What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 13 – 19 November 2023
Emily Sergeant -
10th November 2023 
We may only be in our second proper week of November, but it’s definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Greater Manchester.
After Manchester Christmas Markets officially opened for 2023 last Friday, as did a flurry of other seasonal events along with it, the festivities are now well and truly starting to get underway all throughout our region… and there’s lots more to come this week.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose what to do, then luckily, we’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Here’s our top picks.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2023
Manchester City Centre
Monday 13 November – Thursday 21 December
It’s that time of year once again… Manchester Christmas Markets are officially open for 2023.
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 more than 225 stalls across nine 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 2023 here.
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Hamilton
Palace Theatre
Monday 13 November 2023 – February 2024
One of the most successful musicals of the 21st century is now on stage in our city.
After taking Broadway and the West End (and the world) by storm, Hamilton – the multi-award winning musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda – has been captivating and engaging audiences like no other for close to a decade now, and now it’s touring the UK – with Manchester one of only two lucky cities chosen to stage the smash-hit spectacle.
Despite absolutely unprecedented demand, there’s still a handful of tickets available for different nights over the course of the show’s 15-week run in our city, and you can get your hands of them now if you’re interested.
Find out more and grab last minute tickets here.
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Bar Hütte
Great Northern & KAMPUS
Monday 13 November – onwards
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back, and they’re bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks.
And this year, there’s not one, but two locations in Manchester city centre.
While Bar Hütte at Great Northern Square is heading back to Deansgate, with 15 cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under a heated stretch tent and twinkling lights, Bar Hütte at Kampus will also see a new outdoor terrace, comprising of eight snug, wooden karaoke hüttes nestled beneath the trees, and an ‘Aprés Ski Bungalow’ serving as an indoor alpine bar.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Skate Manchester 2023
Cathedral Gardens
Monday 13 November – Sunday 31 December
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2023 with twinkling lights, the smell of gingerbread, and Christmas songs playing on repeat, Skate Manchester’s stunning outdoor ice rink is in the heart of the city at Cathedral Gardens right up until the new year.
With the covered rink’s convenient roof allowing everyone to enjoy the ice, whatever the weather, visitors of all ages are invited to glide over the ice and admire the glorious Christmas tree right in the centre.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Land of Lights
Gulliver’s World
Monday 13 November – onwards
Land of Lights has transformed Gulliver’s World in Warrington into an immersive winter wonderland with 12 “vivid dreamworlds” full of dozens of gigantic lanterns that are inspired by animals, mega monuments, and wonders of the natural world.
As the sun goes down and the nights draw in, visitors to the North West attraction can explore an amazing array of light installations as they walk all around the park.
More than 7,000 individual lanterns and hundreds of thousands of LED lights create the spectacle.
Find out more and grab tickets from £12 here.
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Did you know you can get a pass to visit loads of National Trust sites across the UK for FREE this autumn?
Autumn in Greater Manchester is a wonderful thing, and and our region is filled with places to appreciate the beauty of this much-loved season – but if you were looking for a reason to travel a little further afield to experience everything nature has to offer and see the leaves change colour, then it doesn’t get much better than this.
This is why the National Trust wants to give people the chance to “experience the awe of the season” at no extra cost.
The pass allows free entry for two adults and up to three children, one adult and up to four children, or just two adults on their own.
Find out more about how to claim the limited-time offer here.
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Winter Island 2023
Escape to Freight Island
Monday 13 November – Sunday 24 December
Winter Island is back once again for 2023.
Escape to Freight Island’s highly-popular “festive extravaganza” has now opened down at Depot Mayfield, just in time to get you in the mood for the festive season, and is promising loads of a whole host of Christmas events and activities for everyone of all ages and interests to get involved with.
There’s everything from a Santa’s Grotto, wreath-making classes, and live entertainment, to different Christmas workshops, pop-up markets, and all the festive food and drink you could hope for on the lineup this year.
Find out more here.
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Fondue Winter Chalet Bar
The Refuge
Friday 17 November – onwards
The Refuge has launched a winter takeover of its terrace inspired by the après ski lifestyle.
With winter favourites such as a Champagne fondue to share, decadent hot chocolates, hot toddies, and lots of fizz, the new terrace space is fully heated and covered, so guests can get cosy and enjoy the indulgent food and drink on offer, all while soaking up the festive decor.
The carefully-curated winter food menu is inspired by French Alps chalet favourites, while still using some of the best produce from the north west.
