What's On

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 24 – 30 March 2025

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th March 2025

The sun has been shining and spring is officially here.

With just one week left until it’s time to say goodbye to March and welcome in April with open arms, there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester this week – both free things, and those that’ll set you back a few pennies too.

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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An Edible Family in a Mobile Home

Whitworth Art Gallery

Monday 24 March – 20 April

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An exciting new exhibition where all the sculptures inside are made of cakes, biscuits, and icing has now opened in Manchester – and yes, you are encouraged to tuck in. ⁠

You’ll be whizzed back in time to the 1970s at An Edible Family in a Mobile Home, down to the retro comedy playing on the telly, and over the coming weeks, members of the public will gradually eat the sculptures until there’s nothing left.

Even the walls at this new genius collaborative creation of artist Bobby Baker and Manchester’s-own Long Boi Bakes are decorated in icing, and it’s open down at Whitworth Art Gallery until 20 April.

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Find out more here.

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Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You

Science and Industry Museum

Monday 24 March – onwards

You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition that’s now arrived at the Science and Industry Museum.

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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 giving you the chance to journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.

Tickets to Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are now on sale, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.

Find out more here.

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Bento Cake Workshop

Vanilla Ice Cakes

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Monday 24 March – onwards

How cute is this? We’ve discovered a little workshop over in Chorlton where you can ice, pipe, garnish, and decorate a miniature bento cake just the way you want it, with the help of the experts at Vanilla Ice Cakes.

You can whip up your dream colour buttercream, personalise your fillings, and learn brand-new skills before heading home with this adorable little celebration cake of your own.

At Vanilla Ice Cakes in Chorlton, you’ll sit under the expert eye of owner Fiza, a master baker who’s been in the game for more than a decade, and she’ll guide you (and sometimes step in to help you) as you fumble your way through decorating your own cake.

Find out more here.

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Did you see that one of Greater Manchester’s popular museums has been named the best free museum in the UK?

With the Easter holidays not far off, 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, and without having to break the bank too.

Luckily enough, Bolton Museum has taken the top spot in a list of the best free museums and galleries to visit in the whole of the UK.

The museum – which is on the Grade II-listed Le Mans Crescent in the town centre, and dates back to 1852 – has been a part of the leisure and education of Boltonians for over 120 years, and is home to one of the largest regional Egyptology collections in the UK, made up of over 10,000 archaeological objects.

There’s also an extensive local history section, with 38,000 objects from the 17th to 20th century relating to Bolton.

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Find out more here.

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NEW OPENING – The Pac-Man Live Experience

Manchester

Prepare to wakka wakka and chomp your way around a maze, because a brand-new interactive experience has now landed in Manchester, and it’s brought the world of the iconic retro game Pac-Man to life.

This augmented reality game will have you sprinting your way around an ever-changing digital maze, dodging ghosts and collecting fruit as you go.

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Costing £26 per person, you’ll be challenged to race your mates around the course in a bid to grab special items and tackle everything in your path, and if you rack up the the most points, then you’ll be declared champ.

Find out more and get tickets here.

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NEW OPENING – Get Baked

Northern Quarter

Ready to get baked? Well, what are you waiting for.

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It’s been a long time coming, but one of the most highly-anticipated new arrivals of 2025 has finally thrown its doors open in the heart of the Northern Quarter, so if you’ve got a chocolate craving or you sweet tooth needs satisfying, get yourself down to Get Baked.

Known and loved over in Leeds, this new independent bakery has opened on Stevenson Square, and stepping inside is like entering sweet treat heaven.

Think cookies, brownies, big slices of pie, and of course, the viral sensation that is the 24-layer ‘Bertha’ chocolate cake, and loads more.

Find out everything you need to know about Get Baked here.

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NEW OPENING – Treehouse Hotel

Manchester

Manchester city centre’s newest boutique hotel has now opened.

This treehouse-inspired, 200-room hotel has taken over a huge space at the foot of Deansgate, filling the old Brutalist building with nature-inspired interiors.

To celebrate its opening, the hotel is hosting a series of activations in collaboration with local creatives, wellness experts, and artists all throughout this month – from art workshops to fitness sessions and cosy film nights.

Find out more here.

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Cruel Intentions

Palace Theatre Manchester

Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 March

Cruel Intentions / Credit: ATG Tickets

Cruel Intentions is taking to the stage in Manchester this week.

Following sell-out seasons in London and New York, this brand-new smash hit musical – based on the iconic film of the same name and inspired by Les Liaisons Dangereuses – is packed with 90s pop classics, making it the ultimate retro night out.

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It includes the songs of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, TLC, The Verve, NSYNC, and so many more.

Find out more and get last-minute tickets here.

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BBC Radio 6 Music Festival

Manchester city centre

Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 March

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The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is coming back to Manchester once again this week, and they’re bringing yet another phenomenal lineup with them.

Over the years, the festival has brought some of music’s biggest and up-and-coming names to lots of local venues across Greater Manchester, putting on an array of brilliant live performances along the way, and 2025 is set to be no different.

On the lineup this year is Ezra Collective, Mogwai, English Teacher, Kae Tempest, Perfume Genius, and so many more DJ sets.

Find out more and see if there’s any tickets still going here.

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Clothes Cycle Manchester

Victoria Baths

Sunday 30 March

Clothes Cycle, the UK’s biggest curated second-hand clothing market, is back with a huge pop-up fashion fair full of vintage, pre-loved, and small business clothing in Manchester this weekend.

With a focus on championing sustainable clothing and helping fashion fans find a gem they’ll treasure forever, each pop-up market sees dozens of carefully-curated sellers offering a wide range of styles and items all come together under one roof.

Taking over the historic Victoria Baths this Sunday, there’ll be dozens of sellers offering something for everyone on all budgets.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

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A Farmers’ Market

Sadler’s Yard

Sunday 30 March

NOMA’s growing neighbourhood is celebrating the joys of spring with A Farmers’ Market this Sunday.

Curated by Where The Light Gets In, Manchester Urban Diggers (MUD), and NOMA’s very own hobby-house, Altogether Otherwise, the free-to-attend market will be held from 11am in Sadler’s Yard, with lots of fresh, locally-sourced food to purchase, all while building meaningful community connections in the heart of NOMA.

Stalls will feature a handpicked selection of seasonal produce from farmers, growers, and artisans who are committed to ethical and sustainable practices.

Attendees can enjoy cooking demos, live music, and family workshops too.

Find out more here.

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Featured Image – Clothes Cycle Market | BBC | The Manc Group