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12 Hobby Classes in Manchester to Spend Your Free Time

| Last Updated: April 2025

When lockdown hit, most of us suddenly had more time on our hands than we knew what to do with. Naturally, we turned to hobbies (some old, some new) to pass the time and keep a level head.

Now that life’s back in full swing, there are more opportunities than ever for picking up and maintaining a hobby. And with all the choices, you’re probably wondering what’s the best out there for starters.

We’ve been in the same boat—and somehow solved our same predicament by going around Manchester on a bus and trying out classes that caught our eyes. To save you the bother, we’ve listed the crème de la crème (so far) below.

Arts and Crafts Workshops

Creative Art Courses

Address: Hope Mill, 113 Pollard St
Contact details: 07816 791023
Operating hours: 

  • Monday – 10:00AM to 12:30 PM
  • Wednesday – 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – CLOSED 

Pricing: £££
Website

We believe that many of you will default to getting an art class when picking up a new hobby. It’s an easy choice, and for good reason.

So, let us suggest an art workshop. Creative Art Courses might sound too generic by name, but this Ancoats-based school has made a genuine impact on learners over the past decade. 

Don’t let its studio’s smallish size fool you—its private and group lessons in drawing, mixed media and other creative techniques are thoughtfully structured for optimal learning. Many students have reignited their passion for art in here over the years, and you might, too.

Pro tip:

If you’re busy as a bee on weekdays, Creative Art Courses’ weekend workshops offer flexible options. Choose from monthly, one-day, or two-day sessions to match your schedule.

Cork & Canvas

Media from @clubcorkandcanvas

Address: 23 Radium St, Ancoats
Contact details: 07581 194615
Operating hours: varies; available upon booking
Pricing: ££
Website

A ‘paint and sip’ session, where people recreate an artwork while enjoying wine or bubbly Champagne, isn’t exactly a new idea, but Cork & Canvas (and its founder and events host Emily) nails the formula for making it memorable and fun.

Each event features an interesting piece to copy. Emily’s friendly guidance keeps things flowing smoothly, keeping even first-timers relaxed—no pressure, just brushes, colour, and drinks to get surprisingly decent results!

Cork & Canvas runs weekly sessions open to everyone, but it also offers private hire—great for hen do’s, birthday parties, or corporate team building events. It’s just a perfect activity for everyone, since nobody needs to be as good as Picasso or worthy of the museum.

Pro tip:

Cork & Canvas’ public paint and sip event slots fill out really fast, so we highly suggest you check its website regularly to snag seats early.

Cooking Classes

Food Sorcery – Didsbury

Media from @foodsorcery

Address: adjacent to the Waterside Hotel, Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury
Contact details: 0161 706 0505
Operating hours: Daily – 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Pricing: £££
Website

With restaurant food prices climbing, learning to cook feels more essential than ever. This is why Food Sorcery’s ‘learn to cook’ workshops made our list of top picks for Manchester hobby classes this year.

Food Sorcery’s kitchens aren’t just for seasoned chefs—budding home chefs and total beginners are also welcome, too (no shame if you’ve ever scorched a pan or two; we’ve all been there)!

While you get to explore global cuisines in every session, this culinary school shines at teaching the basics of cookery: knife skills, mise en place (ingredient prep), and cooking simple dishes like a medium well steak. Simple, no frills cooking that will actually help you save cash.

Pro tip: 

Everything you cook in a Food Sorcery class is free to take home—it’s part of the lesson fee anyway. Yay, ‘free’ food for the next few days!

My Chocolate – Manchester

Media from MyChocolate

Address: Malmaison Hotel, 1-3 Piccadilly
Contact details: [email protected] 
Operating hours: varies; available upon booking
Pricing: £££
Website

Chocolate—that sweet, sticky, fragrant cacao product is perhaps one reason why the world can still be a good place—it’s the ultimate mood-lifter! With the help of My Chocolate’s workshop, you’ll finally learn how to make the magic yourself.

My Chocolate’s Manchester studio teaches kids and adults how to temper, mix, and design their own chocolate truffles and chocolate bark. It’s a splendid choice for spending two hours on a weekend. 

