What's On

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 25 April – 1 May 2022

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 22nd April 2022

Yet another month in Manchester is done and dusted, and it’s now time to welcome May.

Despite April being a busy month, there’s still plenty to be getting up to across the region this week, so we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best things happening for our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond.

As always, some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, which is great for those looking to keep things on the cheaper side, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.

Here’s our top picks.

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The Stockport Collection by Heidi Alexander

Where The Light Gets In

Monday 25 April – Sunday 1 May

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Credit: Heidi Alexander

Long-lost images of life in 1970s Stockport are going display at local restaurant, Where The Light Gets In, this weekend after they were shared on social media.

Unearthed by a Swiss-born photographer Heidi Alexander during the COVID-19 pandemic, the images had been gathering dust for decades, and had endured several house moves and even storage in Scotland, but now, a selection of the shots will be free for all to see to at the restaurant.

You can find out more about the collection here.

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Roxy Curling Lanes

Roxy Ball Room

Monday 25 April – onwards

In what is a first for Manchester city centre, popular Deansgate venue Roxy Ball Room has added ice-free curling lanes to its adults-only playground this month, and it means that revellers can take on games of pool, crazy golf, ping pong, beer pong, shuffleboard, and curling, all in one evening.

The venue has remodelled its top floor to make room for two full-size, ice-free curling lanes.

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Players are given four curling stones per team, which they have to carefully slide down the length of the ice-like surface, aiming for a huge target at the other end.

You can find out more here.

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500 Free Pizza Slices at Nell’s

KAMPUS

Tuesday 26 April

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Credit: The Manc Group

One of Manchester’s best pizza joints is giving away 500 free slices this week to celebrate the opening of its new Slice Shop.

Nell’s New York Pizza & Bar at KAMPUS will open up a new area next week dedicated to its famous – and massive – pizza slices, and people will be able to grab wedges of these 22-inch pizzas for as little as £2.25 a slice, including its popular Do You ‘Roni Honey pizza topped with ‘nduja, pepperoni and chilli honey.

But the New York-style pizza will be flying out free of charge this for the first 500 people to rock up at KAMPUS from 12pm annd 3pm on Tuesday 26 April.

You can find out more here.

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Heroes of Manchester

Band on the Wall

Wednesday 27 April

Credit: Band on the Wall

We all know that Manchester has a rich history of musical heritage, and Band on the Wall’s ‘Heroes of Manchester’ is a brand-new project that dives into the unknown and lesser-known musical heroes of our city.

This show gives a flavour of Manchester’s independent underground, featuring a line-up of genre-spanning artists, such as Ellen Beth Abdi, Berry Blacc, Kemani Anderson, and Konny Kon, who are all breaking new ground.

The artists will be performing work originally written by the Unsung Heroes of Manchester – a selection of hugely influential but lesser-known names from the city’s musical history.

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You can find out more here.

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Acoustic Sessions

Joshua Brooks

Thursday 28 April

Credit: Joshua Brooks

City centre bar, restaurant, nightlife destination, and live music venue Joshua Brooks is hosting another one of its popular Acoustic Sessions this Thursday, with some great local musicians lined up to play in the bar area from 8pm.

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Not only that, but cocktails will also be available for just £5 all day, and half-price wine.

You can find out more here.

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The Village Screen

Peak Cavern

Thursday 28 April – Sunday 1 May

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Credit: The Village Screen

One of the Peak District’s most impressive landmarks is being turned into a pop-up cinema by The Village Screen this spring, and the first films in the series are being screened this week.

The dramatic Peak Cavern will be kitted out with a full cinema set-up, plus cosy blankets and hot water bottles, for an unmissable film experience. Visitors will be greeted by live music, street food stalls, and pop-up bars before heading through to the cinema area, surrounded on all sides by stunning natural limestone walls.

Films on this week’s schedule include The Lost Boys, The Goonies, The Descent, and Back to the Future.

You can find out more here.

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Cloudwater X Levanter – California Bank Holiday

KAMPUS

Thursday 28 April – Sunday 1 May

Credit: KAMPUS | Cloudwater Brewery

Manchester’s neighbourhood KAMPUS will play host a solid ten weeks of back-to-back block parties from its canalside garden, with each weekend seeing guest DJs take to the decks to spin tunes from different corners of the world – and this weekend’s event is brining the Californian sun and lifestyle to our city.

