Categories > Guides and Tips
10 Things Every Young Adult Must Do While in Manchester
- Spot the worker bees
- Snap a picture with the largest Vimto bottle!
- Get some fresh historic air at RHS Bridgewater
- Spend time behind bars…at the Alcotraz bar!
- Explore Gay Village
- Visit the Washhouse, but definitely not to drink
- Make something with your own hands at the Craft and Design Centre
- Admire rubbish turned to art at Out House
- Transport yourself back in time at Lark Hill Place
- Cruise around the city
Planning a day out in Manchester, eh? If you haven’t figured out what to do yet, you’re in the right spot! We get it—you want something decent because we’re all young adults here, so you get the drift—something not too dull, but perhaps not a full-blown chaotic night out either.
Luckily, our team has spent countless hours trying to figure out that perfect vibe. Just last month, we were looking for somewhere with a bit of a buzz but still chill enough for a proper chat, and we found this rooftop bar that’s spot-on!
So, forget sifting through endless, overwhelming lists! We’ve curated the ultimate list of activities that young adults like us must do at least once (or ten times) when in Manchester. Check it out below!
Spot the worker bees
Media from: @Manchester City Council
Did you know that Manchester has its own symbol, which is the worker bee? It’s true, and this bee has been part of Manchester’s history since 1842! You can even spot this little icon of history all around the city.
So while you’re venturing to the streets of Manchester, keep your eyes open and you’ll notice that these little fellows are everywhere. It’s essentially a real-life Easter Egg! And who knows, following the bees might lead you to other great sights in the city.
| Pro tip: When we say these bees are everywhere, we mean everywhere. So, even benches and bins might have a Manchester Worker Bee on them. Also keep a close eye on different historical landmarks and buildings; they usually have a Manchester bee or two. |
Snap a picture with the largest Vimto bottle!
Media from: @DJL Photography
Location: Granby Row
Here’s another Manchester fun fact: Vimto was invented here in 1908! Every bottle of Vimto owes itself to a Mancunian herbalist who first called it “Vim Tonic” before it was eventually shortened to the name it has now.
To commemorate this, a wooden monument of the drink was erected in 1992, and it’s become the favourite picture spot for many tourists and locals alike.
It’s practically a rite of passage for every Manchester visitor to see this monument in person and take a picture or two with it. So you need to take a pilgrimage to this iconic bottle!
| Pro tip: The monument isn’t just a popular attraction, it’s also a favourite gathering spot for events! Early October would be a great time to see this larger-than-life bottle, since that’s usually when festivities are held around the monument. |
Get some fresh historic air at RHS Bridgewater
Media from: @the_rhs
Address: Occupation Road Off Leigh Road, Worsley, Salford
Contact details: 0161 503 6100 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Entrance fee:
- Adult (online pre-booked) — £12.50
- Adult — £16.80
- Children 5-16 years — £5
- Car-free offer for adult (bus, cycle, walk)* — £11.80
*Proof required of car-free travel
**Free entrance for RHS members or guests (1 adult or 2 children), children under 5 years, and 2 carers for disabled visitors needing assistance
Operating hours:
- Garden on Monday-Sunday — 10 AM-4 PM
- Garden Centre on Monday-Saturday — 9 AM-4:30 PM
- Garden Centre on Sunday — 10:30 AM-4:30 PM
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, RHS Garden Bridgewater is the perfect place for just that. Once you get past the gates, you’ll find yourself transported to a scene straight out of a fairy tale, with flowers and greenery spanning over 156 acres!
This expansive green oasis also contains its own little pockets of history, with areas that date back to the time of Queen Victoria! You can even spot some old buildings that have also been around since the early days at Bridgewater.
Some highlights include:
- Paradise Garden: Contains exotic and rare flowers, blending Eastern and Western landscaping and architectural styles.
- Middle Wood: A historic forest area that’s great for hiking.
- Victoria Meadow: A peaceful and beautiful meadow, perfect for those who want to simply relax and take in the view of nature.
