Literary Manchester

From Marx and Engels to John Cooper Clarke, Manchester has a radical literary history - and with events such as the Manchester Literature Festival and attractions such as the John Rylands Library and Chetham's Library, there's certainly a lot to explore. And to cement the city's literary credentials, Manchester became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2017.

Literary attractions

Stockroom

Stockroom

Stockroom is an exciting new creative and cultural centre in Stockport, designed for getting…

Literary events

An Evening with Billy Billingham

An Evening with Billy Billingham

Join Billy Billingham for an evening of edge-of-your-seat stories as he explores his new book…

08 Nov 2025 -
Exhibition - I've Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell

Exhibition - I've Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell

Three young writer were invited to spend time immersing themselves in Elizabeth Gaskell's world…

08 Nov 2025 - 09 Nov 2025
Playreading Group

Playreading Group

Playreading group is back! The group meets on the first Friday of most months at HOME. The sessions…

08 Nov 2025 - 05 Dec 2025
Jeanette Winterson

Jeanette Winterson

I can change the story because I am the story. Forty years after her era-defining debut Oranges Are…

11 Nov 2025 -
An Evening with Margaret Atwood

An Evening with Margaret Atwood

How does one of the greatest storytellers of our time write her own life? Join Opera House…

13 Nov 2025 -
Night Vision: Book Launch with Karen Solie and Jean Sprackland

Night Vision: Book Launch with Karen Solie and Jean Sprackland

The poet Karen Solie is Jean Sprackland's special guest for an evening of conversation and…

20 Nov 2025 -
Manchester Fringe Book Festival

Manchester Fringe Book Festival

Manchester's first Fringe Book Festival will be a full day celebrating authors you may not see…

29 Nov 2025 -
Poets & Players

Poets & Players

Please join on Saturday 29 November 2025, 2.30-4.00 at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation…

29 Nov 2025 -
Hollie McNish – Brand New Book Tour! with Michael Pedersen

Hollie McNish – Brand New Book Tour! with Michael Pedersen

After a run of sold-out shows, Hollie is back with a brand-new book tour. Expect adult content…

29 Mar 2026 -

Manchester Central Library drone video

Manchester Central Library

Take a tour of Manchester Central Library with our drone video. The world famous library was officially opened on 17 July 1934 , by King George V, who told the crowds of thousands, "In the splendid building which I am about to open, the largest library in this country provided by a local authority…

Manchester's literary stories

Celebrate World Book Day in Greater Manchester

Celebrate World Book Day in Greater Manchester

World Book Day is an annual charity event which supports the fun of reading and improving children's lives. Did you know only 1 in 3 children say they enjoy reading? Manchester is bursting with literature, you can find poems on the pavements, up the walls and sprawling out to reach literary houses…

Read More
Manchester City of Literature: A City Connects
  • Clock icon1 minute read

Manchester City of Literature: A City Connects

Bringing together the whole of the Manchester literature scene; from publishers to booksellers, writers to readers and everyone in between, Manchester City of Literature has launched A City Connected. This new microsite already has 50+ events and activities listed since launching last week, several…

Read More
Celebrate Britain’s city of languages
  • Clock icon3 minute read

Celebrate Britain’s city of languages

Hundreds of languages will be shared and celebrated in events across the city as Manchester gets ready to celebrate International Mother Language Day between 20th and 22th February. International Mother Language Day is celebrated globally each year on 21 February after UNESCO adopted the…

Read More

Search for something...

Continue your Manchester story by exploring further.