We’re now well into May – and our next opportunity for freedom is just a week away.
With ‘Step Two’ in the government’s roadmap to lifting England’s current national lockdown having already commenced from 12th April, and ‘Step Three’ – which crucially allows up to 30 people from different households to gather outdoors, hospitality to open indoors, indoor entertainment venues to reopen, indoor group sports / exercise classes to commence and more – set to be introduced from 17th May, pending official review, normality has been returning to Greater Manchester week on week.
And there’s plenty to be getting up to.
If you’re stuck for something to do, then this is your go-to guide for what’s on and what’s happening in the city of Manchester and beyond this week.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and most will need to be booked in advance – but all are COVID-secure in order to keep you as safe as possible.
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Whatever you fancy doing though, there’s certainly no shortage of choice in our region, so here’s some of the things you can get stuck into.
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World of Music Choir
Band On The Wall (Virtual)
Tuesday 11th May
World of Music Choir
Think you’ve got a good singing voice? Love to sing regardless?
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Organised in Greater Manchester by the city’s iconic music venue, Band On The Wall, but happening every Tuesday at 6pm virtually all across the UK, World of Music Choir invites you to join award-winning folk singer Bella Hardy and the fantastic guest leaders for a workshop of song learning and harmony.
Workshop participants sing traditional and modern songs, three-part harmonies and rounds, all learned by ear, so you don’t have to be able to read music to take part.
The main aim is to enjoy yourself – there’s nothing scary, and no judgements are made.
Now that doors have finally reopened at Oxford Road’s award-winning food, drink and retail destination, Hatch, a brand new series of 60-minute, socially-distanced outdoor (but undercover) social yoga classes have been introduced, which are accompanied by the disco beats of live DJ, Hattie Pearson.
Absolutely everybody is welcome, whether you’ve practiced yoga before or whether you’re mostly coming for the music.
RESET is a studio where everyone has a place, whatever your motivation.
The first ever Chase The Sun 5k, 10k & 10 Mile runs are set to take place in Heaton Park this Wednesday 12th May, giving runners the chance to battle to the finish line before the sun goes down with each kilometre accurately marked out.
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You can play it safe and fly round the 5k, or go for the extra challenge of the 10k or 10 Mile.
There’ll be music, refreshments, a fantastic Heaton Park-themed medal, and a great opportunity for a chip-timed personal best.
Prices range from £22 – £24, and you can register here.
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BRUTAL Exhibition
The Saul Hay Gallery
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Saturday 15th – Sunday 30th May
BRUTAL / The Saul Hay Gallery
BRUTAL – the highly-anticipated exhibition of painting and sculpture reflecting on, celebrating and inspired by the built environment, which has sadly been delayed due to ongoing COVID restrictions – is finally set to open at the Saul Hay Gallery in Castlefield from Saturday 15th May until Sunday 30th May.
The free exhibition will include the works of some of the nation’s best artists specialising in Brutalism – including Mandy Payne, Emma Bennett, William Braithwaite, Dan Broughton and Jen Orpin.
You can find more information via the Saul Hay Gallery website here.
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Creative Makers Fair
Victoria Baths
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th May
Victoria Baths
To celebrate the reopening of one of the city’s most iconic and historic venues, the Grade II-listed Victoria Baths will be hosting a Creative Makers Fair designed specifically to give some much-needed support to independent makers and businesses after a challenging 12 months and as lockdown begins to lift.
Ideas for the home, textiles, art, gifts and jewellery will be just some of the products being showcased by businesses from the North West.
You can find more information, COVID-safety procedures, and book tickets here.
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Manchester Cheese Crawl
Central Manchester
Saturday 15th May
Geograph / Ian S | Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
The Manchester Cheese Crawl will take you around some of the cheesiest spots the city has to offer for two hours of non-stop cheese-related fun, including everything from blue cheese tasting, to cheese quizzes, competitions and more.
Starting off in St Ann’s Square, the tour wanders across the city and gives you the chance to try the finest cheeses Manchester has to offer along the way.
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With tours taking place this Saturday 8th May, and happening every Saturday until 25th September, tickets cost just £25 each and include cheese samples, optional bread and crackers, and some red wine to complement.
Nestled among the backstreets of Manchester and tucked into the courtyard of an old, red-brick historic mill, Ancoats Pop Up Market is a COVID-safe weekly-run market event which has teamed up with MUD (Manchester Urban Diggers) to supply the neighbourhood with a wealthy selection of fresh, organic and locally-grown fruit and veg, as well as dry goods, all throughout May.
