Location: Manchester
Top Things to do in Manchester
The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Manchester, England
Famed for its soccer team and music scene, which has produced the likes of the Smiths and Oasis, this center for sports and the arts is a down-to-earth and friendly city. The so-called Capital of the North has overcome industrial decline, bombing (in WWII and by the IRA) to become a confident and cosmopolitan city of well over two million. It is well served by a bus and light rail network. Top attractions include the Lowry art complex, arcade Affleck's Palace and Canal Street gay village.
Restaurants in Manchester
1. Parthian Climbing Manchester
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 424 reviews
We are Parthian Climbing Manchester | Harrogate | Reading | Southampton Drop us a call or visit us online to book your first climbing experience.
Reviewed By LittleMissStargazer - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Our kids (8 and 10) have been coming here for over a year. The staff are great with them, they give lots of encouragement, work to each child’s strengths, and the teaching is really good. The facilities are excellent - the height & size of the old church building means it’s a great & varied challenge for climbers of all ages & experience. Coffee is great too! Highly recommend.
2. Clayton Hall Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 124 reviews
Clayton Hall is Manchester's only moated manor house. The later part of the hall has been dressed to show the hall in Victorian times. Children are encouraged to touch and have a go at various household activities. They can also get dressed as Victorians. Afterward there is a separate cafe and shop where you can buy very reasonably priced home made refreshments. With bacon baps, home-made cakes and home-made soup usually available.
Reviewed By janet_davenport - Manchester, United Kingdom
Wow I never knew this beautiful place is right on my door step. Amazing lots of interesting things to see. All very hands on, kids able to touch what ever they wanted to see how things work. Beautiful cafe all at reasonable prices. We stayed for ages and the kids still didnt want to go home. The staff so friendly and all volunteers. Very helpful, have lots of information and stories to tell. Free entry as well. Fantastic place, we loved it and will definitely be going back for further visits. Thanks for making our visit enjoyable.
3. Manchester Gin
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
Welcome to the beautiful Spirit of Manchester Distillery, the home of Manchester Gin. We offer tours of our state-of-the-art distillery, which include guided tastings of our full range, as well as the ultimate Gin-Making Experience. Discover your palate, the botanicals that define your favourite gins, and then craft your own bottle to take home using your own still. We are a "We're Good to Go" certified venue. This is the hospitality and tourism industry standard for operating safely and under COVID-Secure guidance and is recognised by Visit England and the National Tourist Board of England.
Reviewed By Mjkwilcock
We did the Sunday Funday package of Roast, gin tour and tasting, and gin making...it was excellent! The food was great, tour hugely insightful and funny, but the best part was the tasting and making. Tried loads of gin, had a couple G&Ts and the host was great at guiding us through from start to finish when making our gin - definitely recommend
4. The City of Manchester Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 588 reviews
The City of Manchester Distillery is the 1st ever fully licensed distillery in the city’s history! Home to multi award winning Three Rivers Gin, The UK’s original ‘Gin Experience’ as well as the newly launched Gin School, Rum and Vodka Experiences, we are an essential stop on any tour of Manchester, whether local or visiting from further afield. Visitors to any of the distillery’s experiences can expect to learn all about the exciting, intriguing, often dark and dangerous, weird and wonderful histories of a range of the world’s favourite spirits. Tour the distillery and see how we make our award-winning liquids, before finally having the chance to work with our distillers to create your own bottle or barrel of booze to take home. All this whilst sampling a range of drinks which include classic and bespoke cocktails. With over 50 botanical flavours to choose from, why not visit us and make your own perfect (potentially award winning!) gin, vodka or rum. Book your place now!
Reviewed By gill023 - Manchester, United Kingdom
This was an incredible Gin experience. We had 3 hours of interesting facts about the Gin making process and lots of Gin drinking!! Sherel was fantastic and so passionate and also helped by Adam on the cocktail making! All the drinks were amazing, the process of making Gin was fun and I’d love to do the rum one next time!! A great brand of Gin and a well organised tour!! Oh and we also came away with our own bottle of Gin!
5. People's History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,058 reviews
The People's History Museum (PHM) is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present and future. The museum provides opportunities for people of all ages to learn about, be inspired by and get involved in ideas worth fighting for; ideas such as equality, social justice, co-operation, and a fair world for all. PHM offers a powerful annual programme exploring the past, present and future.
