The Ultimate Weekend in Manchester: Your Travel and Foodie Guide

Planning your ultimate weekend in Manchester? This vibrant northern city is packed with things to see, experience and eat – and with so much choice, you may need some help working out exactly what to do, and the best order to do it in. Whether you’re looking for things to do in Manchester with friends, solo or as a couple, or the best things to do in Manchester with kids, this jam-packed itinerary is a great start point. From discovering the city’s passion for football to rummaging for records in indie stores, dining in some of the country’s best restaurants and discovering the city’s world-renowned nightlife, here’s an ultimate weekend itinerary, where you can cherry pick exactly what works for you and your travel buddies.

First things first, you’ll want to seek out an expertly poured flat white to give you a much-needed caffeine kick for the weekend ahead. Manchester is crammed with independent coffee shops, but Idle Hands is one of the best. Nip in for a coffee and croissant to go, or allow a little longer to make the most of the delicious breakfast menu, with incredible egg dishes and healthy bowls of overnight oats.

• Address: 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF
• Opening hours: 10am-5pm (Saturday) and 10am-4pm (Sunday)
• Transport: A 5-minute walk east from Piccadilly Gardens

To really understand what makes Mancunians tick, you need to witness the city’s devotion to football. Not one but two Premiership clubs call Manchester home – and their stadiums are regarded as iconic city monuments. But you don’t need to be a huge Manchester United or Manchester City fan to enjoy a peek inside the legendary Old Trafford or glossy Etihad stadium – all football fans, whether six or 60 years old, will be in their element on a tour. If you’re visiting Manchester over a home game weekend, you may prefer a matchday tour, seeing inside dressing rooms and dugouts, and soaking up the pre-match atmosphere in the stadium shop (this is only available at the Manchester City ground, Etihad).

Old Trafford

• Address: ​​Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0RA
• Transport: Old Trafford Tram Stop, blue line from Piccadilly Station

If football isn’t for you, then Manchester Museum may well be. The free-to-enter museum, located at the University of Manchester on Oxford Road, is home to a fascinating array of objects, from Egyptian artefacts to dinosaur skeletons. It’s an excellent and affordable choice if you’re looking for things to do in Manchester on a rainy weekend, and if your kids are early risers, the 8am opening time on a Saturday could come in very handy.

• Address: University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL
• Transport: A 25-minute walk south from Piccadilly Station, or a five-minute taxi ride
• Opening hours: 8am-5pm (Saturday), 10am-5pm (Sunday)

There’s no shortage of places to eat in Manchester, but if everyone is craving different things, then one of the city’s brilliant food halls is a great choice. Not only will you find a cuisine to suit you, there’s always a lively atmosphere and great drinks to choose from, too. If you’re in the Northern Quarter, try Mackie Mayor, a large, Grade-II listed building filled with options including pizza, burgers and Asian cuisine. Or if you’re closer to Manchester Victoria station you may opt for GRUB, home to a brilliant beer garden, indoor and outdoor spaces and choices ranging from Greek to Sri Lankan.

Mackie Mayor

• Address: Smithfield Market Hall, 1 Eagle St, Manchester M4 5BU
• Transport: Shudehill Tram Stop, yellow line from Piccadilly Station
• Opening hours: 9am-11pm (Saturday), 9am-6pm (Sunday)

Manchester’s shopping scene is one of the best in the country – whether you love high-street brands or rummaging through thrift stores, you’ll be happy here. For the former, head to the centrally located Arndale Centre, where you’ll find the likes of Next and H&M along with Harvey Nichols, with its beauty concessions and designer brands.

If you’re more keen on independent stores, the cobbled streets of the Northern Quarter, just a short stroll from Piccadilly station, are the place to be. It’s here that you can rummage for records in some of the country’s best vinyl stores and scour rails and rails of vintage clothing from decades gone by. Or you may prefer to find your next read at an independent bookstore or hop between the boutiques, which sell everything from clothes to cushions, prints and candles. Spend a relaxed weekend afternoon in Manchester strolling between them all, picking up your one-of-a-kind souvenir. Afterwards, pause for a break at Parsonage Gardens, a peaceful green space in the heart of the city.

If you’re looking for the best things to do on your weekend in Manchester with kids, shopping may not be the easiest choice. If that’s the case, you’re in luck – there are so many fun gaming options in the city, which are also a great choice for a rainy day. Kids, and big kids, will love Treetop Golf, an indoor glow-in-the-dark adventure golf experience, with not one but two 18-hole courses, including Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer. And if you’re feeling peckish while on the way round, you can grab drinks and snacks at the onsite food market, too. Kids will love the quirky and colourful decor of ibis Styles Manchester Portland Hotel, which is handily located close to lively Piccadilly Gardens.