Free-flowing beer will come courtesy of Manchester brewery Cloudwater, and food will be provided by Ramsbottom favourites Levanter serving up tapas, giant paella, and charcuterie boards aplenty.

This weekend, you can expect a beach soundtrack, surf rock and hip hop, with plenty of guest beers flown in.

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You can find out more here.

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Beauty Unfiltered

The Trafford Centre

Friday 29 April – Sunday 1 May

Credit: The Trafford Centre

The Trafford Centre is hosting a Beauty Unfiltered takeover event this week, and it’s the first of its kind for the centre and the first internal event of this scale since 2019.

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The Beauty Unfiltered event will house international beauty and wellness brands to shop, explore, and experience, with a new temporary beauty studio located in Orient Way, supported by beauty giants Selfridges and John Lewis, and other brands confirmed to appear with pop-ups being Charlotte Tilbury, Boots, and Therapie.

The aim of the exclusive event is to encourage and inspire visitors to feel confident and comfortable in their own unique and beautiful skin.

You can find out more here.

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Malice in Wonderland

East Lancashire Railway

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Saturday 30 April

Credit: East Lancashire Railway

East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is hosting one of its Murder Mystery Nights this month, and it’s taking a topsy-turvy twist on a classic fairytale.

If you’re a big fan of Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, or you just enjoy a brilliant night of entertainment and fine dining, then the heritage railway’s popular Murder Mystery Nights are back for the first time in 2022 since the pandemic put them on hold, and you’re invited to bring your best detective people skills and hop aboard a stunning steam train travelling through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.

This Saturday is the turn of ‘Malice in Wonderland’, which is of course inspired by the classic Lewis Carroll 1865 children’s novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

You can find more information and book tickets here.

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Sounds From The Other City

Salford

Sunday 1 May

Credit: Sounds From The Other City

Salford’s beloved Sounds From the Other City festival (SFTOC) is returning to Chapel street‘s pubs, churches and community corners in 2022.

The festival is bringing new music, performance, and art to Salford from this Sunday.

Taking place this year on Sunday 1 May, 2022 at a host of small Salford venues, the underground music festival has built a reputation for bringing huge artists to the city whilst they are still at early points in their careers.

A firm favourite with local music lovers since it launched in 2005, this year’s line-up will continue to champion local promoters and small independent venues.

Spreading across a host of exciting indie venues, the 2022 event will continue to celebrate intimate gigs in small spaces – taking over the likes of Bexley Square, Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse, fivefourstudios, Hot Bed Press, Old Pint Pot, YES, Partisan, Porta, Regent Trading Estate, Saint Philip’s Church and The New Oxford.

Find out more here.

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ManiFest

The Oast House

Sunday 1 May

Credit: The Oast House

One of the most popular city centre venues is back with another edition of its new music festival this May bank holiday weekend.

The Oast House, has launched a brand-new music festival, and it kicked-off for the first time over the extended Easter bank holiday weekend, with a full day of tunes provided by local musicians throughout the one-day event – and now, it’s back once again for the upcoming May bank holiday on Sunday 1 May.

The festival, which is named ManiFest, takes over The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace area, with a dedicated stage set up.

You can find out more here.

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Featured Image – The Oast House | Nell’s Pizza

What's On

15 of the best family events in Greater Manchester this Easter school holidays

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Schools are now out across Greater Manchester, and that means families will be looking for activities to keep the the kids occupied for the next two weeks.

Keeping little ones entertained, educated, engaged, and enjoying themselves all at the same time is, undoubtedly, a real task – but luckily, the bustling city of Manchester and the surrounding areas have got you covered with so much to offer.

With outdoor retro funfairs, egg hunts, seasonal themed events, gaming extravaganzas, and so much more all in the events calendar, we’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly things to do across the Greater Manchester region and beyond if you’re in need of some school holiday inspiration.

Some of the events on the list are completely free of charge, while others will set you back a few pounds but are still pretty cost-effective.

Here’s just a handful of our picks.

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Spring Escape

Trafford Centre

Spring Escape / Credit: Trafford Centre

A giant outdoor funfair full of vintage fairground rides and a circus is back at the Trafford Centre.

After several hugely successful runs in both 2021 and 2022, the UK’s third largest shopping centre’s outdoor space has “sprung to life” once again for the school holidays, and is back with a whole host of thrilling rides, a glittering circus, and lots of delicious treats for the whole family to enjoy.

