{"id":10560,"date":"2026-06-29T10:58:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=10560"},"modified":"2026-06-29T10:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:58:33","slug":"my-favourite-places-to-go-in-manchester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2026\/06\/29\/my-favourite-places-to-go-in-manchester\/","title":{"rendered":"My favourite places to go in Manchester"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ menu_id=”8″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” background_layout=”dark” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.0.106″ title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”above” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

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\u2019s while you\u2019re at university.<\/p>\n

Food & Drink<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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\u2019s a beautiful little spot with a gorgeous interior that makes for an exciting lunch or dinner out with friends or family. Just a stone\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re 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\u2019re a matcha, coffee, or sweet treat fan. If you\u2019re looking for a brunch option, Bruncho is a solid option for some good grub.<\/p>\n

Arts & Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019re 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!<\/p>\n

Nature & The Outdoors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Going a little further afield towards Heaton Park is where the famous Parklife is hosted each year, but it\u2019s not just known for music, the park is also home to beautiful highland cows! It\u2019s a huge park for a nice walk around, with easy tram access and stunning views of the nearby Peak District too. If you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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\u2019s new each week in the city!<\/p>\n

Written by Lilia Hakem<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”380″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n