The Best Experiences and Gifts in Greater Manchester

Whenever Christmas, birthdays or big occasions come around, some people are just impossible to buy for. Even if you know them like the back of your hand, knowing what they might want as a gift can feel like an impossible task. Thankfully, Manchester and its businesses has your back, with many of them offering great experiences for you and your loved one to enjoy while you celebrate that special occasion. Here are some of our favourite Experience and Gift spots around Greater Manchester:

Give the gift of theatre this Christmas at one of Manchester’s talent-filled theatres. From award-winning Broadway productions of Wicked at Palace Theatre, to a showtime classic Kinky Boots. 

If you’ve got very little ones who love an exciting trip to the theatre, Colour the Clouds Theatre Company are presenting Little Penguins First Christmas until 31 December, filled with puppetry, original music and sensory delights – perfect for babies aged 0-36 months and their grown-ups.  

This time of year means there are an abundance of fabulous pantomimes going on all over Greater Manchester until the end of the year. The Manchester Opera House is bringing back their beloved Cinderella, which hosts a number of famous faces including comedian superstar Jason Manford. Heywood are hosting Beauty and the Beast at West Starkey Street, while over in Middleton Sooty and Sweep will be starring in Middleton Arena’s showing of Sleeping Beauty. 

Have a cricket fan in the family? You can now book a guided tour of the world-famous Emirates Old Trafford, home of cricket in the North-west and Lancashire Cricket since 1864. This stadium is used to hosting world-class events and welcomes over half a million visitors every year.  

The tour starts with a guide around the famous pavilion, where you can follow in the footsteps of greats as you visit the changing rooms and training nets, as well as a unique perspective into the commentary boxes. Experience decades of history with a visit to the Members suite.  

Give the gift of international cricket tickets this Christmas, treat a special someone to England tickets, hospitality, retail or a Red Rose membership and give them the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime.  

Book your place here.

Join over 1 million people by booking one of the incredible shows at the infamous AO Arena. Hosting an abundance of live shows and events, there is something for all tastes.  

In January, Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live: Glow&Fire will return with the same level of fun and excitement that fans have come to expect. If motocross doesn’t take your fancy, maybe Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour is more your thing. t's time to dust off those scoring paddles and get those dancing shoes ready, with roof-raising routines and interactive voting, you won’t want to miss it!  

Find more announced shows here. 

Take a trip down Manchester’s most iconic television street – Coronation Street. Post-filming hours are your time to explore! Join the exclusive 90-minute guided tour and visit renowned locations like the Rovers Return, The Kabin, and the Platt’s family home. Venture through the meticulously designed sets, giving you a real look into the craftsmanship involved in creating this infamous institution. The journey doesn’t end there, marvel at 60 years of authentic probs, archives and costume design. 

The limited-edition Star Tours take it one step further, these VIP tickets give you the opportunity to meet and interacts with cast members and listen to their fascinating tales from their time on the street. The perfect gift for any Coronation Street lover! 

Secure your spot here. 

Celebrate a special occasion in style and give a loved one an unforgettable experience with East Lancashire Railway Dining Experiences. Dine with distinction aboard the ceremonious railway in a number of different events, from Premium Nights and Red Rose Diners to Afternoon Tea and Murder Mystery Nights, there truly is an event for everyone.  

It isn’t just delectable dining you can undertake at East Lancashire Railway, bring your childhood dreams to life and step foot into the driving seat of one of their steam or diesel locomotives. During this hands-on, full-day diesel footplate experience – you’ll get to drive and second man a diesel or steam train, enjoy a hot lunch, join a guided tour and have plenty of wonderful photo opportunities. Truly a once in a lifetime experience and the perfect present.  

Book your place here. 

If you want to buy a beautiful gift for someone who loves Manchester, you can’t go wrong with something from The Sculpts. Creating beautiful ceramic housewares and stunning artwork, The Sculpts handmade gifts showcase Manchester’s history, heritage and culture. Their collection includes decorative alphabet tiles, honeycomb bee cushions, stunning art prints, and gorgeous tote bags – featuring all parts of the city-region, from the Victorian splendour of Victoria Baths, right through to the iconic Hacienda nightclub and Factory records.  

The Sculpts have illustrated Manchester’s evolution and turned it into beautiful gifts for people who simply love the city.  

Visit them either in store in Sale, or online here.

Located at City Airport, Barton, The Deck 747 is proud to offer the North of England's only authentic 747-400 upper deck experience! Step aboard the iconic ex-BA 747 G-BYGA and immerse yourself in the thrill of flying with state-of-the-art flight simulation. Offering gift cards for all flight enthusiasts you’re looking to surprise this Christmas, with a range of different experiences on offer.  