Spring Escape has popped up outside the Great Hall, and tickets are now available to buy for the wide range of events on offer.

Find out more here.

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Gaming Extravaganza

Science and Industry Museum

Gaming Extravaganza / Credit: Science Museum Group

A massive “gaming extravaganza” is happening down at the Science and Industry Museum while schools are out this month.

As part of the museum’s hugely-popular ongoing interactive gaming experience, Power UP, visitors will be transported inside their favourite games as part of the Actual Reality Arcade – a life-size nostalgic gaming experience that’s promising to “unlock memories” players star in real-life versions of some retro favourite games, including Invaders and Breakout. 

Young gaming lovers can also explore a special Pac-Man floor maze, and families can level up together with some super-size gaming too.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

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The Really Wild Egg Trail

Chester Zoo

The Really Wild Egg Trail / Credit: Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo has launched an Easter egg hunt with a twist.

If you’re looking for something to keep the kids entertained and educated at the same time while schools are out this Easter, the UK’s largest charity and conservation zoo’s ‘Really Wild Egg Trail’ will see giant 3D eggs hidden over the 128-acre site.

But the catch is, each of the six hidden eggs all belong to animals that you might not expect to hatch from eggs.

Find out more here.

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Castlefield Viaduct

Manchester City Centre

Castlefield Viaduct / Credit: National Trust

Families are encouraged to make the most of Manchester‘s new ‘sky park’ on Castlefield Viaduct during the school holidays.

The New York-inspired elevated urban park on the giant Grade II-listed 330-metre steel viaduct has been closed since December to allow time for the team of National Trust gardeners, volunteers, and community partners to prune, plant, and create new and exciting areas.

On top of the work to add a variety of seasonal planting displays created by, four plots on the viaduct have also been handed over to local community groups and partner organisations to create their own unique gardens for visitors to enjoy.

Find out more and book tickets here.

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Farm Weekend

Alderley Park

Farm Weekend / Credit: Jody Hartley

Farm Weekend is back at Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park this Easter school holidays.

With families from all across Greater Manchester and the North West set to their way to Macclesfield for two days of wholesome springtime fun on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 April, you can expect a weekend full of different outdoor family-friendly activities, performances, markets, and lots of local food and drink.

From tractor rides, falconry flying displays, and lamb cuddles, to bushcraft demonstrations, archery lessons, obstacle courses, interactive animal petting sessions, Easter-themed crafts, and artisan markets, there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy at the two-day event.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

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Double Bubble Dome

Manchester Arndale

Double Bubble Dome / Credit: Manchester Arndale

A ‘Double Bubble Dome’ full of edible milk chocolate bubbles will be at Manchester Arndale this Easter.

Straight from the world of Willy Wonka, this free activity give kids and adults alike the chance to bite edible bubbles from right out the air as the Bubble Volacano explodes, and win some exciting prizes and goody bags along the way.

Shoppers are also encouraged to share their experience at the event on social media to be in with the chance of winning great-tasting gifts from the likes of Hotel Chocolat, Lindt, Poundland, WHSmith, Over the Rainbow, and Candy Crunch. 

Find out more here.

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Heaton Park Big Egg Hunt

Heaton Park

Heaton Park Big Egg Hunt / Credit: Heaton Park

Heaton Park’s flagship ‘Big Egg Hunt’ is back this Easter.

From 11am-3pm on Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 April, and for just £3 per ticket, everyone from the tiniest tots to big kids can take part and hunt for eggs hidden around the park.

To take part, all you need to do is visit the Heaton Park reception based in the tunnel at the stable block and follow the map to locate clues that will help you solve the puzzle, and then, to claim your prize, you’ll just need to return to the desk with the completed mystery word puzzle.   

Find out more here.

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Breakfast With Bunny

Printworks

Breakfast With Bunny / Credit: Hard Rock Coffee

Printworks is another city centre venue that’s packed its Easter holiday events calendar with a wide range of interactive events for all the family.

In what is sure to be one of the more popular events on the lineup, the venue’s legendary Hard Rock Cafe is hosting a special Breakfast With Bunny on Sunday 2 April, and it’s giving families the chance to join the Easter Bunny for an unlimited all-American breakfast

There’ll also be face painting and lots of other “magical entertainment” to make the most of during the two hour event.

