Manchester is a bustling city with plenty to explore, eat, and experience. So where are the best places to go? This blog covers a whistle stop tour of my personal favourites in and around Manchester that I consider must-go’s while you’re at university.

Food & Drink

This city is famous for its food and drink scene, so where better to start than the Northern Quarter. An underrated spot is Mackie Mayor, a food hall hidden on the way towards Ancoats, where you can have all sorts from pizza to ramen, tacos, and doughnuts. It’s a beautiful little spot with a gorgeous interior that makes for an exciting lunch or dinner out with friends or family. Just a stone’s throw away is Ancoats, where you can take a lovely walk from the Northern Quarter towards New Islington and enjoy a drink at Flawd or Pollen and sit in the sun along the marina. This is a little nature hub, with lots of geese, ducks, and starlings to spot too. 

If you’re looking for places to go on the other side of the city centre, taking a walk from Exchange Square, through Deansgate towards the Castlefield Viaducts is a great way to spend an afternoon. There are also plenty of places to eat, drink and shop along the way, including the classic Blank Street or Knoops if you’re a matcha, coffee, or sweet treat fan. If you’re looking for a brunch option, Bruncho is a solid option for some good grub.

Arts & Culture

There are plenty of amazing cultural places to go across Manchester. Some of my favourites are the HOME theatre, Science & Industry Museum where you can get a contextual background to the rich history of Manchester and the Industrial Revolution, as well as the classic Manchester Art Gallery. This city is undoubtedly known for its music scene, so it’s always worth scouring for tickets online with plenty of venues across the city, such as the O2 Ritz and the Co-Op Live. Moving away from the city centre, you can find Whitworth Art Gallery just a 5 minute walk away from the Student’s Union, as well as a quick cycle or bus ride to the Chorlton Makers Market which is hosted every month, or the quaint and artisan markets in Altrincham every weekend. If you’re up for trying something new and challenging, Altrincham also has an ice skating rink with super cheap student tickets that are definitely worth a try, especially come wintertime!

Nature & The Outdoors

Going a little further afield towards Heaton Park is where the famous Parklife is hosted each year, but it’s not just known for music, the park is also home to beautiful highland cows! It’s a huge park for a nice walk around, with easy tram access and stunning views of the nearby Peak District too. If you’re looking for a fun hike to see Manchester on top of a hill, the Peak District has some stunning trails to explore. A popular Manchester student route is catching a train to Edale and hiking up to Mam Tor. A fairly beginner friendly hike, with gorgeous views of the Peaks and can finish it off with a 3km walk along The Great Ridge.

This is just a short list of what Manchester has to offer, and the best way to discover even more is to join societies you feel aligned with and will naturally show you around depending on social locations. There are also plenty of great Manchester accounts on Instagram and TikTok such as @secretmanchester or @lifeinmanny that keep even the locals up to date with what’s new each week in the city!

Written by Lilia Hakem

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