Our only gripe as adults is that their My Chocolate doesn’t have adult-only chocolate-making classes (a.k.a. boozy chocolate cocktail making) in Manchester, only in London. We really hope it offers one in our city soon, but for the meantime, we’ll just settle on other cocktail classes.

Pro tip:

Fancy making your celebration sweeter with chocolate? Hire a My Chocolate workshop for your birthday or hen-do!

Fitness and Dance Classes

Parthian Climbing Manchester

Media from Parthian Climbing Manchester

Address: St Benedict’s Church, Bennett St, West Gorton
Contact details: 0161 230 7006
Operating hours:

  • Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Pricing: £
Website

Parthian Climbing at West Gorton offers a fresh take on weekend activity. It’s a great option for those looking for an adrenaline boost or motivation for finally overcoming a fear of heights.

Housed in a converted church, Parthian Climbing attracts casual visitors and dedicated rock climbing enthusiasts of all ages. Getting in is also affordable, with options to get day passes or monthly membership, depending on how deep you are already into the hobby.

And if you need some proper instruction, this climbing centre also gets you covered with classes for beginners until expert-level instruction.

Beyond the adventure of scaling high, (pretend) rock walls, you can also challenge yourself with the real deal—get to hike and scale the rocks at Peak District or Portland at special outdoor sessions.

Pro tip:

Beyond the adventure of scaling high, (pretend) rock walls, you can also challenge yourself with the real deal. Get to hike and scale the real rocks at Portland and Peak Districts at Parthian Climbing’s special outdoor sessions.

Salsa Freedom

Media from Salsa Manchester

Address: The Life Centre North, 293A Deansgate (opposite The Hilton Hotel)
Contact details: 07766 111694
Operating hours: Daily – 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing: £

Salsa Manchester might feature only one dance, but this vibrant dance hotspot isn’t limited to just salsa. Get to learn more movements like rumba, cha-cha, and the bachata under the skilled and friendly guidance of instructor Jordan.

Although it seems like dance halls (like the one in the Ritz) are already relics of the past, Jordan’s lively classes at Salsa Manchester still pull in a surprisingly sizeable crowd. Don’t assume they’re old timers, too, since most of its patrons are actually people under 40!

So, head on to learn social dance here—it could just be the freshest way to meet your newest mates.

Pro tip:

Need to learn a dance routine for your sibling’s wedding reception, even though you aren’t quite the dancer? Salsa Manchester care of Jordan himself can tailor-make routines fitting your skill level and chosen tune!

Music and Performing Arts

Media from Maunders School of Music

Address: WIlsons Park, Monsall Road
Contact details: 07716 755544
Operating hours: 

  • Monday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • Tuesday – 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Wednesday and Thursday – 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Friday – 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM
  • Saturday – 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
  • Sunday – CLOSED

Pricing: ££
Website

Even if your last foray into playing a musical instrument was way back in your A-level days, rekindling a music hobby is never a bad idea. Institutions like the Maunders School of Popular Music is a godsend for being able to offer music lessons not just for kids, but for adults, too!

Book an hourly or 30-minute slot for guitar, piano, drums, or the ukulele. The quick lessons can help you ease into building a regular practice.

Once you’re pretty decent with the basics of your instrument, take the lessons up a notch and join Maunders’ band workshops! Here, you’ll get to jam with professionals and learners alike in a more natural music environment that will also build confidence.

Pro tip:

Still a bit undecided whether to commit? Book a 30-minute ‘taster session’ first—no strings attached and absolutely free of charge.

Mindful Acting – Manchester

Media from Mindful Acting

Address: AWOL Studios, 6th Floor, Hope Mill, 113 Pollard St, Ancoats
Contact details: 07516 664772
Operating hours:

  • Monday and Thursday – 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday – CLOSED

Pricing: ££
Website

Daniel Bradford and the crew at Mindful Acting believe that acting should bring you up, not tear you apart. This means that shaming and immensely pressuring actors’ psyches are a big no-no.

This refreshing take on the profession is an appealing choice for those just starting or are coming back after a long hiatus.

