Be Dazzled by Manchester at Night with These Fun or Free Activities

From illuminated historic buildings to buzzy bars, here's how to experience the beauty of Manchester after dark.

Think Manchester is fun in the daytime? Just wait until you experience Manchester at night. This is a city that comes alive after dark, when the buildings are illuminated and the food and drink scene kicks things up a gear. There's so much to do here, and something to appeal to every age and type of traveller, from grown-up gaming venues to huge cinemas, ornate theatres and an incredible bar and restaurant scene, with plenty of skyline views of course. Sightseeing at night takes on a whole other level too, with iconic buildings including the city's stadiums and cathedrals all lit up. Whether you're looking for free things to do in Manchester at night, or you're happy to pay a little more, here's what we suggest seeing and doing in the city.

Fun things to do in Manchester at night

Grown-up gaming

Grown-up gaming venues are booming, and Manchester may just be the epicentre of the fun. These are places where you can combine games like darts and crazy golf with great cocktails, craft beer and food. Try Alcatraz Manchester – a speakeasy prison cocktail bar where you'll need to smuggle your liquor past wardens to drink in this bar behind bars. If that's not for you then Junkyard Golf may well be, a dark space where crazy golf courses are illuminated by pink lights and neon paint. There's racket table games at 222 Ping Pong, speakeasy vibes and shooting at Point Blank Shooting, or for something more active, try Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing.

Entertainment at Printworks

Younger visitors may prefer a trip to Manchester Printworks, a hub of entertainment, where you'll find everything from bars and restaurants and family favorites like Nandos and Wagamama to the second-biggest IMAX cinema screen in Europe. Looking for free things to do in Manchester at night? Check out the huge digital screens at Printworks – the largest in Europe – which stretches across walls and ceilings. They also double as interactive e-gaming screens, where you can play games against others in the building using your smartphone – with no need to buy tickets.

  • Address: 27 Withy Grove, Manchester M4 2BS
  • Getting there: Hop on bus 2 from the train station, or it's around 10 minutes in a taxi.

Night-lit stadiums

Two of the city's biggest sites take on a new appearance at night – that's Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium. These iconic football grounds draw in fans for matches during the day, but the way they are dramatically lit up at night brings a whole other level of appreciation to their sheer size and importance not just in the city but in the world.


Old Trafford

  • Address: Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0RA
  • Getting there: It's a 30-minute tram journey on the blue line from Piccadilly Station.

Events at Manchester Cathedral

A stroll past Manchester Cathedral at night is a must-do when visiting the city. Although the cathedral is only open until 4pm, there are plenty of ways to appreciate the interiors, with an impressive series of events taking place beneath its vaulted ceilings on the weekends, from classical music by candlelight to funk and soul nights from the likes of Craig Charles. Don't fancy any of these events? Simply appreciate the listed building from the outside for free. The Gothic building stretches across Victoria Street. Step back and gaze up at the 15th-century clock tower, which is the oldest part of the cathedral and is often lit up for special events.

  • Address: Victoria St, Manchester M3 1SX
  • Getting there: Get the number 2 bus from the station, or it's around 15 minutes in a taxi.

Thursday Lates at Whitworth Art Gallery

Another building that becomes even more impressive when it's illuminated at night is the Whitworth Art Gallery. In the daytime you'd be here to stroll around over 60,000 artworks inside, but by night you're here to appreciate the wide red-brick building, with its grand entrance. Make the most of Thursday Lates, when the exhibitions and shop are open until 9pm, so you can appreciate inside and out after dark during certain times of the year.

  • Address: Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
  • Opening hours: 10am-5pm seven days a week, except Thursdays which are 10am-9pm.
  • Getting there: Take the 147 from the train station towards West Didsbury and get off at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

See a show at Palace Theatre

There's no shortage of excellent theatres in Manchester, and a trip to the Palace Theatre is the place to catch touring musicals such as Chicago, Bat Out of Hell and Blood Brothers, along with plenty of options for younger kids, like Mary Poppins. Big-name comedians regularly have this theatre on their touring schedule, so it's worth checking out the site in advance, or trying your luck at the box office for last-minute tickets.