Tickets are now on sale, and you can find out more here.

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The Great Hunt

Trafford Centre

The Great Hunt / Credit: Selfridges

Selfridges at the Trafford Centre is another place to head to this week if you’re looking to get the family all together and join in the hunt for Easter eggs hidden around the store’s kids and toys department, as “rumour has it, the Easter bunny hid the best eggs at Selfridges.”

There’s eight eggs to find, and chocolate prizes up for grabs, with a whole host of other “surprises” promised along the way.

Find out more here.

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Return to Wonderland: A City Hunt

Escape Hunt

Return to Wonderland / Credit: Escape Hunt

Escape Hunt has launched a new City Hunt adventure just in time for Easter, and it’s giving families the chance to go outdoors, discover our city in a way like never before, and jump down the rabbit hole as it is Alice in Wonderland themed.

The hunt will start at Escape Hunt at the Corn Exchange, and you’ll be set up with an iPad and picnic hamper filled with everything you should need to complete your adventure.

Tickets are now on sale, and what’s more, is that children under eight go completely free.

Find out more here.

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The Wizarding Adventure & The Dino Adventure

East Lancashire Railway

The Wizarding Adventure & The Dino Adventure / Credit: ELR

Two of the East Lancashire Railway’s (ELR) fan-favourite events are back this school holidays, and they’re giving families the chance to go on dinosaur and Harry Potter-themed steam train rides through the picturesque Greater Manchester.

The Wizarding Adventure is an interactive Hogwarts Express-style experience full of performances by colourful characters and magical creatures, while The Dino Adventure gives dino fans to “get your teeth into some Jurassic Lark” and go on a prehistoric expedition on “a time-travelling steam train” to meet with a herd of adorable baby dinosaurs.

Find out more and grab tickets to all of ELR’s Easter events here.

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The Giant Easter Egg Hunt

RHS Garden Bridgewater

The Giant Easter Egg Hunt / Credit: RHS Garden Bridgewater

RHS Garden Bridgewater has got a whole host of family-friendly activities planned throughout the school holidays, but one of the stand-out events has to be the chance to head out on a hunt for giant Easter eggs.

Families can search for giant eggs hidden around the garden to win a chocolate prize.

After you’ve had a go at finding all the hidden eggs, there’s also plenty of other activities to get involved with – including craft workshops, interactive performances, and more.

Find out more here.

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Flight Academy

Runway Visitor Park

Flight Academy / Credit: Runway Visitor Park

Little Mancs can try their hand at becoming a pilot this school holidays, as the much-loved Flight Academy returns to Manchester Airport.

The Flight Academy programme is back at Runway Visitor Park with 90-minute sessions to give curious kids the chance to learn all about the different job roles that help keep Manchester‘s airport in action throughout the year.

The first part of the session takes place aboard a retired Monarch DC10 airliner, so kids can sit in the cockpit and find out about everything from the cabin crew’s role, to the ground operators, and more, and they’ll even get to dress the part, and “take control” of the flight deck too.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

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Selfridges Spring Kids Craft Workshop

Trafford Centre

Spring Kids Craft Workshop / Credit: Selfridges

If you’re looking to let your child’s creativity run wild this Easter holidays, then Selfridges Trafford Centre is hosting a workshop led by the creative experts at Pop Up & Play, where little ones will be guided through an hour-long spring-themed crafting session to make their own creations, and take them home to proudly display once they’re done.

Suitable for children aged four and above, tickets are £5 each and are now available to buy.

Find out more here.

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Featured Image – RHS | Jody Hartley | National Trust

What's On

Some tourists will have to pay £1 to visit Manchester from this weekend

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester, St Peter's Square

Manchester is becoming the first city in the UK to introduce a ‘tourist tax’ from this weekend.

Visitors staying over in one of the city centre’s hotels or apartments will now need to pay £1 per night, in a scheme known as the City Visitor Charge.

Officials hope it will raise up to £3m per year, which will ‘support future growth of the visitor economy and continued high performance for accommodation providers across the city’.

Hoteliers voted in favour of a new Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID) last year, as a way to respond to the ‘significant challenges currently facing the accommodation sector in Manchester’.

The tourist tax applies to 73 different accommodation offerings in the city centre, including Hotel Gotham, Dakota, and Kimpton Clocktower.

