What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 15-21 July 2024
Emily Sergeant -
11th July 2024 
Ready for another week of summer fun? Of course you are.
It’s genuinely hard to believe we’re already into our third full week of July now, and even after Greater Manchester‘s social calendar has been packed full of loads of foodie festivals, cultural celebrations, sporting tournaments, and wholesome family-friendly events so far this month, there’s even more where that came from this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? As always, we’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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& Juliet
Manchester Opera House
Monday 15 – Saturday 20 July
Broadway and West End smash-hit musical, & Juliet, has returned to Manchester.
Having taken over the historic Manchester Opera House stage, the musical reimagines Shakespeare’s iconic love story from a new angle, and asks what would have become of Juliet if she’d given up on Romeo before their tragic ending.
Audiences are whisked away on a journey that shows Juliet’s life if she’d skipped her famous ending for a second chance at life and love.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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Wild
Manchester Museum
Monday 15 July – 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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50 Years of the Replica Shirt
National Football Museum
Monday 15 July – onwards
A new exhibition telling the story of the football shirt pioneers, Admiral, is now open at the National Football Museum.
50 Years of the Replica Shirt will take visitors right through the Admiral’s history, from their humble beginnings in a Leicestershire textile town, to the official kit manufacturers for the England national team – with key moments in the company’s timeline highlighted through a range of objects, photographs, and kit designs.
Find out more about the new exhibition here.
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Fancy trying out some new independent food and drink businesses that’ve opened in Greater Manchester this past month?
Our region is lucky enough to get to welcome a whole host of new hospitality residents all year round, but once those summer months arrive, doors to exciting new places are being flung open left, right, and centre… and just in last month alone, there’s been that many to choose from, it’s hard to keep up.
We’re talking a new coffee and brunch spot, a pop-up pasta bar turned permanent, the rebirth of an old venue into a swanky Irish bar, and so much more.
Take a look at five of the best below:
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Manchester Green Spaces Trail
Manchester & Salford
Monday 15 July – onwards
Workers and visitors are being invited to discover some stunning outdoor spaces across Manchester city centre and beyond this summer.
Keen to get out and about on foot? Manchester has launched Manchester Green Spaces Trail – a brand-new walking trail celebrating the best green, blue, and outdoor areas the cities of Manchester and Salford have to offer.
Created in collaboration with Manchester tour guide, Jonathan Schofield, the walking trail is free to do and accessible via a downloadable map, and it features 16 garden and water spaces.
Find out more here.
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Kargo on the Docks
MediaCity
Tuesday 16 July – onwards
One of Greater Manchester’s best-loved outdoor dining concepts has returned for 2024, and there’s a proper tasty lineup of traders.
‘Kargo on the Docks’ – which is MediaCity‘s al fresco dining pop-up, in place of the former Box On The Docks – has had itself a bit of a “glow up” and has taken over the waterfront and gardens with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
Find out more and see who’s pitched up here.
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Batman Unmasked
Depot Mayfield
Tuesday 16 July – 26 August
A huge Batman experience is swooping into Manchester this week.
Taking over Depot Mayfield from this week, and offering fans a chance to see real jaw-dropping props and costumes from the actual Warner Bros. archives, this exclusive event is all set to bring the cinematic world of Batman to life.
Through a series of themed rooms, exhibitions, and a comic book and gaming area, Batman Unmasked will be packed full of items from this iconic character’s film history.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Brave Space
The Lowry
Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 July
An immersive circus show described as being “breathtakingly beautiful” is coming to Greater Manchester this.
All-female Chicago-based circus company, Aloft, is set to take over a rarely-seen area of The Lowry building from this Thursday to Saturday for what is expected to be an “unmissable event”.