Overall, RHS Bridgewater is a treat for nature lovers, so it’s a must-see for those of you with a green thumb. You might even appreciate the different horticulture projects that the RHS community has ongoing.
| Pro tip: We suggest entering the gardens in June, July or August. Lots of flowers will be in bloom during that month, which will make the already spectacular scene even more breathtaking. |
Spend time behind bars…at the Alcotraz bar!
Media from: @alcotraz
Address: 1a Watson Street
Contact: 0203 835 5767 (cel.)
Ticket prices: £28.99-£60.50
Operating hours:
- closed on Mondays
- Tuesday-Thursday — 7:05 PM-8:50 PM
- Friday — 3:30 PM-11:15 PM
- Saturday — 12 PM-11:15 PM
- Sunday — 2:15 PM-8:50 PM
Planning on a pub crawl through Manchester? You should definitely add this one to the list! Alcotraz: Cell Block Three-Four is a prison-themed bar where both staff and visitors play out a story. Visitors will be outfitted with jumpsuits and given a task.
The bartenders play the part of the “inmates,” and it’s up to you to “smuggle” drinks to them. The bartenders even wear jumpsuits for the part! The other staff members play as the “warden” and “officers”, trying to catch “smugglers” in the bar.
There’s also no menu for the drinks, which is part of the fun! The bartenders will serve cocktails made from what you’ve brought in, so you’ll taste something familiar while doing the time. That is, if you can successfully bring the drinks to the bartenders.
So if you feel up for it, head to Alcotraz and try their challenge for a unique bar experience in Manchester! You’d have an interesting story to share about how you smuggled “contraband” without actually getting arrested (or we hope you didn’t).
| Pro tip: If you want to up the experience, go in a group! Each of you could bring your favourite liquors to the table and even create your own characters to roleplay as. You’ll have a fun time seeing who can stay in character the longest, and if you succeed in “smuggling,” you’ll end the night with an ultimate combo cocktail. |
Explore Gay Village
Media from: @mcrgayvillage
One place you need to pay a visit to is Manchester’s Gay Village. If not for the history, then for the culture! This LGBTQ+ neighbourhood offers numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs for you to enjoy.
While it’s known for being a safe and fun haven for Manchester’s queer community, people from all different walks of life are welcome. So no matter who you fancy, you’ll always find something to fancy among the sights and spots in this part of Manchester.
Whether you want a wild night out or a moment to slow down and relax a little, you’ll find something to do in this inclusive neighbourhood. You can have brunch and a drag show at Bar Pop, or you could take a solemn moment with the Alan Turing monument in Sackville Gardens.
And if you don’t have a specific destination in mind? You could always just wander around, taking in the scene around you. Wandering around doesn’t have to always be drab and grey, it can also be colourful and gay!
| Pro tip: Even if there are no special events ongoing or it isn’t Pride Month when you visit, the bars and restaurants are still worth trying out! Aside from the good food and good drinks, some of them have live performances every night for patrons to enjoy. |
Visit the Washhouse, but definitely not to drink
Media from: @washhousemcr
Address: 19 Shudehill, Manchester, M4 2AF
Booking fee: £10-£25 per head and per hour
Operating hours:
- Monday-Thursday — 4 PM-1 AM
- Friday-Saturday — 12 PM-2 AM
- Sunday — 12 PM-12 AM
Of course, going one way then another in Manchester would have you working up a sweat. You might even end up with some filthy clothes, so why not have them laundered at this little launderette?
While it’s a strange addition to this list, it wouldn’t hurt to take a bit of a pause and try it out during your trip. It’s great for getting that full Manchester experience!
Though we’ve heard (but don’t quote us on this) that there might be a little something for you if you’ve decided to get a booking at The Washhouse. But we wouldn’t know why you’d get a booking at what’s clearly nothing more than a launderette.
