urmston Beach, not far from the nearby Meadows, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Sale and other parts of Trafford and the surrounding areas.
It may only be a little one and more of a stony/gravely affair as opposed to the boundless white Belize (let’s be reasonable now), but it’s still a beloved local attraction perfect for a day out with family, friends, or if you just need some time to yourself near the water with a good book.
— Monica NAUGHTON Crimmins (@MonicaCrimmins) April 18, 2021
2. Gaddings Dam – Todmorden
Heading over to West Yorkshire now and the town of Todmorden in Calderdale, Gaddings Dam is a surprisingly intimate slice of sand next to a Victorian reservoir, with the embankment serving as an ideal spot for a mini beach day.
Less than an hour away by car – and not too awkward to get to by train, either – it still feels like a bit of a hidden gem unless you’re from closer to the region yourself, where plenty of people flock over the year; it’s also dubbed ‘Britain’s highest beach’, but we will warn you that it’s fairly remote with no real facilities.
The first of a few from our Northwestern cousins and football rivals down the river, many of you already know and love Formby Beach, but for anyone who hasn’t tried it before, it’s well worth the short journey up the M62.
You can also get there by rail as fast as an hour and 20 minutes if you time the right service, and once you’re there, you’ll see why so many make a regular pilgrimage to see the sand dunes and pinewoods frequented by red squirrels. Great parking and dog-friendly – no-brainer.
4. Ainsdale Beach – Southport
Not too far from Formby and further along the same Sefton coast, a criminally unsung alternative is Ainsdale Beach near Southport, which boasts great facilities and family-friendly activities such as swimming, watersports and the nearby nature reserve.
It’s another one that’s super easy and affordable to get to on public transport; they even hold a Blue Flag award for top-notch conditions when it comes to water, safety, environmental education, conservation and all-round coastal management.
Next on the list from our specific ‘Mer-seaside’ selection (you can have that one for free) is arguably the other best-known one besides Formby: Crosby.
Just five miles from central Liverpool, lots of people visit not only for the sands but also for laid-back leisure at The Bus Yard Bar, and striking public open-access installations like Sir Anthony Gormley’s Another Place, known colloquially as the ‘Iron Men’. Well worth seeing for yourself if you haven’t before.
Moving over to West Kirby on the Wirral, this picturesque part of the peninsula promises more than 300 metres of reasonably soft beaches, more Liverpudlian sand dunes and its stunning Marine Lake.
One of the best things to do here is wait for low tide when you can walk out to the Hilbre Islands nearby – but please, as always, be safe and responsible whenever you’re doing anything like this.
Also in roughly the same vicinity – though this one is technically in the town of Wallasey within the wider Wirral borough – New Brighton Beach certainly does a decent job of living up to the name.
It’s renowned for various landmarks including the recognisable lighthouse, shops and street art in and around the Victoria Quarter and along the promenade, not to mention the Floral Pavilion, Fort Perch Rock, ‘The Mermaid Trail’, restaurants, bars and MUCH more. There’s even a pirate, yes, pirate ship.
You can really make a full weekend out of this one.
A similarly Victorian-era seafront setup can be found in the affluent area of Lytham, known not only for its popular music festival but also for golf courses, a historic Georgian Hall and, of course, the beach.
The sands themselves are almost as luxurious as the area itself, and it’s probably one of the most ‘golden’ surfaces you’ll find in this part of the world – perfect for a game of bat and ball. With buses, trains and driving routes all clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an ideal option for a day out.
Our penultimate pick is – surprise, surprise – the iconic seaside town and home of the Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, where we’ve enjoyed so many memories throughout our childhoods, adolescence and well into adulthood, too.
Whether you just want really good fish and chips, a stick of rock, foot-long sausage butties on sub rolls, a go on the Grand National ride, or actually want to walk down from the seaside and onto the beach itself, it may never have become the ‘Las Vegas of the North’, but there’s still plenty to entertain you.
For instance, they’ve got a brand new live music festival that should draw extra crowds moving forward.
Last but not least, it’s definitely more of a lakeshore than a traditional beach, but you’ll still see plenty of people treating it like the latter, especially during a heatwave.
You don’t need to be told how lovely it is to spend time travelling up in the Lakes, but if you’d rather a scenic trip up to Cumbria to enjoy the stunning vistas whilst lying on your back, soaking in the rays and maybe dipping your toes in a few slightly smaller bodies of water, this tourist hotspot is a great choice.
There’s a resident parkrun event, watersports and boat hire available, an aquarium close-by and plenty of other stuff to do besides pretend you’re on a little holiday.
Here’s hoping we’ve given you a few decent suggestions when it comes to beaches near Greater Manchester, and if we’ve missed any off the list, please do let us know in the comments.
We’re sure you will, as always.
Meanwhile, if you’re happy to stay within the region but still fancy a taste of waterside leisure sometime soon, how do you fancy hopping in a canoe?…