This content is drawn from the Visit Manchester Insider’s Guide. Filled with ideas and inspiration for things to see, do, and eat, as well as places to stay, the 40-page guide features dedicated sections on what's new and upcoming, along with maps and spotlight pages highlighting Greater Manchester's towns, boroughs, and trendiest neighbourhoods. It's the ideal resource for planning your next trip.

Theatres

Royal Exchange Theatre

Resembling a lunar spacecraft set down amidst a former Grade II listed trading hall, the Royal Exchange is the largest theatre in the round in the country.

Octagon Bolton

Originally opened in 1967, one of the region’s best-loved theatres, Octagon Bolton, has undergone a major refurbishment in recent years to make the theatre open to all.

Aviva Studios

Aviva Studios, home to Factory International, opened in October 2023 following a successful preview during the Manchester International Festival. The colossal space hosts new, cutting-edge work across art, theatre, live music, dance and more.

Hope Mill Theatre

Hope Mill Theatre has gradually become one of the most successful and reputable small producing venues in England with a string of five-star hit shows under its belt.

HOME

This arts complex is a marvel of contemporary design; a cultural hub for the city that encompasses theatre spaces, cinema, gallery, and restaurants.

The Palace Theatre & Opera House

Two separate theatres but very much siblings, the Palace and Opera House are amongst the city’s oldest. Expect world premieres and hit musicals in these grandiose Victorian auditoriums.

Contact

Contact, the UK’s leading youth arts organisation, features the country’s first dedicated space for art, health and science, and hosts original works including at the LGBTQ+ festival, Queer Contact.

Z-arts

This incredible creative space based in Hulme is the UK’s only arts centre focused on providing best practise in creative activities for children and young people.

Waterside

Sitting in the heart of Sale, Waterside has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality performance, live music, and high-profile visual arts exhibition

Music Venues

AO Arena

AO Arena is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe and has hosted some of the best names in entertainment such as Prince, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, and Manchester local Peter Kay.

New Century

With its original sprung dance floor, disco ceiling and state-of-the-art sound system, New Century’s rebirth brings a piece of the city’s musical heritage to life for a new generation.

Band on the Wall

The city’s oldest music venue and arguably the most eclectic, with a keen mission to promote equality and diversity through music, welcoming trailblazing artists from all over the world.

The Bridgewater Hall

Home of Manchester’s renowned Hallé Orchestra as well as a performance base for distinguished ensembles, The Bridgewater Hall is Manchester’s flagship international concert venue.

Albert Hall

A Grade II listed former Wesleyan chapel, Albert Hall has been restored into a stunning purpose-built music hall, becoming one of the UK’s most atmospheric venues.

The Stoller Hall

A venue that has made a name for itself as an intimate space with incredible acoustics, The Stoller Hall is based underground within Chetham’s School of Music.

Night and Day Café

A much-loved cornerstone of the Northern Quarter’s vibrant music scene, Night and Day Café has been showcasing fresh musical talent daily since 1991 and is still going strong.

RNCM

The Royal Northern College of Music is a leading UK music conservatoire. Home to over 900 students from more than 60 countries, it’s a great spot to see emerging talent and visiting artists.

Co-op Live

With capacity to welcome up to 23,500 fans of music and sport, Co-op Live is positioning itself as one of the UK’s top venues for live entertainment, with 32 onsite bars, restaurants and lounges to help fans make the most of their night out.

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