It’s time to say goodbye to January and step into another new month.
Now that February is here, and the vast majority of Plan B restrictions in England have now been lifted, the year is really starting to kick into action, and there is plenty packed into the events calendar.
So we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best things happening across the region this week to put together another fresh edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, which is perfect for that post-Christmas bank balance, or 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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Van Gogh Alive
MediaCityUK
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Monday 31 January – 27 February
Over 100,000 people have been to visit theVan Gogh Alive experience since it arrived at MediaCity UK a couple of months back.
And it’s now extended its Salford stay right through until 27 February.
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Van Gogh Alive takes people on a trip through the periods of Van Gogh’s life that defined him as an artist and showcases 3,000 images, including some of his most iconic works like Starry Night and Sunflowers, and lesser-known paintings inspired by his love of Japanese woodprints. The exhibition is home to a life-sized walk-in representation of Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom in Arles’ painting, a ‘Sunflower selfie room’ – a 360° mirrored space complete with hundreds of sunflowers, and so much more
Tickets are priced at £23.50 for adults and £16.50 for children, with concessions and school group discounts available. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Christie charity either when purchasing tickets, or while at the exhibition.
You’ve only got one more day left to make the most of Veganuary.
Manchester is one of the best places in the country to eat out if you’re trying to go vegan – be that for Veganuary, or any other time of the year.
The city has an absolute slew of dedicated vegan restaurants, serving up everything ranging from ‘dirty’ plant-based fast food to sit-down gastropub and fine dining-style restaurants, giving those exploring a plant-powered diet a real boost when it comes to eating out. But beyond that, you can even trust that most restaurants in the city – even if they’re not designed for vegans – will have one or two suitable dishes on their menu.
Veganuary 2022 could be a more perfect time to find out what Manchester’s plant-based foodie scene is all about.
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Check out our list of the best places to find vegan food in Manchester here.
The Manchester Open is one of the most successful exhibition in HOME’s history.
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The first region-wide exhibition of its type to welcome entries from people of any background and level of experience – including established professionals, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs and first-time artists – HOME’s Gallery walls have been filled with work from 400+ Greater Manchester residents, which have been selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
With an amazing 2,271 artwork entries, the judging panel have said they were impressed by the range, quality, differing artistic styles, and inspirational work being created across Greater Manchester.
It’s Chinese New Year 2022, and as always, Manchester has a whole week of celebrations lined up to mark the occasion.
While Manchester’s usual annual celebrations for Chinese New Year – also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival – may be on a slightly smaller scale this year due to the COVID restrictions in place to allow visitors to safely enjoy the events, there’s still plenty happening across the city centre to help bring in the ‘Year of the Tiger’.
To honour 2022’s animal namesake, a large-scale tiger art sculpture will take centre stage in St Ann’s Square as just one the events in the calendar.
You may have also seen that thousands of red lanterns have started adorning the city’s streets, and you can also expect the chance to take in some spectacular live performances, feast on authentic street food, and a make the most of a funfair, plus some traditional lion and dragon dances over the course of the week too.
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You can find out about the celebrations lined up for Chinese New Year 2022 in Manchester here.
A new ‘Fireground’ experience has opened up inside an old museum, and it gives kids the chance to play at being firefighters for a day.
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Newly-opened attraction Fireground Rochdale has replaced the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum in Rochdale’s old fire station, and it has everything from fully-restored fire engines, historic horse-drawn fire carriages, and manual hand-operated pumps, to an immersive Victorian street scene, and a scene from the blitz complete with lighting and sound effects all under one roof.
But probably one of the best parts about the new attraction for children is the interactive display elements that are there to teach them about the fire service’s impressive and extensive history.
In what is undeniably the stuff of dreams for cheese lovers, you can now take part in a cheese and wine crawl around Manchester city centre.
Manchester is city that’s packed with culture.
But if you don’t fancy seeing the sights through one of the more typical tours, The Manchester Cheese Crawl will take you around some of the cheesiest spots the city has to offer for two hours of non-stop cheese-related fun – including everything from blue cheese tasting, to cheese quizzes, competitions, and more.
Tickets cost just £25 each, and include cheese samples, optional bread and crackers, and some red wine to complement.