Find out more here.
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The Twilight Trail
Escape to Freight Island
Friday 17 November – 31 December
Manchester’s newest city centre park, Mayfield Park, is set to transform into a festive ‘Twilight Trail’ for the first time ever this Christmas.
Opening this Friday 17 November and running right through until the new year, this brand-new immersive experience is made up of several spectacular light displays, unique lantern installations, and a captivation sound-scape dotted around the pristine new park, with each circuit estimated to take around half an hour.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that are opening doors in Greater Manchester this month?
It feels like we say this every month, but November genuinely might be our biggest month for new Manchester restaurants of the year so far.
There’s some huge national names like Six By Nico and Gail’s Bakery opening brand new sites, some local favourites like Seven Brothers launching new ventures, and a couple of totally new brands joining the fray.
As we do every month, we’ve rounded up the best new bars and restaurants opening in Greater Manchester this month, and there’s some really good ones to look forward to as we head into the most wonderful time of the year.
You can find out where to put on your list here.
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Christmas at Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey
Friday 17 November – 31 December 2023
Dunham Massey’s legendary light trail is back once again this Christmas, and it’s bringing even more festive magic to Greater Manchester.
Returning to the grounds of the massively-popular Altrincham-based National Trust property for what is the seventh year running now, Christmas at Dunham Massey officially opens this week, and it’s already being described as a “must-see magical festive trail”.
Just as it does every year, the trail will bringing the garden to life with “a million twinkling lights” and “seasonal sounds”.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Tinseltown 2023
Trafford Centre
Friday 17 November – 2 January
Tinseltown is returning to the Trafford Centre for 2023.
Back for another festive season from this Friday, and running right through until the new year, Greater Manchester’s very own winter wonderland gives visitors the chance to enjoy a full festive day out complete with a huge shimmering ice rink, festive fairground rides, a SNOWSTORM spectacular ice show, magical Christmas Tree bar, and other festive fayre.
Festive food and drink will also be on offer to tuck into – including traditional bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps, donuts, crepes, mulled wine, and even a chocolate fountain.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Lanterns and Light
Chester Zoo
Friday 17 November – 31 December 2023
Chester Zoo is unveiling a brand-new immersive experience for the festive season this week.
Lanterns and Light gives visitors the chance to explore captivating light installations and be transported into enchanting lands filled with colour and festivity, all while meeting orangutans, lions, dolphins, and woolly mammoths as theuy make their way along the trail.
There’ll also be colour changing displays stretching as far as the eye can see, birds and stars adorning the zoo’s winding paths and trees, and a spectacular Winter Cathedral tunnel of lights.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Manchester Art Fair 2023
Manchester Central
Friday 17 – Sunday 19 November
Manchester Art Fair is back for 2023, and it’s bringing a curated mix of acclaimed galleries and independent artists to Manchester Central this weekend.
Set to “blur the boundaries between traditional and contemporary art”, and create a “friendly, unpretentious, and uniquely Northern” art-buying experience, the three-day festival is aiming to make viewing and buying quality art accessible and enjoyable for everyone of all ages.
There’ll be a collegiate fair for young galleries, artist-led spaces, and charities and partner institutions providing a “critically-engaged environment” for artistic exploration and development.
Find out more here.
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Manchester Coffee Festival 2023
Bowlers Exhibition Centre
Saturday 19 & Sunday 19 November
Manchester Coffee Festival is back for 2023 this weekend.
Presented by Cup North, the renowned event celebrates all things caffeine and is a must-visit for anyone in the industry, or just anyone who’s a coffee fanatic.
Visitors can work their way around the vast event at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, where there’ll be everything from a marketplace for shopping, a tasting room where you can sample loads of different coffees, workshops to have a go at, and talks and panels with industry experts.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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WSL Manchester Derby
Old Trafford
Sunday 19 November
Manchester United Women and Man City Women are gearing up for a huge and historic WSL fixture, as the Manchester Derby takes place this Sunday.
In what is set to be a massive occasion, with hopefully record-breaking attendance numbers as the popularity of women’s football continues to grow, the two cross-town rivals will be going head to head in the league clash – which is being held at Old Trafford for the first time ever – in a bid to clinch a coveted win and earn some local pride.
You can find out everything you need to go about the WSL Manchester Derby here, and then also grab tickets to the game here.
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Featured Image – Flickr | Bar Hutte | Skate Manchester
