Despite being the third - largest metropolis in the UK , Manchester ’s often depicted as a estate of hard accent , bad food , and badly questionable fashion choices . But there ’s really a riches of lawfully cool thing to do in this workings - class town . Between interesting museum visits and tardy - night stripe crawl , you’re able to go from dawn to dusk without ever run out of activities . Here are 21 inexpensive ( and free ! ) things you perfectly must do in Manchester .
Conquer your fear withTick Tock Unlock
SalfordWhile getting lock in a room might sound like the start of a horror film , there ’s no one actually trying to bankrupt in and kill you here . alternatively , you ’ll work together with three to six other " victims " and recover a way to escape in under 60 minutes , solving a serial publication of puzzles and tests designed to kick your brain into overdrive . Cost:£14
Geek out at theNational Football Museum
NOMAIf trading FIFA stats makes your heart beat fast , and stories about Diego Maradona or Geoff Hurst make you weak in the knee joint , be sure to spend some quality fourth dimension with the great over at the National Football Museum . Loaded with thousands of artefact , from shoes and jerseys to artwork and trophies , this is a sport - lover ’s wet dreaming come to life . Cost : Free
Get cultured at theManchester City Art Museum
City CentreHousing one of the largest collections of Pre - Raphaelite painting in the universe , this museum is chock - full of famous painting you ’ve only ever see in leger , with over 13,000 musical composition in its classic exhibit alone . There are also over 21,000 piece of music in the costume display , covering aspects of fashion and textiles from 1600 to the present day . Have n’t you ever require to see a 17th - hundred codpiece up close?Cost : liberal
Sweat it out on the dance floor atSankey’s
AncoatsMore than a small dark and cheating , this is n’t the kind of blot you ’d want to wear your raw ashen trainers to . But if your heart beats to the rhythm of theater , service department , and electro , you ’ll experience powerful at habitation . With a interfering calendar of earthly concern - renowned artists and DJs quick to undulate on the top - snick sound organisation , plus a history of breaking creative person like Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers , this classic terpsichore hall will make some of the best ( albeit fuzzy ) experiences of your dance life . monetary value : Plan onward , and tickets can be as cheap as a five dollar bill .
Catch a show atThe Lowry
Salford QuaysThis ridiculously gorgeous , mind - bendingly contrive construction house some of the best art exhibition and live amusement in Manchester . With two theater , five studios , picture gallery space , cafes , and bars , there ’s jolly much always a reason to see what ’s expire on here . Cost : Ticket prices vary , but are often on the low end to further people to get their artwork on .
Flex your brain with trivia atPen & Pencil
Northern QuarterThink your smart about photographic film , TV , and music are up to snuff ? guide to the Pen & Pencil , where John Stansfield hold court every Tuesday to prove your noesis and keep you on your toes . Entry is crummy , but keep an eye on how many drink you ’re down if you ’re watching your pocketbook . Cost:£1 per someone
ExploreThe John Rylands Library
DeansgateChock - full of turrets , stained glass , and a billion books ( patently ) , this book lover ’s dream space is dead gorgeous . Although barely a hundred twelvemonth old , this position packs a serious literary puncher with raft of leger - lined rooms to research . price : devoid
Window-shop with your ears atKingbee Records
ChorltonGo visit all your friends and hum along to all the good tracks at this old - school record shop that features rare and vintage vinyl and CDs . roll in the hay as the spot where all the top disc jockey store , it ’s become a musical destination for night club kids , record accumulator , and wannabe DJs . Cost : destitute , unless you ’re actually a DJ
Go toLevenshulme Market
University of ManchesterWith more than 50 vendors deal everything from crafts and food for thought to clothes and plants , this weekly Saturday market always has something interesting to see and taste . Most of the street food is crazy - luscious , and wo n’t cost you much , either … which is an added fillip . Cost : innocent
Stroll along theRochdale Canal
City - wideStarting from Castlefield , flowing on towards Ancoats , and running through most of the metropolis , this winding watercourse offers a peep into a bygone era in Manchester . Put together a picnic , then ascertain an idyllic spot to sit and watch the body of water run by . Cost : Free
Catch a film atThe Plaza
StockportAlthough it ’s a bit of a trek to get here , this vintage movie house is as jaw - dropping as some of the pic it showcases . Featuring golden oldie , mugwump , and cult classics , The Plaza is whole staff by volunteers who love film , and even has an old Wurlitzer harmonium that act before showing . Cost:£7.75
Get loose atCrazy Pedro’s
SpinningfieldsWhat started as a pop - up pizza workshop has turned into a full - boast party maculation with some of the best pies in town , plus one of the largest selections of tequila and mezcal in the North . Open until 4 am , Crazy Pedro ’s is always home to a fiesta , so grab a swallow and slice and have yourself go . Even if the food & beverage were rubbish ( which they ’re not ) , the people - watching here alone is sodding gold . Cost:£3 gash + £ 3.50 pint = £ 6.50
Explore Chinatown
ChinatownManchester is home to the largest Chinatown in Europe , so if you need to get your fill of maneki big cat , dim sum , Chinese fans , and incense , this should be your No . 1 stop . If you ’re disciplined and resign yourself to simply windowpane shopping , you may make it out without spending a penny , but the dumpling here are amazing enough to break your will . Cost : Have potency , and it ’s totally destitute .