Manchester’s biggest and friendliest street food venue GRUB is hosting a very-special event with a synaesthesia artist who can see colours to teach you how to paint a song.
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Libby Ayres is a Manchester-based artist with neurological condition called synaesthesia, which is best described as linking two or more of the five senses. Libby’s unique condition means that she can hear colours, she uses this incredible gift to create beautiful pieces of art by painting songs, and during the workshop at GRUB this Friday, Libby will guide you through the technique to create your own canvas to take home by painting ‘All My Friends’ by LCD Sound System.
GRUB will of course also be hosting a street food fair on the night.
Tickets for this one-of-a-kind event are are priced at £30 – which includes a welcome drink, all materials needed, and the workshop itself – and you can find out more information and grab yours here.
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Camelot Rises
Charnock Richard
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Saturday 5 February – 6 March
Credit: Park N Party
It’s not strictly in Greater Manchester, but have you heard that legendary North West theme park Camelot is set to reopen to the public this week? But not as we know it, though.
The medieval-themed Lancashire attraction may been out of use for a decade and is largely derelict, but now, thanks to Park N Party – the company behind ScareCity and Christmas City – its abandoned rides and empty footpaths are about to be brought by to life by the undead, as a new interactive event series, called Camelot Rises, will see the eerie theme park filled with zombies.
Live actors, accompanied by scene-setting lights and sounds, will interact with visitors in a truly gory experience, and there’ll also screenings of some of the biggest zombie blockbusters of all time.
You can find out more, and grab tickets at £50 here.
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Fancy making the most of all the January deals, discounts, and offers in Manchester’s cafes, bars, and restaurants?
Well once again, you’ve only got one more day left.
January is typically a time when many vow to change their eating habits, but even the most committed dieter should be tempted by these Manchester restaurant deals, discounts, and offers.
Whether you are starting a new diet, ditching alcohol, or trying out Veganuary, that’s no reason to stay at home.
Not when you’ve got January dining (and drinking) offers floating around like some of these.
Credit: Almost Famous | Bab MCR
From vegan restaurants running their 50% off deals right into February, to some top Manchester restaurants offering huge deals on food AND drink, plus half-price burgers, burritos, kebabs and more, keep reading to discover the best January restaurant deals to take advantage of in 2022.
Need more of a reason to get excited about what’s in store for 2022?
2021 may not have exactly gone to plan, but our buzzing region is looking forward to the year ahead with some seriously exciting things on the horizon, and Marketing Manchester – the organisation that incorporates our tourism board and the official website visitmanchester.com – has once again pulled together a list of things to get excited about in the year ahead.
Mayfield Park & Band on the Wall / Credit: Mayfield Partnership | Band on the Wall
The round-up list includes everything from outdoor experiences and cultural developments, to hospitality openings, events, and so much more.
You can read the list of 22 things to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2022here.
Manc actor Max Beesley shares touching moment with his dad after latest Hollywood role
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester-born actor Max Beesley has shared a heartwarming story from when he first got into acting, not to mention how he tried to repay the support since day one by his biggest fan, his dad, more than three decades later.
A familiar face in British film and television over the years, the now fully fledged Manc movie star has booked some of the biggest gigs of his career of late.
Having gone from appearing in UK classics like Looking For Eric and landing parts in the Sky drama Jamestown back in 2019, to appearing in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen TV series and more recently Netflix’s Hijack with Idris Elba, he’s becoming a more recognisable face not just here in the North.
But there was a time when becoming a full-time actor was just a pie in the sky dream of a Burnage boy who fell in love with films – all thanks to his father’s fantastic taste in movies…
As the now 55-year-old actor wrote on social media: “1992. South Manchester. I watched a film, turned to my dad, and told him I was going to New York to become an actor. No agent. No contacts.
Just a flight and a plan. He didn’t laugh. He said, ‘Go for it, son.’ Thirty-four years later, he came to the Jack Ryan set. Best mate I’ve ever had.”
He also went on to credit another key name in the caption, adding, “The coach who helped me then and still today is the queen of acting, the best in the business in my opinion: Sheila Nieves Gray. Life-changing techniques and tools. I love you too, Sheila.”