  • Address: 97 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6FT
  • Getting there: It's an 11-minute walk from Piccadilly Station.

Comedy and music at the Manchester Opera House

Plenty more big-name comedians add this opulent opera house to their touring schedule, and you'll also find some of the UK's best tribute acts – from George Michael and Elton John to Taylor Swift – performing here.

  • Address: 3 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HP
  • Getting there: Take the blue or purple tram to St Peter's Square, from there it's an eight-minute walk.

Stroll photoworthy Castlefield at night

Budding photographers will love the Castlefield Basin area at night – a great photography spot for beginners and pros. It’s famous for its canals and historic charm during the day, but by night you’ll see the lights from the city’s tallest skyscrapers reflected in the water, which can make for a fun photography challenge.

Good to know: As with any walk at night you may take in Manchester or anywhere else in the globe, it’s best to not venture into poorly lit or overly quiet areas.

A big night out in Manchester

Northern Quarter

It’s one of the most famous nightlife districts in the world, and for good reason. Even if you’re not planning a big night out, it’s a great place for a nighttime stroll, soaking up the buzzy atmosphere, historic red-brick buildings (which are often used as doubles in films for NYC street scenes) and popping into a cosy cocktail bar or local pub. Grab a seat beneath the glittering mirror balls of the quirky Night & Day Cafe, or try Public, with its industrial décor, fun twists on Pina Coladas and 3am closing time on weekends. The area is known for its dive-style bars, but for something more elegant, try The Daisy, where Negronis are made with plum sake.

  • Getting there: It’s a 15-minute walk, or a short taxi, from Piccadilly Station.

Canal Street

This is the epicentre of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ scene, and worth wandering along to soak up the fun energy. You’ll find dozens of gay-friendly bars here, or a little further out, just over the water, is Red Light, which is located in Minshull Warehouse and has great happy hour deals. If you’re hoping for a really late night out, your best chances are here.

  • Getting there: It’s a 15-minute walk, or a short taxi, from Piccadilly Station.

Restaurants – from cheap to chic

Food halls

If you’re in the mood for pizza and the person you’re with fancies a burger, Asian or falafel, you’re in luck: Manchester is full of excellent food halls, where there’s a lively evening atmosphere and excellent drinks to choose from too. There’s Mackie Mayor, a Northern Quarter institution, with its beautiful Grade-II listed building. Or you may prefer GRUB, which is a lovely spot in the summer thanks to its beer garden, although the indoor space is great over the autumn and winter too. It’s here that you’ll find every cuisine imaginable, from Vietnamese to Greek and Italian to Irish. Even if you don’t plan on eating or drinking loads, they are great places to soak up the nighttime atmosphere without having to book a table or pay for an activity.

Mackie Mayor

  • Address: Smithfield Market Hall, 1 Eagle St, Manchester M4 5BU
  • Opening hours: 9am-11pm (Saturday), 9am-6pm (Sunday)
  • Getting there: Hop on the yellow tram line at Piccadilly Station and travel for five minutes.

City skyline views

If you're longing to see the glittering Manchester skyline at night, from the warmth of a plush padded armchair, look no further than the Level 3 Lounge and Restaurant at Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel. Not only is the hotel a great place to bed down for the night, thanks to its city-centre location and modern rooms, but it's a great spot for appreciating the city's rooftops and skyscrapers whether it's in daylight at breakfast, or after dark while tucking into your evening meal.

  • Address: City Tower, Portland St, Manchester M1 4PH
  • Getting there: It's a 12-minute walk from the train station, or a few minutes in a taxi.

Curry Mile

A walk along Curry Mile in Rusholme is a feast for the senses, with brightly lit restaurants and fragrant aromas in the air. But it would be a shame to head to Rusholme and not have something to eat, whether you fancy a traditional curry house with white table cloths, or something more contemporary.

  • Address: Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TB
  • Transport: Take the 142 or 143 bus from Piccadilly Gardens.

Manchester's night-time scene offers plenty of charm, diversity and vibrancy, whether you're looking for a luxury experience or for something that won't break the budget. Need a coffee the morning after? Check out our insider guide to the city's best cafés.