Sharpen your acting chops at Mindful Acting’s weekly two-hour group classes. These are held on Mondays, and are perfect for those who would just like to drop in at any session. 

If you want proper focus, though, get the one-on-one sessions with Dan. It can be face-to-face or even via Zoom if you don’t fancy the trip across the city.

Pro tip:

Maximise learning while saving a few quid by booking your Mindful Acting sessions in bulk.

Language and Literature

Alliance Française de Manchester

Media from AF Manchester

Address: 125 Portland St
Contact details: 0161 236 7117
Operating hours:

  • Monday to Thursday – 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
  • Friday – 9:30 PM to 1:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday – CLOSED

Pricing: £££
Website

Brush up on your French for that long-awaited second trip to Paris with some proper lessons at Manchester’s Alliance Française. This globally-respected language school is a solid choice for any curious mind.

Adults keen on improving their French can attend leçons (lessons) once a week. 

The good thing about the Alliance’s method is that you won’t get plonked into any random class immediately—a required assessment of your skills will be first made, to ensure you’ll start with instruction that fits your current skill level.

Enrolment here also grants you full access to its online and physical libraries, brilliant for getting additional learning resources!

Pro tip:

Join Alliance Française’s regular Meetups and get to parler (speak) and écouter (listen) to your mates in French! Practice makes perfect, you see.

Commonword

Media from Commonword Cultureword

Address: Annex 3, 3rd Floor, Bridge 5 Mill, 22A Beswick St, Ancoats
Contact details: 0161 832 3777
Operating hours: 

  • Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday – CLOSED

Pricing: £
Website

If you’re a Manchester-based writer from a diaspora community, then Commonword’s Cultureword strand might just be your cup of tea. This organisation has writing groups that empower cultural identity and blend the art of the pen with lived experience.

The aptly-named ‘identity’ writing group consists of wordsmiths of Black, Asian, Middle Eastern and other global majority ethnicities. For those of the same demographic who write longer prose, the novel-writing group is another collective to join.

Sharing each other’s work for feedback and improvement is the goal—a very practical way of supporting writers whose stories might otherwise become unheard.

Pro tip:

While waiting for the next workshop or writing group meeting, browse the Commonword Archive online and get a good read of working class and diaspora Mancunian writing that we’re thankful to have seen the light of day.

Unusual and Unique Workshops

Bird & Blend Tea Co.

Media from Bird & Blend Tea Co.

Address: 57 Church St, Northern Quarter
Contact details: 0161 839 1640
Operating hours: 

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday – 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday and Saturday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Sunday – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Pricing: £££
Website

What if you can actually make tea a hobby? Although it might sound quite bonkers, the Bird & Blend Tea Co. in the Northern Quarter makes it work!

On most days, the Bird & Blend is a go-to spot for quality cuppa essentials. However, it takes a livelier mood on Sundays from the chats and hands-on fun from its tea blending workshop.

Get in and learn which teas go well with each other to create your own signature blend. You’ll not only get to taste your creations on the spot, but you’ll also be able to take them home with you—enjoy them for days!

Pro tip:

Go all out and splurge on your tea workshop by upgrading your goodie bag to include Bird & Blend’s recipe book!

Negative Development

Media from Negative Development

Address: Unit 61, Pollard Yard, 15 Pollard St E
Contact details: [email protected] 
Operating hours: varies; available upon booking
Pricing: £££
Website

Fans of analogue photography are surely having a wonderful time due to it being trendy again. At Negative Development, one of Manchester’s community darkrooms, you’ll also get to experience developing and printing hands-on—it’s your ‘own’ lab once you learn the process.

Thankfully, Negative Development isn’t stingy on teaching the skills. It has workshops for developing and printing 35mm C41 and RA4 films (you’ll know the difference between these further as you go along).

Want to know the best part? You won’t have to worry about where to actually get the film you’ll need to develop—that’s part of the fee. Just make sure you have your own camera to put the roll in and shoot photos with: yes, the very photos you’ll be developing for your collection.

Pro tip:

Dive deeper into film photography by joining Negative Development’s membership program. Perks include full access to its community darkroom and invites to the community’s exclusive events.

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