Inspired by the idea of creating trusting communities in trying and dangerous times, Brave Space starts as a puddle of 250-yards of fabric on the floor, and then, with the help of the audience, grows into a massive blanket fort and a “world of hope” that includes everything from interdependent acts of aerial arts, and acrobatics, to juggling, balancing on eight-foot high poles, and more.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Did you see that John Rylands Library has been named one of the best free UK attractions families should visit this summer?
The historic Grade-I listed building on Deansgate in the heart of the city centre has claimed a coveted fourth spot on a new top 10 list, according to a new analysis of TripAdvisor ratings of free UK attractions.
With the summer break right around the corner now, plenty of parents, carers, and guardians across Greater Manchester will likely be looking for a ways to keep the kids entertained and educated while schools are out for six full weeks – especially ways that are Manchester weather-proof and don’t break the bank too much too.
In fact, internet searches for ‘free tourist attractions near me’ are said to have risen by +5000% over the past 30 days.
John Rylands houses one of the UK’s most unique collections of books and manuscripts, and was found to have an average five-star TripAdvisor rating of 75.2%, according to the study – with visitors describing it as “definitely worth the visit”.
Find out why it’s featured in the top 10 here.
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Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine
Science and Industry Museum
Friday 19 July – onwards
More than 100 objects and stories collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic are to go on display as part of a new exhibition that’s opening at the Science and Industry Museum this week.
The groundbreaking new exhibition, titled Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, will explore the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed, while uncovering the inspiring stories of scientists and innovators around the globe who collaborated to tackle the worldwide COVID-19 challenge along the way.
The best bit? It’s absolutely FREE to attend, and advanced tickets are available to book on the Museum’s website now.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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Dinosaurs in the Park
Heaton Park
Friday 19 July – 4 August
Are you ready for Manchester to be transformed into “a palaeontologist’s playground”?
Back by popular demand once again this summer, dozens of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are descending on the grounds of Heaton Park from this week, and this means our region is set to become become the closest thing to Jurassic Park in real life.
Dino fans of all ages will get the chance to get up close and personal with around 40 of the big beasts over the next couple of weeks.
Find out more and get yourself some tickets here.
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Red Rose Diner
East Lancashire Railway
Friday 19 July – onwards
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.
Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer, East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Red Rose Diners’ are described as being “the ultimate first class foodie experience”, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
Find out more and book here.
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Creatures Comedy Festival
Northern Quarter
Friday 19 – 28 July
A brand-new comedy festival is kicking off in Manchester this week, and there’s still time to grab yourself some tickets.
Taking place over 10 days, and happening down at the popular Creatures Comedy Club – which is in the basement of Corner Boy in the Northern Quarter – comedy fans will be able to catch more than 30 acts in action before they head off to the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe next month.
From internationally-renowned comics, to your favourite local acts, this exclusive pre-Fringe access event has got a little bit of everything for everyone.
Find out more here.
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Classic Car Boot Sale
MediaCity
Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 July
A classic car boot sale with loads of vintage gems is arriving in Greater Manchester for the first time ever this weekend.
The Classic Car Boot Sale will be taking over MediaCity this Saturday and Sunday, and it’s all sounding set to be a vintage, pre-loved, and classic car enthusiast’s “paradise”.
More than 150 of the finest vintage and sustainable fashion, accessories, and homewares traders from across the UK will all gather in one location so thousands of shoppers, collectors, and petrol heads can fill their boots.
Find out more here.
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Stock Party
Stockport Underbank
Saturday 20 July
Manchester’s legendary Block Party is hitting the streets of Stockport this weekend.
Set to take over the Greater Manchester town centre’s historic Underbanks this Saturday, the aptly named ‘Stock Party’ is collaboration with all of Block Party’s usual partners, as well as local beer experts Robinsons Brewery and Runaway, Michelin-recognised Where The Light Gets, and so many more.
You can expect a day full of music, entertainment, food and drink, and family-friendly activities all around the town centre.
It’s free to attend, and you can find out more here.
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Featured Image – Dinosaurs in the Park | KOTD | Classic Car Boot