• Address: The Printworks, Dantzic St, Manchester M4 2BS
• Transport: It's easily walkable from Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Station
• Opening hours: 10am-11pm (Saturday), 10am-10pm (Sunday)

There’s no shortage of incredible restaurants in Manchester, and one of the best places to find them? The Northern Quarter. If you’re with kids, or looking for something casual, try Almost Famous, home to juicy burgers, loaded fries and killer cocktails.

If you’re craving the best Asian cuisine in the city, head to "Curry Mile," or Rusholme, and more specifically, Bardez. The award-winning restaurant is loved by locals for its traditional and contemporary dishes, and affordable pricing. It’s also a great spot for a later-night, post-pub meal, and closes at 11pm on Saturdays.

Bardez

• Address: 35 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TB
• Transport: 142 or 143 bus from Piccadilly Gardens
• Opening hours: 12pm-11pm (Saturday)

If your idea of a great evening out is catching a touring show or comedian, Manchester has some of the best theatres for it. At the Palace Theatre you can see touring musicals including Blood Brothers, Chicago and Bat out of Hell, along with family favourites like Mary Poppins, Matilda and Elf (closer to Christmas). Looking for a hotel nearby? Try the modern Novotel Manchester Centre, which is a few minutes’ walk from the venue.

Meanwhile, at the opulent Manchester Opera House, you can catch cover acts from the likes of George Michael to Taylor Swift, long-standing favourites like Riverdance plus some of the UK’s best comedians. All events are listed months, if not years, in advance, but if you aren’t booking ahead then you’ll often be able to pick up last-minute tickets on the day.

Palace Theatre

• Address: 97 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6FT
• Transport: An 11-minute walk west from Piccadilly Station

Manchester is a big music city, and whatever your tastes, you’ll find something for you. Part of the fun of a weekend trip to Manchester is hopping between pubs and clubs experiencing the thrumming nightlife, but there are a few iconic venues and areas that are considered must-dos:

You may have seen the Northern Quarter in the daytime, but it’s equally good at night, when you can wander between cocktail bars and jazz clubs for a sophisticated night out.

You’ll find big-name bars like Revolution and the Comedy Store around Deansgate Locks, where young crowds descend for dancing and drink deals.

You may choose to plan your visit over the Warehouse Project’s season, which runs from September until the end of the year. International DJs at an iconic venue? It may just be Manchester’s biggest night out.

End your night at Canal Street, the welcoming LGBTQ+ neighbourhood that’s full of colourful bars and clubs. It stays open late, but is fun to visit at any point of your night, whether you want to dance to pop or see a drag act or two.

Kids (and a fair few adults, too) will love Zip World Manchester, located in the heart of leafy Heaton Park. With obstacles 18m up in the air, it’s a thrilling way to experience the great outdoors and take in fresh air, as you make your way through a course of bridges, zip lines and balance bars. Children must be aged over 7, and any children between 7 and 11 will need to be accompanied by an adult, but the Treetops Nests are a great option for older toddlers aged over 3. If all that’s a little high-octane for a Sunday morning, head to the boating lake to feed the ducks, or check out the mini-golf or farm.

Zip World Manchester

• Address: Heaton Park, St Margaret's Rd, Manchester M25 2GT
• Transport: Heaton Park Tram Stop, yellow line heading north from Piccadilly Station
• Opening times: 10am-6pm (Sunday)

If you’re not travelling with kids in tow, you may prefer to soak up Manchester’s art scene with a quiet stroll through its best galleries. The Manchester Art Gallery should be top of the list – it’s regarded as the UK’s largest new cultural project since the Tate Modern, and is home to a collection of around 46,000 objects of fine art.

• Address: Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL
• Transport: St Peter's Square Tram Stop, blue or purple line from Piccadilly Station
• Opening times: 10am-5pm (Sunday)

Round off your action-packed weekend with another delicious meal. If you’re after brunch then look no further than Federal Cafe Bar, where you can order everything from hangover-curing full English breakfasts to smashed avocado on toast. There are several locations in the city, but the Northern Quarter site is a long-standing favourite.

For something even more substantial, you may prefer one of the epic roasts at Hawksmoor Manchester in Spinningfields. The stylish décor is a reason to visit in itself, but really you’re here for the delicious food: plates piled with top-quality beef, roast potatoes and lashings of gravy. Leave room for a delicious glass of red wine and a pudding, and toast your successful and seriously fun weekend in Manchester.

Federal Cafe Bar

• Address: 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester M4 1EY
• Transport: A 10-minute walk northwest from Piccadilly Station
• Opening times: 8am-5pm (Sunday)

Feeling inspired to plan a weekend break? Discover other weekend destinations and itineraries with our treasure trove of insider guides.