Reviewed By 569rebeccad - Sydney, Australia
This is a wonderful place and gives a great insight into politics over the past few centuries. The permanent collection includes wonderful banners from trade unions as well as artefacts covering a range of political issues. And the special exhibition on the Peterloo Massacre really opened my eyes to this event.
6. The John Rylands Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,486 reviews
Welcome to The John Rylands Library, one of the world's finest collections of rare books and manuscripts. The John Rylands Library is part of The University of Manchester. Please note that we open at 12noon on Mondays and Sundays
Reviewed By bjchampness - Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
This Gothic library was designed by Basin Champneys. The reading room is full of Victorian splender with large wooden bookcases rising to the ceiling, oak desks and tables It is a superb place to read a vast collection of books and manuscripts Originally access was via a grand staircase from the front doors on Deansgate. However a modern extension access to a gift shop and cafe. The modern reading room has modern facilities for the researcher
7. Manchester Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,384 reviews
Manchester Cathedral has been centre stage in its city’s history for nearly 600 years. In 1421 Henry V signed a royal charter granting permission for a collegiate church to be built. In 1847 a new Manchester diocese was created and this historic church became a Cathedral. The doors are open 7 days a week and the admission is free. Do not miss one of the most interesting churches in the land at the heart of one of the most exciting cities on Earth.
Reviewed By KeithP221 - The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom
Very interesting, impressive building. Worth a visit to immerse yourself in the quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
8. Science and Industry Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,047 reviews
The Science and Industry Museum sits in the heart of Manchester, the world's first industrial city. It houses the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station and the world's first railway warehouse from 1830, which are located at the end of the museum site. On a visit to the museum, you will see amazing objects and learn about the men and women whose ideas changed the world forever. Daily demonstrations bring the museum's world class collection of textile and industrial machinery to life. There are interactive exhibits to explore and a regular programme of changing exhibitions to enjoy.
Reviewed By laineyw999 - Lancashire, United Kingdom
Great shows and interesting exhibits for all ages Definitely think everyone should go to see this fabulous and fantastic place The thought that’s been put into it all is just amazing and will definitely come back soon Fabulous food too in the restaurant and coffee was greatly needed!
9. Royal Exchange Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,089 reviews
We believe theatre is for everyone, and we're passionate about proving it. For almost forty years the Royal Exchange Theatre has been a hub of superb storytelling for Manchester and the UK, and there are even more exciting times ahead! We are an award-winning producing house, commissioning, creating and supporting work that is ambitious in ideas, form and scale. We sit at the centre of a fast-paced, expanding global city with audiences and communities placed firmly at the heart of everything we do. Our “brave and bold” programming, both on and off our stages, has been critically acclaimed and celebrated for its originality, relevance and artistic risk. From our iconic theatre-in-the-round we have established an international reputation for bringing the most powerful stories to life, resulting in multiple awards for new writing with 125 world premieres.
Reviewed By rolandd682 - London, United Kingdom
I was lucky to have caught a preview of The Royal Exchange's latest production and, I understand, the last of its current Artistic Director, Sarah Frankom. She has excelled, with a lively show that is beautifully sung and skilfully choreographed for such a small space. The dance routines are particularly impressive as, having seen the show in a proscenium arch theatre where the gang members seemed rather effete, in this production even the ballet moves look natural. Performed in the round, the action is more immediate and you are transported to 1950s New York. My only quibble is that some of the accents were a bit tortured... However, the actors who play Tony and Maria, Andy Coxon and Gabriel Garcia, are excellent, both with wonderful voices that carry a song soaring into the rafters. Jocasta Almgill, who plays Anita, and Michael Lin, who is one of the Jets, also have superb stage presence and voices. The show has so many excellent, and well known, songs, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. I am still humming, Tonight, America and Maria. It was a most enjoyable night and an evening to remember. I paid £21.50 for a seat on the first gallery and had a wonderful view although, for an older person, I found it slightly difficult to slot myself into place!
10. Manchester Town Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,520 reviews
This place is temporarily closed. This neo-Gothic masterpiece was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1887. At the front main entrance sits a statue of the Roman Governor, Agricola, founder of the original fort of Mamuciam, from which the city began. The building dominates Albert Square.
Reviewed By NB1957
A magnificent building from a time when civic buildings made a statement and architecture from a time when elegance was the driving factor. This impressive building, dominates the attractive Albert Square. Unfortunately due to renovation it will be a while before the main hall is open again to the public. I am told it is not to be miseed.
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