Gray – who has been running an acting school from NYC since 1990 – was evidently one of the first people Max met when he arrived in the States, and clearly had a huge impact on his professional life.
You just have to love stories like this; we still remember watching shows and thinking he was a standout.
These two BBC and Sky One (remember that?) cult hits are among his best-known TV appearances.
After working with her all that time ago, his career has been on a gradual climb ever since, and while you could argue he’s had multiple ‘breakout’ roles, his progression feels very much like slow and steady wins the race; good things come to those who wait, and all that.
As for his dad, Maxton Beesley Sr., it sounds like he couldn’t have been named after and raised by a more supportive parental figure than any stereotypical, model dad you’ll see in the movies.
Having also starred in the second Gentlemen spin-off flick, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (starring Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, Aubrey Plaza and more), this latest project is the second feature-length adaptation of an existing streaming service hit, with John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan now on the big screen.
You can see the trailer for Jack Ryan: Ghost War down below.
His last two jobs were both Emmy-nominated – let’s see how this one lines up against them.
Featured Images — Max Beesley (screenshot via Instagram)/Amazon Prime Video (still)
What's On
Great Manchester Run guide for 2026 – route map, waves and start times, travel advice and more
Danny Jones
‘Marathon season’ may be over for some, but not for those taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester, which returns this year for its 23rd edition.
The 2026 Great Manchester Run takes place this Sunday, 31 May, and tens of thousands of Mancs and more are set to take on the challenge, be that the fan favourite and super flat 10k, or the equally popular half-marathon.
Whatever distance you’re doing, or even if you’re just turning up to cheer on your mates and loved ones, we’ve put together a list of all the important details ahead of another sell-out event – but places
Here’s everything you need to know…
Great Manchester Run 2026 – all the key info
The GMR course map for 2026
If you’re wondering what the route for this year’s Great Manchester Run is like, it’s largely the same as most other years, no matter which race you’re talking about.
As a brief overview, the 10k course takes you from the start line on Portland Street, towards Old Trafford and the edge of Salford Quays, before heading back into town.
Meanwhile, the half-marathon route covers the same ground, but you also take along the Mancunian Way and over to the Nexen Bridge to Manchester City’s Etihad Campus and then back over the elevated motorway for the two main bits of your elevation.
Best of all, both share that box office finish line on the main Deansgate strip, where you can drink in all the glory; you can see a more in-depth look at both down below.
The 2026 route map, including water stations and toilet stops. (Credit: AJ Bell Great Manchester Run)
What are the Great Manchester run waves and start times?
Now, for those of you who are putting the great in Greater Manchester this year, the first thing on the docket for 2026 is the information point opening bright and early, before elite runners and those with visual impairments start assembling from 7:15am.
After that, the warm-up and subsequent waves (which you’ll find on your tour bib along with your participant number and RFID chips) will set off in staggered intervals until just after half past eight.
For anyone who hasn’t yet received their race pack, you can visit the info point, and your access point to the start line will also be signposted according to your corresponding wave colour.
As for those doing the shorter dash, here’s your breakdown:
10k running order (pun intended)
7:55 – Elite Wheelchair Athletes Start
11:00 – Assembly Opens: Fast Paced, Orange and Green Waves
11:30 – Elite Women Start
11:32 – Warm Up
11:40 – Visually Impaired (VI) Participants Start
11:45 – Elite Men, Fast Paced and Orange Wave Start
12:05 – Green Wave Start
12:25 – Assembly Opens: Purple and Pink Waves
12:40 – Warm Up
12:50 – Purple Wave Starts
13:10 – Pink Wave Starts
AJ Bell’s Junior and Mini children’s races – Great Manchester Run
As always, 2026 will also see the joint junior and mini races for kids, which takes place separately from the main course and hordes of runners on the Sunday.
Getting underway on Saturday, 30 May), mini runners (aged 3-8) race through a 1.6km dash, and junior runners (aged 9-15) will take on a 2.5km challenge.
Supporters are encouraged to come along and experience this joyous spin-off over at the Etihad Campus, with stars from the hit BBC reboot of Gladiators set to join in the party.
