A new permanent exhibition is being unveiled at the Pankhurst Centre when the venue finally reopens in just a few weeks’ time.
Having been temporarily closed since the first lockdown was announced all the way back in March 2020, the museum and birthplace of the Suffragette movement will begin to welcome the Greater Manchester public back through its doors from Thursday 29 July for “a brand new visitor experience”.
Local community groups will be given a four-week preview of the new exhibition before it opens to the wider public.
At Home with the Pankhurst Family will explore the lives of the Pankhurst family in a participatory and immersive way, which includes the chance to visit the parlour where Emmeline Pankhurst called the first meeting of what would come to be known as the suffragette movement.
Funded by AIM Biffa Award History Makers as part of the Landfill Communities Fund, the new exhibition will completely transform the small Nelson Street-based museum.
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The family’s experiences will be set within the context of historical events and viewpoints, exploring how the campaign to achieve ‘Votes for Women’ reached its pinnacle.
Since 1987, The Pankhurst Centre has acted as the hub for what would become one of history’s most iconic political movements / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
It is hoped that the re-imagination of the museum for this new permanent exhibition will be the start of a journey that will ultimately lead to the restoration of 60 and 62 Nelson Street – the location that has acted as the hub for what would become one of history’s most iconic political movements since it opened 1987.
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Speaking ahead of the museum’s opening, Gail Heath – CEO of the Pankhurst Trust – said: “The new permanent exhibition is visceral, powerful and moving and we are so looking forward to welcoming you all back into the museum to share the achievements of our suffragette sisters, past and present”.
Ruth Colton – Heritage Manager at the Pankhurst Centre – adds: “The Pankhurst Centre’s reopening begins with us giving back to grassroots community groups who play such an important role in people’s lives, and have particularly provided immense support over the last 12 months.
“We want these groups to be able to enjoy a relaxed and rewarding experience with us during our first few weeks of opening.
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“Then, from 29 August we’ll be open to all visitors, who we are excited to see discover the story of the Pankhurst family and the legacy of these change makers.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtM3gCB2Se/
Public bookings for the Pankhurst Centre will open on Thursday 29 July 2021 for slots from Sunday 29 August.
Entry will be free, with a suggested donation of £5.
Featured Image – Pankhurst Trust
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 24 – 30 November 2025
Emily Sergeant
Can you believe November is coming to an end? Once this week’s out, it’ll be less than a month to go until Christmas.
Greater Manchester is looking as festive as ever now, as there’s now dozens of light trails, and Christmas events to be getting involved with, not to mention the iconic Manchester Christmas Markets have kicked off for 2025 too, so there’s loads to do throughout our region 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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Manchester Christmas Markets 2025
Manchester City Centre
Monday 24 November – onwards
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s that time of year once again… Manchester Christmas Markets are here for 2025.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites now lining the streets of our city this year.
Visitors can tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 here, and check out the full round-up of drinks prices from all the traders here.
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Northern Lights
Heaton Park
Monday 24 November – 31 December
Northern Lights / Credit: Supplied
Heaton Park has been transformed into a glowing world of wonder, as one of the UK’s most celebrated festive light trails has made its Manchester debut.
Already a hit in other major northern cities such as Leeds and Newcastle, Northern Lights – the acclaimed light trail from the team behind established music festivals Kendal Calling and Bluedot – has descended on our city’s largest park, bringing its cinematic visuals, choreographed soundscapes, and festive atmosphere along with it.
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
A magical illuminated trail has made it returns to the historic Dunham Massey, filling the grounds with twinkling lights and dazzling installations.
Christmas at Dunham Massey has become one of the North West’s most popular festive light trails, created by award-winning light trail producers, and for 2025, there’s a whole host of brand-new installations to see.
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Visitors will get to walk through multicoloured landscapes of laser beams, while a projection on the facade of the historic house at Dunham Massey will narrate festive stories.
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2025, ready for families, friends, and festive fun seekers to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas, Skate Manchester is festive staple in Cathedral Gardens.