The market also features Manchester-based stallholders serving speciality coffee, locally-brewed rum liquors, locally-sourced bakes and crafts, and more.
Street food and freshly-brewed coffee is also available while you browse.
Manchester’s newest event space is back and it’s better than ever.
Cinemas and entertainment complexes may currently still be closed, but reopening is on the horizon.
If you’re far too eager to wait until mid-May though, Park N Party – the team that delivered both the sell-out successes of ScareCity and ChristmasCity, and a number of other outdoor live events throughout 2020 – has launched SecretCity, and there’s a whole host of immersive drive-in entertainment events happening this week.
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There’s screenings of cinema classics such as Mean Girls, Grease, The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, and more all on show throughout the week.
Tickets must be booked in advance, and you can grab yours from £35 per car here.
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Totally Roarsome
Mottram Hall
Monday 10th – Sunday 16th May
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Totally Roarsome
Named by many as being one of the safest attractions for all the family in Greater Manchester, Totally Roarsome took the region by storm last summer after it opened to the public following the initial lifting of coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions in mid-2020, with visitors flocking from far and wide.
Now at the new location of Mottram Hall, just over the border into Cheshire, Totally Roarsome features everything from dinosaurs, jungle animals and Arctic creatures, to superheroes, pirates and cartoon characters.
Tickets are priced at £7.95 per ticket (+ £1.50 booking fee, per transaction), and must be booked in advance online from the Totally Roarsome Facebook page.
This is to manage and restrict the number of visitors / families being allowed around the attraction at any one at a time, with five minutes between slots, to allow for necessary COVID-safety precautions and social distancing measures to be upheld.
You can find out more information, and book your tickets here.
The OT Art Trail – which has been organised by OT Creative Space and is funded by Arts Council England – sees a number of local artists work together with members of the Manchester community to create six individual large scale murals which have been painted onto walls and building gable ends around the area, including in Seymour Park and Ayres Road.
The new murals have added to murals and artwork already seen around Old Trafford.
The several new street art sites will be linked together via a downloadable audio tour, which is suitable for people of all ages.
Each mural centres around the theme ‘community togetherness and diversity’.
You can find more information on The OT Art Trail via the OT creative SPACE website here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons / Matt Short
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 9 – 15 February 2026
Emily Sergeant
We really have got a busy week coming up this week.
Lunar New Year begins, it’s Valentine’s Day at the weekend, and schools break up for half term too, so as you can imagine, we’re really not short of exciting activities and events to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester – with everything from 360° walk-through projection shows and world-premiere science exhibitions, to legendary Dragon Parades, pie festivals, and 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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Bubble Planet Experience
Depot Mayfield
Monday 9 February – onwards
Manchester has welcomed a ‘dreamlike world’ filled with giant colourful bubbles, as Bubble Planet Experience is now open.
Bubble Planet Experience has already been visited by more than four million people in cities across the globe, but now it’s time for its first trip to Manchester, where it has now popped up inside Depot Mayfield, so visitors can explore 10 themed rooms, each one offering a different surreal landscape that will ‘blur the boundaries between dream and reality’.
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.
Did someone say £10 pie? The Festival of Pie is back at The Black Friar is Salford, and in case you didn’t know, that means delicious handmade pies are yours for a bargain price all month long.
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.
The deal is available all day Monday and Tuesday, and 12pm-6.30pm Wednesday to Friday, so don’t miss out before it’s too late.
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LUMINISCENCE
Manchester Cathedral
Monday 9 February – 26 March
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.
Looking for somewhere to watch the 2026 Six Nations in Manchester city centre?
It’s that time again, the Six Nations has started and we can practically taste the Guinness already.
That being said, we thought it only right to put together a list of where to watch it and enjoy those pints. With the tournament having now kicked off, we don’t want you scrambling around to find places showing the games, we just want you to sit back and enjoy yourself.
So, without further ado, here is our list of the best places to watch this year’s Six Nations here in Manchester city centre.
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.
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 celebrate the first new moon of the Lunar New Year with Tampopo’s Lunar menu, available all day, every day, throughout February.
For the full Lunar experience, choose three small plates with unlimited sides, or go all in with the Lunar Sharing Set Menu, serving two at £20 per person.
It’s bold flavours, vibrant plates, and a menu made to be shared – just as it should be.
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Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos
Science and Industry Museum
Friday 13 February – onwards
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: Science Museum Group | BBC
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos is making its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum this week, and will invite 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 will encourage visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition will propel 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.
