The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 10 – 16 February 2025
It’s shaping up to be a busy week.
Not only is it Valentine’s Day at the end of this week, but it’s also the start of half term, with schools soon to be out across the region, so as you can imagine, there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester throughout this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though?
We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, so here’s some of our recommendations.
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Six Nations Fanzone 2025
Freight Island
Monday 10 February – onwards
Freight Island’s Six Nations fanzone has returned for 2025.
The iconic international tournament is now underway, and so is Freight Island’s fantastic fan experience, providing an unparalleled level of excitement beyond being inside the stadium.
Already proving to be even bigger and better than last year, it’s the largest of its kind anywhere in the country, with everything from free pints and prosecco, live music, top-notch scran from Freight’s in-house vendors, and so much more.
Find out more here.
Looking for other places to watch the Six Nations?
We’re absolutely spoiled for choice with places showing all the sporting action across Greater Manchester, so if you’re looking to get together with your mates, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to head to here.
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Wild
Manchester Museum
Monday 10 February – onwards
A groundbreaking new immersive exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is now open at Manchester Museum.
‘Wild’ look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.
The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.
Find out more and grab your free tickets here.
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Life: A Journey Through Time
The Bridgewater Hall
Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 February
It’s time to celebrate living legend, Philip Glass.
Over the course of three days, in collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), the Hallé is hosting festival showcasing the composers best-loved works.
With wildlife photographer Frans Lanting’s stunning photography projected on the big screen. and Glass’s hallmark evolving textures mirroring the ever-changing landscape of life, this one-hour immersive audio-visual experience is set to be an emotionally-charged journey through time, from the Big Bang to the present.
Find out more and get tickets from £23 each here.
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In need of last-minute Valentine’s Day plans? Wondering where the most romantic restaurants and bars in Manchester are?
It’s Valentine’s Day this week, and Manchester is gearing up to welcome couples wanting to celebrate the international day of love in style.
With so many great restaurants, bars, and date spots in the city centre, if you’re looking to take your other half out, then you are quite literally spoilt for choice, so we thought we’d help make things a little bit easier by recommending some of our favourite popular date night spots to help get you started.
If you’re looking to spend a romantic evening celebrating the best of Manchester’s hospitality scene, then we’ve rounded up some of the city’s most romantic bars and restaurants here.
Need some date inspiration? We picked five of the best date ideas here.
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The Love Club
Embankment Kitchen
Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 February
Embankment Kitchen inside CitySuites is celebrating Valentine’s in style this year, with its very-own ‘The Love Club’ menu.
The two and three-course set menu features a wide range of delicious signature dishes, with everything from fresh baked cod, and a mushroom and black truffle tortellini, to a salt-baked heritage beetroot salad, and a gorgeous chateaubriand for two to choose from.
There’ll also be live music across the three evenings from 7pm, and talking point cards on each table aimed at bringing you and your loved one closer together.
Two courses will set you back £36, while three courses costs £42 per person.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You
Science and Industry Museum
Friday 14 February – onwards
You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition arriving at the Science and Industry Museum this week.
Back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! is coming back to Manchester, and this time around, you can journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Tickets are already on sale for the major new exhibition for children and families, which is titled Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
Find out more here.
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Valentine’s Night
East Lancashire Railway
Friday 14 & Saturday 15 February
East Lancashire Railway’s special ‘Valentine’s Night’ luxury dining experiences are back once again by popular demand this weekend.
Lovebirds can hop on-board a vintage steam train and enjoy a four-course meal while riding through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside as the sun sets.
Part of ELR’s ongoing – and massively-popular – ‘Dining with Distinction’ series, these Valentine’s Night luxury dining experiences are promising to provide couples with an “elegant” and “atmospheric” evening as they travel through the Irwell Valley and raise a toast to each other to celebrate their love.
Find out more and book your last-minute tickets here.
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Valentine’s Day at Printworks
Printworks
Friday 14 January
Fancy swapping Paris for Printworks this Valentine’s?
Love is in the air… and all over the ceiling at Printworks this Valentine’s, as to celebrate the international day of love itself, Mancs have been submitting their very-own messages to be displayed on Europe’s largest digital ceiling inside the city centre entertainment complex.
Whilst you’re down there, why not make a date of it? Maybe enjoy ramen and cocktails at Wagamama, or perhaps pizza and prosecco at Tank and Paddle, or look lovingly into your beloved’s eyes and serenade one another at Trax social – whatever your vibe, there’s lots to get up to this Valentine’s Day.
Don’t forget to chance your luck at the special Valentine’s game on the Printworks app too, where you might win a little treat for two.
Find out more.
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NEW OPENING – Flying Tiger
Trafford Centre
Friday 14 February
Popular variety store Flying Tiger is opening inside the Trafford Centre this Friday.
The Danish brand has become a staple on Manchester’s high street, thanks to its ability to keep up with the trends and constantly reinvent its products.
Opening on 14 February, more widely-known as Valentine’s Day, anyone who’s left their present shopping until the last minute is now in luck, as they can nip in and pick up a selection of bits and bobs for their special someone.
Find out more about the grand opening here.
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The Super Duper Family Festival
Manchester City Centre
Saturday 15 – Tuesday 18 February
A brand new festival full of free activities for all the family to get involved with is coming to Manchester this weekend.
The new event, which is called The Super Duper Family Festival and is free to attend, will feature a series of pop-up play zones at a variety of outdoor spaces and popular venues across the city centre, all of which will be free to use and ready to explore.
There will be six play zones providing unique experiences for all ages across the four days.
Find out more here.
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Guess How Much I Love You – Garden Adventure Trail
RHS Garden Bridgewater
Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 February
Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare are hopping over to RHS Garden Bridgewater this February half term.
Starting this Saturday and lasting all year, families can discover an interactive garden trail and get involved with loads of activities based on the well-loved children’s book Guess How Much I Love You – including craft, planting, and dance workshops.
Find out more here.
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90s Brunch
Brickhouse Social
Saturday 15 February
Brickhouse Social has announced that it 90s-themed brunch is back by popular demand.
The Manchester social hub is inviting music lovers down to enjoy 90-minutes of bottomless pizza slices, fizz, bottled beers, and select cocktails on its ooftop terrace every Saturday over the nexr couple of months – with a resident DJ playing all the best tunes from the nineties.
There’s two brunch sittings available, so you can opt for 1-3pm or 3:30-5:30pm, and you can get booking your table now.
Find out more and book here.
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Featured Image – Unsplash | The Manc Group | Manchester BID