Using code VISIT20 will give you 20% off all simulator packages, including on gift vouchers. 

Order your gift vouchers here. 

Get the Manchester United fans the experience of a lifetime by going behind the scenes at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums, Old Trafford. Sit in the managers dugout, walk the players tunnel and explore the dressing rooms, getting a real feel for Premier League life.  

Visit the museum to see fascinating memorabilia and interactive exhibits, learn about the club’s history and achievements as you explore the museum.  

To book your Old Trafford Tour, visit here.

Visit the home of the Treble winners and go behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium. The perfect gift for any City fan, walk in the footsteps of your favourite player, explore the players tunnel and home dressing room. You can even interact with a virtual Pep Guardiola in the press room, so you can really immerse yourself. 

To book your Etihad Tour, visit here. 

Both tours offer translation services and can be translated into French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, and Portuguese. 

If you’re looking for an experience your foodie friend will love, what about Scranchester Food Tours? This walking tour of Manchester’s best kept secrets is a great way to explore the city via your tastebuds. Venture to around 8 restaurants and cafés in Manchester City Centre and learn about the cities history at the same time! Vouchers are available so your food-loving friend can book onto the tours whenever they like, so it’s the perfect give for Manchester food lovers. 

Find out more about Scranchester tours here.

Get your gin-obsessed loved one the evening they won’t forget with a guided tour and tasting of Manchester’s famous Manchester Gin Distillery. Giving you a key insight into the distilling process, where you’ll see first-hand what goes into making one of the most awarded gins in the country.  

Sample several of their specialist gins and get a real understanding of their flavour palettes. With tutored tasting, learn what to look out for when tasting high quality gin and find out what your favourite flavour profiles are. It will be a tipple they’ll never forget.  

Book here.

Manchester Wine Tours is a new indie business that takes locals and tourists around town, stopping off to taste wine at four iconic Mancunion venues. The tours include stops at local hot spots to give you a bit of Manchester history along the way, and guests can taste at least five different wines across four varied venues with snack breaks included too. Hosted by in-the-know food and drink writer and wine bod Kelly Bishop, you can be sure that every place you visit will be top tier. You might even discover a new favourite.  

Book here. 

Treat your friends with a cookery school voucher to unleash their inner chef. Whether buying for family, friends or your other half, our classes focus on skills and global cuisines with a healthy dose of sociable, foodie fun.  Book a specific class or if you aren’t sure of their dates, choose a voucher so they can decide on a date and type of cuisine. They can cater to most food allergies and preferences; guests can let them know when booking. Locations in both Didsbury and Deansgate Square. 

Find out more here. 

The perfect gift for any rum lovers - The Spirit of Manchester Distillery has announced the launch of an exciting new rum blending experience, the first of its kind in Manchester. Known for producing award-winning spirits like Manchester Gin, One-Eyed Rebel Spiced Rum, Sphere English Vodka, and Forty-Five Vermouth, the city-centre distillery is adding to its roster of experiences, voted #1 on Tripadvisors ‘Top Things To Do in Manchester’ list.

The experience costs £70 per person and is set to launch on 25th January, 2025, with sessions every Saturday from 12-2 pm.

Join Selfridges this Christmas and grab the perfect gift for your loved ones. They offer a range of gifts, including their Jellycats Christmas Collection, choose something from The Christmas Shop, Selfridges Selection, and much more! 

Nestled in the heart of Cheshire, just 20 minutes from Manchester, Millington Hall Farm is more than a destination – offering carefully curated events reserved for those who crave something truly special: an immersive journey through extraordinary flavours, unique culinary techniques, and moments shared in unforgettable surroundings. From the sellout Wild Grill Experience, to the Bake Off Experience in the Wild Meadow baking marquee for a one-of-a-kind experience, Millington Farm has something for everyone this Christmas.

Give the gift of gaming with a voucher to Power Up or a sensational adventure with Operation Ouch! at the Science and Industry Museum. Operation Ouch! returns to the Science and Industry Museum next February for another epic adventure of super-sized science and brilliant biology, and let your little ones learn all about the history and future of gaming at Power Up. Gift vouchers can be used to book a visit to Operation Ouch: Brains, Bogies and You and to Power Up in Manchester. 

Find out more here.

For more ideas to make the most of the city-region, or to plan your ideal trip to Manchester, visit our Ideas and Inspirations page. 

To learn more about events around Greater Manchester this winter, visit our What’s On page.