Chinese New Year Dragon Parade 2026 / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
As Manchester gets ready to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 and mark the ‘Year of the Horse’, it has been announced that the iconic Dragon Parade will be making a grand return this weekend, alongside lots of other seasonal celebrations. Like always, the parade’ll be bringing a spectacular show of colour and light along with it when it weaves its way through our city centre. Thousands of visitors from all across the region are expected to line the streets.
There’ll also be even more cultural celebrations and activities to get involved with throughout Lunar New Year over in Manchester’s popular Chinatown – with live stage performances, traditional lion and dragon dances, and loads of stalls serving up tasty and authentic street food.
Find out everything happening here, and check out road closures, parking suspensions, and parade timings here.
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Featured Image – Science Museum Group | Supplied | CityCo
What's On
Timings and road closures announced for Manchester’s Chinese New Year Dragon Parade 2026
Emily Sergeant
Road closures have been announced as Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade makes its way through the city centre this month.
As Manchester gets ready to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 – which officially begins on Tuesday 17 February and runs through to Tuesday 3 March – and mark the ‘Year of the Horse’, the iconic Dragon Parade will be making its grand return to the streets of our city centre, and bringing a spectacular show of colour and light along with it.
In case you’re unfamiliar with what the Dragon Parade is all about, it’s the focal point of the city’s annual Lunar New Year celebrations – and it’s a real spectacle, to say the least.
The parade is known for attracting thousands of visitors from all across the region each year.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
Celebrations officially kick off on Saturday 14 February this year, and as the headline of the festivities, the popular parade is set to take place the day after (Sunday 15 February).
Once again, organisers are expecting visitors in their thousands to turn out and watch as the famous 175ft Chinese dragon weaves its way through the city’s main shopping streets.
In order for the parade and other events to be carried out safely, a number of road closures and parking suspensions will be put in place, and a full list of those, as well as parade timings, have now been announced by Manchester City Council.
Here’s everything you need to know.
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Parade route road closures
From 10am to 3pm on Sunday 15 February:
Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street) soft closure at the junction of Peter Street / Deansgate. Access for residents and businesses only.
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street West)
Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
Princess Street (Major Street to Cooper Street)
George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
Back George Street (Dickinson Street to Princess Street)
Faulkner Street (Princess Street to Novotel Hotel Entrance/ End of Faulkner Street)
Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street and Portland Street to Linley House/end of Dickinson Street)
Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street)
Soft Closure inbound at Whitworth Street / Princess Street, Whitworth Street/ Sackville Street and Whitworth Street / Chorlton Street junctions. No through traffic. Access to residents, businesses and buses only.
Reverse of the one way at Major Street (Princess Street to Sackville Street)
Chinatown closures
From 5am on Saturday 14 February to 11:59pm on Sunday 15 February:
Nicholas Street (Portland Street to George Street)
St James Street (Princess Street to Nicholas Street)
Faulkner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
From 5am to 11:59pm on Sunday 15 February:
Reyner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)
Chinese New Year festivities will take place over a full weekend / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
Parking suspensions for Chinatown
From 12:01am on Friday 13 February to 11: 59pm on Sunday 15 February
George Street (New York Street to Dickinson Street)
Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
Faulkner Street (New York Street to Princess Street)
Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)
Parade route parking suspensions
From 8pm on Saturday 14 February to 4pm on Sunday 15 February
Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Oxford Street (Lower Mosley Street to Whitworth Street West)
Hall Street (Oxford Street to Bale Street)
George Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street)
Back George Street (Dickinson to Princess Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street)
Chepstow Street (Oxford Street to Great Bridgewater Street)
Portland Street (Chepstow Street to New York Street)
Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street and Portland Street to Linley House/end of Dickinson Street)
Princess Street (Major Street to Cooper Street)
Sackville Street (Major Street to Portland Street)
Abingdon Street (Major Street to Portland Street)
Faulkner Street (Mercure Hotel to Princess Street)
Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
Parking suspensions include the Chinatown car park, all pay and display bays, accessible parking bays, and taxi ranks.
On top of this, there will also be disruption on the Metrolink too, as between 12pm and 1pm, there will be congestion around St Peter’s Square due to an increased number of pedestrians, and passengers are therefore told to expect delays.
As always, this year’s celebrations have been organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and Manchester City Council.
Featured Image – Chinese NY Manchester (via X) / CityCo
Emily Sergeant -
6th May 2021 