Skaters can expect to glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink for another year.
This year, there’s also a giant turbine by Octopus Energy that’s partially-powering the rink too, and you can skate around it while enjoying the ski scene in the globe.
The Grotto has returned to the Trafford Centre for the festive season.
This year, the shopping centre is taking things up a notch too, as The Grotto is described as being a ‘joyful’ and ‘interactive’ adventure where you’ll become part of a magical mission – saving Christmas cheer.
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To make the experience accessible to all, specially-tailored Whispering Winter sessions with softer lighting, quieter music, and fewer visitors will create a calm and inclusive environment for every child to enjoy the magic of Christmas.
Yuletide at Tatton Park / Credit: Tatton Park / Emma Croman
One of winter’s top events, Yuletide, has returned to Tatton Park’s Gardens.
The magical winter adventure has, once again, brough a glittering light trail and theatrical, immersive performance to the famous beauty spot.
This unique fusion of Christmas light trail and winter family festival is now in its third year, and will debut brand-new features and performances for 2025. As visitors wander the Yuletide event, they’ll be treated to everything from sparkling light installations to impressive fire juggling shows.
Land of Lights at Gulliver’s World / Credit: The Manc Group
The magical Land of Lights has returned to Gulliver’s World once again.
After proving to be a huge success the past two years, the one-mile trail showcases a huge array of lanterns and displays, creating a wondrous, wild, and magical atmosphere that’s suitable for all ages, and this year, there’s even some new additions.
Ready to skate around Cheshire Oaks this Christmas?
That’s right, back by popular demand, the Winter Village is officially open at Cheshire Oaks for another year, and the newest addition this season is the HUGE ice rink.
You can skate inside under twinkling lights, or head outside and whizz around the lit-up oak tree, with brilliant views of the big wheel – the perfect photo opportunity. Whether you’re a first-timer, or a seasoned pro, everyone is welcome on the ice.
There’s a brand-new pie shop in Manchester, bringing top-quality pie barms and cans of retro pop to your lunch hour.
V. Goode Pies – ran by some of the North’s top hospitality heads – is doing classic northern pies baked in individual trays, which you can have fully dipped in gravy, as a Wigan kebab, or on a tray as a pie dinner with mash and mushy peas.
Expect classics like cheese and onion, and meat and potato, but also less common creations like a lasagne pie and a breakfast pie too.
Christmas has taken over Freight Island, as Winter Island and Twilight Tales open for the festive season.
Twilight Tales is a brand-new outdoor immersive light and story experience, with interactive installations, marshmallow toasting, a Moth Drinks bar, and more.
While Winter Island has returned for another year, bringing you the most delicious festive comfort food from traders like Nell’s, Ornella’s Kitchen, the all-new V. Goode Pies, and Oh My Cheesecake to finsih things off and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Believe! The Polar Express Experience has landed in Manchester.
Having taken over Victoria Warehouse, this is an immersive walk-through experience, inspired by the timeless Christmas classic. You’ll be taken through the story in its entirety, stepping into the Polar Express carriage as a passenger and arriving to a festive Northern Lights display at your final destination – the North Pole, of course.
Photo opportunities are available throughout the experience too… yep, even with the big guy himself, so make sure to get snapping.
Our piggy little prayers have been answered – you can finally get your hands on proper British pies at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
You may know that Great North Pie Co have been a staple at the Markets for years, but it’s always been with pies you take home to heat for your tea… not this time though, as this year they’ve got an actual pie and mash bar.
They’re currently serving up their award-winning bakes on a bed of fluffy mashed potato, with lashings of steaming hot onion gravy.
Everybody’s favourite pasta from a cheese wheel is back this year.
Pasta Claus is the Italian themed pop-up serving all the classics. We’re talking the OG carbonara, cacio e pepe, and a pesto burrata number – the options are endless. There’s even thick cut slices of Lasagne too, with layers of beef ragù, bèchamel sauce, and lashings of parm.