Get your art on at theWhitworth Art Gallery
Whitworth ParkOnce thought of as an artistic reconsideration fulfill with 2nd - rate pieces , the Whitworth went through a massive revamp a couple old age ago and is now a arresting space trapping collections of originative , intellectual , and forward-looking graphics . The transformation was so complete that it even went on to win the 2015 Museum of the Year prize from the Art Fund . toll : Free
Hit the lanes atDog Bowl
Gay VillagePart of the Black Dog Ballroom group , the wittily named Dog Bowl offers five lane of 10 - pin bowling , plus a card of fairly price Tex - Mex ( admit a £ 5 lunch pile ) . Then there ’s the Snoop Dogg , a pork raging click top with mac & cheese and a beef patty . If that ’s not an easy way to expend a dyad hours , we do n’t know what is!Cost:£6 before 6 post-mortem , £ 8 between 6pm - midnight , £ 4 after midnight .
Explore rock music history on amusic walking tour
Various locationsThe history of Manchester is intrinsically linked with some of the greatest musical behave Britain ’s ever produced , from Oasis and Joy Division to The Smiths and The Stone Roses . prepare apart 90 transactions to retrace their steps and see the places they lived , worked , and play , inspiring the songs we still listen to today . Cost:£10
Geek out at theMuseum of Science & Industry
SpinningfieldsOpen since 1969 , this public spot looks at how Manchester has add to the advancement of communications , railway , atmosphere & space , tycoon multiplication , and more . Highlights let in an Avro Skeleton carpenter’s plane from 1954 , which was designed to fly for 24 hours straight . monetary value : Free
Grab lunch at theStreet Food Market at Piccadilly Gardens
Piccadilly GardensA rotating compartmentalization of food seller set up shop here from Thursday through Saturday , offer easy eats with everything from traditional African fare and ostrich burgers to fresh Italian alimentary paste and dull essence . In partnership with the local council , there ’s even a market - panoptic loyalty scheme in place where every 10th meal is barren . There ’s also a selection of craft and vintage stalls as well , which you ’ll find on Fridays and Saturdays . Cost:£5 , depending on how hungry you are
Expand your brain atMadLab
Northern QuarterHolding weekly issue , the Manchester Digital Library aims to help advance the field through category on coding , developing , designing , piece of writing , and more . Many of the workshops here are free , and there are plenteousness of others that wo n’t precisely leave you penniless , either . Cost : Mostly free
See stars at theGodlee Observatory
University of ManchesterThe Observatory holds hebdomadal meetings , and anyone can stop in as a guest for the chance to see some sincerely striking heap through the impressive double telescope . That being said , if the atmospheric condition ’s being its usual British ego , the view of the metropolis from the cap of the Sackville Street Building is pretty awe - inspiring in its own right field . toll : Free
See a lunchtime concert atChetham’s
VictoriaOne of the country ’s top schools for music , Chetham ’s like to overspread the love by showcasing some of its rising stars with a free lunchtime concert series hold at Carole Nash Hall . The shows run from 1:30pm to 2:10pm on Tuesdays , Wednesdays , and Thursdays ( while shoal ’s in session ) , and there ’s no reservation required : all you have to do is show up . You should probably call onward to make certain the concert ’s still on , though , just in suit . Cost : spare
Manchester City Art Gallery
Flickr/David Lisburn
Manchester City Art Museum
Flickr/Peter.Lorre
The Pen & Pencil
Alastair Wallace / Shutterstock
Flickr/Ian Hale
Stockport Plaza
Flickr/Katarina
Whitworth Art Gallery
Flickr/Ed Webster
Flickr/MMU Library Services