The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 16 – 22 September 2024

  1. Home
  2. Art & Culture

September is well underway now, and the cosy season is upon us.

For many people, the end of summer can sometimes mean the end of all the fun, but as we head into autumn, there’s still absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester.

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 this week.

Here’s some of our recommendations.

___

The Book of Mormon

Manchester Palace Theatre

Monday 16 September – Saturday 5 October

The Book of Mormon / Credit: Supplied

The Book of Mormon is back in Manchester.

Known and loved for being one of the best musicals the 21st Century – and one of the funniest of all time – having scooped up dozens of coveted awards both in the US and here in the UK in its time, The Book of Mormon is currently out on tour, and the Elders have now arrived in our city for an extended stay.

The hilarious production has taken over the iconic Palace Theatre stage until early October, and there’s still chance to grab yourself some tickets too.

Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.

___

Did you see that a massive new vintage clothing store has now opened in Manchester city centre?

ReMarket has opened on London Road, wedged between Piccadilly Markets and Manchester Piccadilly train station, with 6,000 sq ft filled with rails ripe for the rummaging.

From Dickies and Levi’s, to Stone Island and Gucci, there are some serious brands and serious bargains to be found inside, as well as a number of different independent brands – including Bare Necessities, Archive X, 28 Vintage, Cherry Blossom Vintage and Blank Seams.

The best way to think of it is as a department store… but for very cool, independent vintage and second-hand brands.

Find out more here.

___

Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine

Science and Industry Museum

Monday 16 September – onwards

More than 100 objects and stories collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic are now on display as part of a new exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum.

The groundbreaking new exhibition, titled Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, explores 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.

___

Wild

Manchester Museum

Monday 16 September – 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.

___

Jurassic World: The Exhibition

Trafford Centre

Monday 16 September – onwards

A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester.

Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.

Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Find out more and grab ticket here.

___

Did you see that Bolton has launched its own ‘Hollywood of the North’ TV and film location tours around the town centre?

Merely months after being named Greater Manchester’s new ‘Town of Culture’, Bolton is already proving why 2024 is its year, as the town is celebrating its shiny new title by celebrating all the times it has been chosen as a filming location for dozens of major film and TV productions over the years.

These new behind-the-scenes tours are led by local historian and professional tour guide, Suzanne Hindle, and will feature all of the town’s famous filming spots.

Visitors will get to explore places such as court rooms, cells, and Crescent corridors whilst hearing tales of how the industry adapt these unexpected locations to set the scene.

Find out more and book a tour for FREE here.

___

War Horse

The Lowry Theatre

Wednesday 18 – Saturday 28 September

The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse returns to The Lowry as part of its all-new UK tour this week, and it’s described as being an “unforgettable theatrical experience” which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France.

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of “phenomenal inventiveness”.

Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.

___

Red Rose Diner

East Lancashire Railway

Friday 20 September – onwards

Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is currently hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region.

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.

___

Góbéfest 2024

Cathedral Gardens

Friday 20 – Sunday 22 September

Góbéfest is back in Cathedral Gardens this weekend.

Manchester’s original international urban folk music and dance festival will be taking over the city centre greenspace from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September with a curated mix of bands and solo artists, folk dance troupes, choirs, and so much more. 

Independent food and drink traders will be serving up favourites from around the Carpathian Basin, alongside craft beer, a Hungarian wine stall, a cocktail bar, and a palinka (Hungarian fruit brandy) bar, while there’ll also be free activities in the family tent too – including music and dance workshops, arts and crafts, and storytelling.

Day tickets will set you back £10 each, while children under 12 go free, and you can find out more about this year’s festival here.

___

Fancy a free roast dinner this Sunday? Who could say no to that…

We know Sunday roasts very much fall into the ‘if ain’t broke don’t fix it’ category of British food, and rightly so, they’re absolutely glorious – but every now and then, they’re made fresh and exciting again, and that’s exactly what Maray have done with theirs.

Plus, who on earth is ignoring a FREE roast dinner?

That’s right, not only are Maray’s incredible Middle-Eastern twists on the classic carvery combination of lovingly cooked joints of meat, exquisitely cooked vegetables, and their take on firm favourites like the potato (the best bit, let’s be honest), but they’re also going to be dishing them out for free.

You can get yourself a roast dinner without paying a single penny for one day only at Maray this Sunday, and you can find out more here.

___

Featured Image – The Manc Group | Supplied