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Student city guide to Manchester: top 10 things to do

If you’re off to study in Manchester, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s quite a bit to do – so much, in fact, that we’ve struggled to cram it all in to this one list.

Eleanor Foulds
by Eleanor Foulds
Last Updated:
16 Jan 2024

Hopefully the following ten things will give you a good starting point, though (and we’ve even been kind enough to include a map, so you can find where everything is)…

1) Café North


Good for: Eating a breakfast big enough to fill you up for a week (at least).

What it is: A cheerful greasy spoon-style café in the Northern Quarter.

Why you should go: If you’ve been watching a lot of Man v. Food lately and feel like challenging yourself to a HUGE breakfast (complete with three bacon, hash browns, beans, tomatoes, three sausages, three eggs, mushrooms, black pudding and toast), then Café North is the place to do it. They've also got a lot of choices suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Just make sure you don’t eat dinner the day before. Or lunch. Or anything.

2) The Lowry

 

The Lowry
Image via flickr.com

Good for: Anyone who fancies a bit of culture.

What it is: Manchester’s hotspot for art exhibitions and theatre.

Why you should go: If you’re fed up with clubbing and feel like doing something a bit different, why not have a look and see what shows are on at The Lowry? They have an impressive range of offbeat shows, stand-up comics and interactive theatre, meaning there’s always something to go and see or experience.

3) Mint Lounge

 

mint lounge
Image via flickr.com

Good for: A more varied clubbing experience.

What it is: A Northern Quarter nightclub that’s popular among students and boasts an impressive array of themed club nights.

Why you should go: One word: Funkademia. Okay, so there are other reasons to go to Mint Lounge too (they book some impressive live bands, they have plenty of student deals, etc.), but their weekly funk and soul event provides a Saturday night out that won’t disappoint.

4) Walrus Canteen and Bar


Good for: Deliciously offbeat dining and colourful cocktail consumption.

What it is: A quirkily decorated bar that offers top quality cocktails and Asian cuisine.

Why you should go: Just to take in the impressively unusual décor, if for no other reason (although you might as well stay for a Chocolate Orange Old Fashioned once you’ve made the trip). If you haven’t already done so, you should also check out the Walrus Canteen and Bar’s wonderfully silly website (it makes you a bit dizzy, but in a good way).

5) The Comedy Store

 

comedy store
Image via flickr.com

Good for: Laughing your ruddy socks off.

What it is: If the name had you thinking of joke shops (the kind that sell whoopee cushions and itching powder), then you’re absolutely wrong. The Comedy Store is actually a stand-up event that plays host to both up-and-coming acts and more well-established comics.

Why you should go: If you want to check out some new acts and have a laugh, then this is the place to be. The locations vary, so you can also check out some new bars while you're at it.

6) iFly


Good for: Those who want to skydive but are afraid of heights/planes/the outdoors.

What it is: A kind of indoor air tunnel that gives you the sensation of sky diving.

Why you should go: You get all the thrills of skydiving without the danger (well okay maybe not all the thrills). It isn't the cheapest activity on this list but it's worth going at least once while you're at uni, and it'll be cheaper than going on a real outdoor skydive!

7) Richmond Tea Rooms


Good for: A fancy afternoon tea.

What it is: A tea room serving breakfast, afternoon tea and lunch.

Why you should go: As well as the standard tearoom fare, the Richmond Tea Rooms also offer themed tea parties and burlesque events, so there's something a bit different to check out. It's influenced by Alice in Wonderland, so you can expect something unique if you make a visit. The tearoom also caters for vegan and gluten free diets.

8) Future Everything Festival


Good for: Virtual ants, miniature ceramic commuters and realising science can be fun.

What it is: An annual festival involving a mixture of exhibitions, art, science and music.

Why you should go: This may make us sound a bit geeky, but we don’t care. The fact is, some of the high-tech art and futuristic stuff at this festival is just plain cool. In the 2012 festival, for instance, they arranged a game called I’d Hide You, which involved people running round Manchester with web-cams on their heads, and people at home choosing a runner and taking part in a kind of computer game via the live stream from their cameras (it’s explained better on their website – think along the lines of the film “Strange Days”, if you’ve ever seen it).

9) This & That


Good for: Sampling a range of different curries for under a tenner.

What it is: A popular Indian curry house.

Why you should go: Have you ever gone for an Indian meal and been stumped by the sheer volume of options on the menu? Well This & That offers a solution to that particular problem; for £8 you can opt for a “Rice & 3 Meat” menu, which allows you to sample three different curries in one sitting. There's also vegan curries, and a "Rice & 3 Veg" will set you back just £6. Perfect.

10) Eurocultured Street Festival

 

eurocultured
Image via flickr.com

Good for: Painting, dancing, singing, music, and general street-based merriment.

What it is: A yearly festival that brings a mixture of European culture together in one massive, street party-style setting.

Why you should go: The festival is like a treasure trove of underground music and interesting events, meaning you can literally wander the streets and see what you happen to stumble across: whether it’s live art, dancing or pounding hip-hop beneath a graffiti-covered railway arch, there will be something for everyone.

Key info about Manchester


Home to the eponymous and ever popular Manchester United football club, Manchester is one of the largest cities in the north of England, and the region’s self proclaimed commercial and cultural capital.  Partially due to the preponderance of premier league football players, Manchester has a reputation for glamour, and its nightlife is second to none.  Alongside the city centre super clubs, Canal Street is famous for its LGBTQ+ scene, and the city has long been known for its live music, spawning the ‘Madchester’ music scene in the 1990s, which was fronted by loca bands such as Oasis and the Stone Roses.  Manchester is the rail hub of the north, and has connections to many other major cities, such as London and Liverpool.

Start searching for courses in Manchester now.

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