If your little ones have speedy feet, keep an eye out for 2027 sign-ups when they go live.
📢 Calling all future running stars!
Super Saturdays are BACK for 2026 🎉🦸
Join the UK’s best kids running series, packed with fundraising, family time and fun at our Junior & Mini events 🙌
Great MCR Run travel advice, diversions and road closures
Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 40,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.
Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day, and various other arms of the Bee Network (who have a full guide ahead of the event) will be there to get people around the event.
If you do end up driving into the region for the action, we would recommend you use one of Greater Manchester’s multiple park and ride sites and then use one of our many Metrolink services to travel into the city centre itself.
Whitworth Street West: 6.30am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
It’s also worth noting that there will be a number of bus diversions on the day; you can consult the adjusted timetable HERE.
Event village + other pre- and post-race extras
This year’s event village is based on St Peter’s Square and is open to everyone; it’s set to feature a wide range of activities, charities and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy.
From giveaways and competitions in partnership with the AJ Bell ‘Money Matters’ team, as well as Solgar, Mitchum, Liquid I. V. and SiS energy gels (we’re sure enough of you will be more than familiar after the run is all said and done), there’s a lot of different bits and bobs up for grabs.
We don’t know about you, but we’ll be heading straight to the mobile Lucky Saint bar, which will be serving ice-cold, refreshing, alcohol-free beers – they’re going to hit SO different after a run in the sun.
Credit: Supplied (via Great Manchester Run/Lucky Saint)
Cheer zones and support hubs: best spots to watch the Great Manchester Run
For those of you set to line the streets and provide your much-needed support on race day, there are some key sections where the atmosphere from the crowd will be injected into the runners.
As well as drummers, local choirs and lots more surprises to keep your energy pumping throughout, there’ll be some big corners to look out for your loved ones.
You can find some of the main supporter hotspots and where they are along the route down below, but we’d personally recommend the roundabout coming heading towards Chester Road, the small grassy mounts and central reservation either side of Cornbrook, and the corner of Deansgate-Castlefield.
Half marathon
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5-mile marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 10/11-mile marker
Cornbrook – 12-mile marker
Deansgate-Castlefield exchange – for the finish line
10k
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Cornbrook – 2km marker
Old Trafford – 4km marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6km marker
Cornbrook – 9km marker
Deansgate-Castlefield corner – for the finish line
We want this kind of energy all day long, please and thank you:
Every year, we always get to see a fair few celebs and noteworthy names either taking on the 13.1-mile/21.1k dash, be that out on the start line with the rest of you, teaming up with the official BBC presenting team, or simply helping cheer on in their own way.
This one is no different – familiar faces to look out for include: Traitors stars, Reece Ward, Jessie Roux and Jack Butler, Race Across the World winners, Kush Burman and Joe Diop, siblings Katie and Harrison Devine, Caroline Bridge, along with Emon Choudhury, running in memory of the late Sam Gardiner.
Cast members from Waterloo Road will also be there, such as Jason Merrells (Jack Rimmer), Maisie Robinson (Portis Weaver), Tillie Amartey (Stace Neville) and Cory McClane (Ashton Stone); the same goes for Corrie and Emmerdale stars.
Before we wrap this thing up, there’s also the matter of how to track runners on the day as they make their way along the course. The easiest way to do this is by downloading the Great Run app, where you can simply enter runners’ names and race numbers to follow along. You can find it HERE.
Obviously, there are also options such as the FindMy apps and the likes of WhatsApp, where you can share location for several hours throughout the duration of the day.
There is also the dedicated AJ Bell ‘Motivation Station’ along the last stretch of the city centre track, where people can write messages of support for those final metres and yards. Enter yours now.
Last but not least, you can find the official event guide in full on the Great Run website, with all the info above and more, plus plenty of other extras.
Once again, we’d also encourage you all to download the official app, which should help you access all these key details quickly and easily, not to mention have your tracker to hand so you don’t miss the all-important runners on the day.
That’s just about it; all we have left to say is have a wonderful Great Manchester Run and have an incredible day – and for those of you running: go and absolutely smash it! We’re proud of you already.
Emily Sergeant -
28th January 2022 
