Our top tips for making the most of the week ahead, with brilliant things to do across the whole of Greater Manchester… For even more ideas, visit our What’s On page. 

The Art of Banksy: Protest

Go skating in a Winter wonderland 

Lace up your skates and put on your winter coats as Manchester welcomes another season with Skate Manchester. Their outdoor ice-skating rink is now open in the heart of the city at Cathedral Gardens until Monday 2 January. This year they have a brand-new ice path allowing you to skate around a beautifully lit Christmas tree, surely it can’t get more festive than that! Tickets are available from £12.50. 

Explore works of the world’s most elusive artist, Banksy 

Following a successful global tour, The Art of Banksy, has now arrived in Salford Quays displaying 145 iconic and original pieces from the works of street artist Banksy. Working with leading Manchester arts centre HOME, the exhibition is set in a 1,200 sq meter structure featuring rarely seen works on loan from private collectors. Tickets start from £21.50 with the exhibition running until Sunday 8 January 2023. 

Hollywood favourite comes to The Lowry Theatre 

One of Britain’s favourite movies comes to The Lowry Theatre this week as The Shawshank Redemption play explores desperation, injustice, friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum-security facility. Despite protests of his innocence, Andy Dufresne is handed a double life sentence for the brutal murder of his wife and her lover. Incarcerated at the notorious Shawshank facility, he quickly learns that no-one can survive alone. Tickets start from £16.  

Party with some sausage dogs in the city 

Due to popular demand, the ‘Pup-up Café’ returns to Manchester on Sunday 6 November at Revolution in Parsonage Gardens. Visitors can mingle with many furry little friends as an expected 250 dachshunds are expected over the day, where there will be unlimited dog treats, free puppuccinos and prizes for the best-dressed dog. Tickets start from £12.  

Make an early start to your festive shopping 

As the nights grow darker and the mornings colder, it’s a sign that the festive season is only around the corner. Get ahead of your festive shopping this year with a visit to the Northern Quarter. Make your first stop at the Manchester Shop, the number one place for all things Manchester. Set in the iconic Afflecks, they have everything from mugs of Manchester legends to hand-crafted Manchester bees.  

New opening of the week: Backyard Cinema 

The UK’s most magical cinema comes to Manchester this month for a limited 10-week run. Watch your favourite movies, whilst cosied up on giant bean bags with Backyard Cinema, opened inside the former Mayfield Station. Perfect for movie-lovers and adventure-seekers, Backyard Cinema offers an immersive cinema experience with movie-grade sets through tunnels of trees and magical doors. 

Coming soon! Manchester Christmas Markets 

The countdown is officially on to the start the festive season in the UK's capital of Christmas as Manchester gets ready for the opening of its world-famous Christmas Markets on Thursday 10 November which will then run until Thursday 22 December. With over 220 stalls across nine sites throughout the city centre, this year's Christmas Markets are set to bring some much-needed festive cheer to the city's streets and squares in the run-up to Christmas!