And we wouldn’t happen to know anything about having to speak easy with the staff after you’ve gotten a booking. We also don’t think the rumours that there’s a bar hidden inside this launderette are true.
| Pro tip: We’re not saying that this is anything other than a regular launderette. But if it was anything more than that, like say a speakeasy, then we’ve heard rumours that you could get an extra wash. And from what other rumours say, a wash might be what they call e-vouchers that you can buy on their website. That is, if this were a bar hidden within a regular launderette. |
Make something with your own hands at the Craft and Design Centre
Media from: @manchestercraft
Address: 17 Oak Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 5JD
Operating hours:
- Monday-Saturday — 10 AM-5:30 PM
- Every 2nd Sunday of the month — 11 AM-5 PM
Want to connect a bit with locals during your Manchester visit? Then visit this humble little centre in the Northern Quarter!
The Craft and Design Centre is built not just on bricks but also on a sense of community, and you’ll feel it once you enter. Regulars at the centre are welcoming and friendly, whether they’ve seen you plenty of times before or it’s your first time being there!
Crafting and designing are also group activities, with lots of spaces for people to gather while they learn and try to make all sorts of things. There are also lots of different studios within the centre that offer classes and artworks you can buy.
| Pro tip: There’s an artwork on one of the exterior walls called “Mr. Smith’s Dream”, which you can spot if you take a close look around the centre. It’s a miniature made from ceramic, and it’s also named after a man who owned one of the pet shops that used to be in the area where the centre is—another real-life Easter Egg for you to find! |
Admire rubbish turned to art at Out House
Media from: @outhousemcr
Location: Stevenson Square
Now, usually, we wouldn’t recommend checking out a city’s old and abandoned public bathrooms, but Manchester makes for a beautiful exception.
In Stevenson Square, you’ll find plenty of amazing graffiti art on what used to be a public eyesore. Before 2010, you’d be treated to the sight of some run-down Brutalist-style public bathrooms, quite a mood killer.
But thanks to the efforts of a duo of local artists, Tasha Whittle and Ben Harrison, Project Out House started. They’ve painted over numerous abandoned public bathrooms in Stevenson Square, bringing life to the area.
Now, instead of being treated to the sight of some public eyesores, shoppers can be treated to some really impressive art pieces. You’ll enjoy seeing bursts of vibrant colour among the urban landscape, especially with how expressive the art is!
| Pro tip: The Out House project is still ongoing, and if you’re lucky, you might even see the artists at work on another piece. If you’re feeling rather generous, you can also offer them some water and a quick snack to help keep them going. |
Transport yourself back in time at Lark Hill Place
Media from: @salford_musem
Location: Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Crescent, Salford M5 4WU, United Kingdom
Open hours:
- closed on Mondays
- Tuesday-Friday — 9:30 AM-4 PM
- Saturday-Sunday — 11:30 AM-4 PM
Now this will be a real Manchester experience…for the Victorian era! Lark Hill Place is one of the highlights of the Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and we’d say it’s for a great reason.
The whole area is a detailed replica of a Victorian scene, and once you step in it, you’d feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Lark Hill Place contains all kinds of shops and buildings you’d see in Manchester 100 years ago, complete with businesses like a chemist’s and even a blacksmith!
If you’ve gone to Manchester for the history, you should definitely step foot on Lark Hill Place.
| Pro tip: If you’re doing a pub crawl in Manchester, you could include this as a good “joke” addition since there’s also a replica pub called The Blue Lion Tavern. It’ll make for some good laughs while you share stories of your time in Manchester! |
Cruise around the city
Media from: @manchesterrivercruises
Contact details: +44 161 960 0534 (tel.), [email protected] (email)
Ticket price: £30-£40 (per head)
Operating hours: Daily, 8 AM-8 PM
After reading our suggestions, you might be worried about getting tired from all the walking you’d have to do to see different sights. Hopping from bus to bus might also sound tiring. But there’s always the option to go on a cruise through the city!
Manchester’s waterways go through different landmarks and sights throughout the city, so why not take a cruise through them? It beats having to walk around or hop from bus to bus, plus you might also learn more about the city’s history from the guide!
| Pro tip: Some cruises offer on-board entertainment, such as singers and even celebrity impersonators. If you want a livelier cruise, you can search for and/or book tickets for these cruises via the website we linked! |