Any hotel or accommodation that falls within a mapped zone, and has a rateable value of £75,000 or more, is subject to the statutory Accommodation BID charge.

The Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID), and the ‘tourist tax’ zone. Credit: Manchester ABID

Similar schemes are already in place at several major cities in Europe, but Manchester is the first city in the UK to bring in a ‘tourist tax’.

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “These are exciting times for Manchester city centre with an unprecedented number of new hotel rooms being added and major new visitor attractions such as Factory International and Co-op Live due to open in the months ahead.

“Seizing that opportunity means ensuring as many rooms as possible are full all year round. We believe that targeted investment through the Manchester Accommodation BID will help support the accommodation sector – which plays such a vital role in supporting jobs in our city and adding to its overall vibrancy – to thrive.”

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Adrian Ellis, General Manager of the Lowry Hotel, Chair of the Manchester Hoteliers’ Association, and Interim Spokesperson for the Manchester Accommodation BID, said: “The Manchester Hoteliers’ Association has been in discussion for several years to develop options to create new, additional funding that will support continued high performance and future growth of the visitor economy for accommodation providers across the city.

“The result of these discussions is the Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District proposal, and I am delighted that hoteliers’ have voted in favour of creating an innovative, business-led solution to some of the problems we have been facing as a sector.

“A supplementary fee for guests, added to the final accommodation bill, is now an established norm within the travel sector across the world, and the Manchester Accommodation BID will now bring our accommodation sector in line with European and global counterparts and competitors.”

All the hotels where Manchester’s new ‘tourist tax’ applies

  • ABode Manchester
  • AC Hotel by Marriott Manchester City Centre
  • Britannia Hotel Manchester
  • Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels
  • CitySuites Manchester
  • Clayton Hotel Manchester City Centre
  • Cove – Minshull Street
  • Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre
  • Dakota Manchester
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester – Piccadilly
  • easyHotel Manchester City Centre
  • Great John Street Hotel
  • Hotel Campanile Manchester
  • Hotel Gotham
  • Hampton by Hilton Manchester Northern Quarter
  • Hilton Manchester Deansgate
  • Holiday Inn Express Manchester CC – Oxford Road
  • Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre – Arena
  • Holiday Inn Manchester – City Centre
  • Hotel Brooklyn Manchester
  • Hotel Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station
  • Hyatt Regency Manchester & Hyatt House
  • Ibis Budget Manchester Centre Pollard Street
  • ibis Manchester Centre Princess Street
  • ibis Manchester Centre 96 Portland Street
  • ibis Styles Manchester Portland
  • INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester
  • Kimpton Clocktower
  • King Street Townhouse
  • Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central
  • Leonardo Hotel Manchester Piccadilly
  • Leven Manchester
  • Manchester Piccadilly Hotel
  • Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre
  • Malmaison Manchester
  • Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel
  • Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel
  • The Midland Manchester
  • Motel One Manchester – Royal Exchange
  • Motel One Manchester – Piccadilly
  • Motel One Manchester – St Peter’s Square
  • Moxy Manchester City
  • Novotel Manchester Centre
  • Park Inn by Radisson Manchester City Centre
  • Pendulum Hotel
  • Premier Inn – Manchester (Deansgate Locks)
  • Premier Inn – Manchester City Centre Portland Street
  • Premier Inn Manchester Central
  • Premier Inn Manchester City (Piccadilly)
  • Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Princess Street)
  • Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Arena/Printworks)
  • Premier Inn Manchester City Centre West
  • The Edwardian Manchester, A Radisson Collection Hotel
  • Roomzzz Aparthotel Manchester City
  • Roomzzz Aparthotel Manchester Victoria
  • Sachas Hotel Manchester
  • Staycity Aparthotels – Manchester Piccadilly
  • Staycity Aparthotels – Northern Quarter
  • The Ainscow Hotel Manchester
  • The Alan
  • The Castlefield Hotel
  • The Gardens Hotel
  • The Lowry Hotel
  • Stock Exchange Hotel
  • Townhouse Hotel Manchester
  • Travelodge Manchester Ancoats
  • Travelodge Manchester Central Arena
  • Travelodge Manchester Central
  • Travelodge Manchester Piccadilly
  • Velvet
  • Whitworth Locke
  • Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity – St. Peter’s Square
  • Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Featured image:

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