When the children go back to school, the grown-ups come out to play. Here we’ve listed 16 fun things to do in Manchester now that the queues (and noise levels) have died down.
Playgrounds and petting farms aren’t just for the under-10s, you know. There’s a lot to be gained from a day of larking around and laughter – especially one that doesn’t come with any post-booze anxiety and low mood.
Our fun things to do in Manchester list ranges from posh cinemas to gamified workouts to nostalgic shopping trips. If you need to cheer yourself up, or fill an empty afternoon, or if you just feel like meeting somewhere other than a pub, this list is for you.
Want more ideas? We’ve plenty more Manchester recommendations in our Things to Do listings.
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Book Now Oxford Road
Jonathan Schofield Manchester Tours
Even if you’ve lived here all your life, you’ll likely learn something new on a Jonathan Schofield Manchester Tour. And if you’re visiting from further afield, they’re one of the best ways to discover the city’s stories, secrets and hidden gems.
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Salford Quays
Manchester River Cruises
Want to fall in love with your city all over again? Take a boat tour from Manchester River Cruises, and you’ll see its iconic views from a new and surprising perspective.
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Northern Quarter
Afflecks
Afflecks, previously known as Afflecks Palace, is a hip indoor market spread over four floors. Established in 1982, it’s a Manchester institution.
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Manchester City Centre
Barry’s Manchester
Like all the gyms in this US-born franchise, Barry’s Manchester is known for challenging classes and workout studios that look and feel like a high-tempo club night.
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Book Now Manchester City Centre
King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa
The King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa opened at this boutique luxury hotel in 2022, making it one of Manchester city centre’s newest spas.
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Spinningfields
Chaos Karts
Chaos Karts puts you in the driving seat of an immersive augmented reality experience, bringing real-life karting and gaming together.
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Ardwick
Corner HQ
This boxing gym next to Mayfield Park doubles as the headquarters of boxing tech company Corner, hence the name Corner HQ. While the tech developers tap away on their computers upstairs, the downstairs is devoted to the sport itself with a boxing ring, bags, strength equipment, and indoor and outdoor workout space, plus changing rooms.
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Manchester City Centre
Everyman Manchester St John’s
With its red velvet seats, waiter service, and ultra stylish bar and cafe, Everyman Manchester St John’s is a far cry from your local multiplex. This deluxe cinema chain is expanding across the UK and now has two venues in Greater Manchester (the other is in Altrincham).
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Manchester City Centre
Lane 7 Deansgate
With its glowing neon graffiti, low lighting, and hip hop soundtrack, Lane 7 in the Great Northern on Deansgate looks more like a punky 1980s nightclub than a wholesome, All American bowling alley.
As well as bowling, there is fancy-pants bowling with neon zig zags. A bit of a cross between a new restaurant opening and Blade Runner. All the bowling is pretty sleek and shiny though with the standard graffiti décor.
Non-bowling entertainment includes just about everything that could possibly be construed as competitive with the exception of tiddlywinks.
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Green Quarter
Kickair
Kickair, an “indoor freestyle park” behind Victoria Station, is the kind of place that fills kids (and big kids) with glee.
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Castlefield
Paws Yoga
Two things that are guaranteed to release endorphins: puppies and yoga. Paws Yoga combines the two, and was the first yoga class of this kind to touch down in Manchester.
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Northern Quarter
NQ64
Return to your youth and relieve the stresses and strains of adult life by whacking baddies Double Dragon-style or jumping gleefully from platform to platform in Bubble Bobble at NQ64. Get your arcade thrills as well as cocktails and craft beer at this underground bar.
From shoot-‘em-ups to pinball, classic platform games and button-bashers, you’ll find them all at NQ64.
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Manchester City Centre
Point Blank Shooting Manchester
Point Blank Shooting is an interactive virtual shooting range designed to test yours and your teammates quick-draw skills.
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Knutsford
Tatton Park
Tatton Park is a historic estate on the edge of Knutsford, home to an opulent neo-classical mansion, landscaped gardens, woodland, a farm, a huge deer park and a medieval Old Hall.
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Manchester City Centre
Urban Playground Manchester
Urban Playground Manchester is the place to go for an adrenaline-fuelled, ultra-competitive night out. Located in Manchester Arndale, it brings together high-tech games with bars and big-name dining from gourmet burger brand The Butcher.
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Manchester City Centre
Whistle Punks
Hearing the thud of axes can be a little unnerving as you leave the cinema in the Great Northern – especially after a slasher film – but the axe throwing at Whistle Punks is about letting off steam not cutting off limbs.
It’s competitive and a bit like darts really, only you’re throwing whacking great axes at the target instead. A bullseye with an axe is very satisfying indeed.