If you’re dreaming of a cheesy Christmas, get this one added to your list.
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Is piping hot goulash in a bread bowl more up your street?
When we’re after comfort food, nothing hits the spot quite like a hearty stew or a warm bowl of roasties, right?
Enter Roasties Haus, brought to you by the team behind Drip Haus. We’re talking fluffy roasted tatties piled high with all the festive trimmings, and of course, a big tub of gravy to pour, dip, and devour every last bite.
But wait, they’re not stopping there. These legends are also serving Austrian goulash in a bread bowl, because nothing screams comfort and warmth like a hearty, loaded soup and crusty bread.
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Is your sweet tooth craving tiramisu? Ours certainly is.
These gorgeous little boxes of tiramisu have been going viral on TikTok, so we made a beeline to the Manchester Christmas Markets to grab one for ourselves.
Misu Tiramisu have brought nine different flavours of their handcrafted Italian desserts to Piccadilly Gardens.
You can tuck into flavours including classic, pistachio and lemon, as well as festive flavours like Black Forest, gingerbread, and orange chocolate, all served in these beautiful little boxes.
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Featured Image – ELR | The Manc Group | Tatton Park
What's On
The Mystery of Banksy exhibition to make UK premiere in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Europe’s most popular Banksy exhibition is set to make its UK premiere at last next year – and it’s Manchester who gets it first.
The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind, will arrive at Depot Mayfield next spring, filling the amazing industrial space with more than 200 reimagined works by the acclaimed street art superstar.
Fans will be able to step inside the mind of one of the world’s most prolific artists in an immersive and interactive exhibition that has wowed audiences across Europe.
The news of the experience making its UK premiere in Manchester was celebrated in style this weekend, with Banksy images projected onto landmarks across the city, including the Depot and Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly.
When it launches next spring, The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind will exhibit an interactive collection of graffiti, photographs, sculptures, video installations and prints, exclusively reproduced for this special show in the heart of Manchester.
Expect to see recreations of his most iconic works, including Girl With Balloon shredding moment, the thought provoking Devolved Parliament, a fully “Banksified” London Underground carriage, and a towering seven-foot elephant installation.
You’ll be able to learn more about this incredible, elusive street artist, with a video screening that documents key moments in his renowned career.
The global exhibition has already been visited by more than three and half million people across 36 cities, receiving outstanding visitor satisfaction scores (over 96% of visitor expectations were met or exceeded) but has never made it to the UK before now.
John Carrigan, Director of Cartel Events Limited, says “We’re excited to launch the ‘Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind’ in Manchester, the UK’s hub of modern culture.
“In partnership with Europe’s leading entertainment promoter, COFO Exhibitions, who holds 50 years of experience in revolutionary international exhibitions, visitors can expect a spectacle of reenvisioned accessible artworks for all.”
Projections in Manchester to announce The Mystery of Banksy exhibition. Credit: Supplied
Standard adult tickets will start at £22, with early bird discounts available for those registered for the pre-sale, opening Friday 28 November. Tickets are free for those under the age of six, with concession tickets also available for seven-16 year olds, seniors and all NHS workers.
The Mystery of Banksy has also announced The Christie Charity as their official partner for the exhibition, raising money towards a new Total Body PET-CT scanner through “tap to donate” spots around the exhibition, alongside a dedicated charity event takeover and an exclusively commissioned artwork which will be donated for auction.
Louise Hadley, Chief Executive of The Christie Charity, says: “We are absolutely thrilled to be the chosen charity for The Mystery of Banksy, A Genius Mind exhibition. It is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us and one that will ultimately benefit cancer patients both now and in the future.”
The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind will be at Depot Mayfield between 13 March 2026 and 5 July 2026.
You can sign up for pre-sale early bird tickets and exclusive updates now HERE.
There will also be a stay and ticket package available thanks to the official hotel partner, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, with curated bedrooms and exclusive art-inspired experiences across the hotel.
Emily Sergeant -
13th July 2021 
