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Things to do in Manchester this weekThursday 15 October

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10#2 in Manchester this week

Free Manchester Walking Tours

FreeDaily · 3 hrs★ 4.9

Let us tell you the story of Manchester.... Every Day // 11am // Alan Turing Memorial (Sackville Gardens).  Please ensure you're with an official guide, who will be

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Rain forecast today.

Happening now in Manchester

Visiting Manchester?Add your dates and this page leads with what’s on while you’re here.

Rain today? Here's plan B

Rain, about 4mm: the best of Manchester indoors

King LearThu 15 October · Royal Exchange TheatreBundobust ManchesterPiccadilly and Oxford Road · $The Warehouse Project (Depot Mayfield)MayfieldFreeOn The Line: 100 years of strikes & solidarityThu 15 October, 10am · People's History MuseumDishoom ManchesterCity centre · $$Albert's SchlossPeter StreetFreePortrait of Black BritainThu 15 October, 10am · The Social, Aviva StudiosHawksmoor ManchesterDeansgate · $$$Band on the WallNorthern QuarterThe Brown Sugar RAP PartyThu 15 October, 8pm · Contact · From £10Rudy's PizzaAncoats and city centre · $HiddenCity centreOktoberfest at Albert's SchlossThu 15 October · Albert's SchlossSam's Chop HouseCity centre · $$$Night & Day CafeNorthern QuarterMowgli Street FoodCity centre · $$

Tonight in Manchester

TonightManchester Literature Festival 2026Thu 15 October · Various venues · From £10TonightGreat Northern Contemporary Craft FairThu 15 October · Victoria Baths · From £8.95

This weekend

17 October and 18 October

FreeSatBury Market (Saturday outdoor market)Sat 17 October, 9am · Bury MarketSatSale Sharks v Glasgow WarriorsSat 17 October, 1pm · CorpAcq StadiumSatHugh Bonneville: Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved TeaSat 17 October, 2pm · HOME · From £10FreeSatBar DJ's // J HoySat 17 October, 7pm · Night & Day CafeSatHallé: Classical ExtravaganzaSat 17 October, 7:30pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £22SatEric Prydz - Concourse OnlySat 17 October, 9:30pm · Depot MayfieldFreeSunCheetham Cultural Festival: Museum Open DaySun 18 October, 12pm · Manchester Jewish MuseumSunManchester Storm vs Belfast GiantsSun 18 October, 4pm · AO ArenaSunStarsailor performing Love is Here (in full)Sun 18 October, 7pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £32SunPhil Wang: UH OHSun 18 October · Opera House Manchester

Food: where locals eat

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Local favourites in Manchester

Mughli Charcoal PitRusholme (Curry Mile) · $$TampopoCity centre · $$Ezra & GilNorthern Quarter · $$

Going out

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Bars, live music and nights out

Fri 7pmThe Mountain GoatsFri 16 October, 7pm · Albert Hall · From £35Fri 8pmWHP + Teletech present doof - Hannah LaingFri 16 October, 8pm · Depot Mayfield · From £35FreeFri 10pmN&D DJ's // Adam Statham Presents Split the DecksFri 16 October, 10pm · Night & Day CafeMon 7pmCabaret VoltaireMon 19 October, 7pm · Albert Hall · From £35Tue 7:30pmDeep ForestTue 20 October, 7:30pm · Night & Day Cafe · From £30Tue 7:45pmSteve Hackett - Best of Genesis and Solo GemsTue 20 October, 7:45pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £54Thu 7:30pmHallé: Rachmaninov's Symphony No.3Thu 22 October, 7:30pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £18.5Cloud 23DeansgateThe Marble ArchAncoatsThe Peer HatNorthern Quarter

Walking tours

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Free, tip-based, self-guided and guided

FreeFree Manchester Walking ToursDaily · 3 hrs · ★ 4.9 on GuruWalkFreeMust-do Manchester Free Tour with World Famous Dog SalchichaDaily · 2.3 hrs · ★ 5 on GuruWalkFree#1 Manchester Free Tour - As Seen on BBC & The Sidemen!Daily · 2 hrs · ★ 4.8 on GuruWalkFreeRadical Manchester - How Manchester Changed the WorldDaily · 2.5 hrs · ★ 5 on GuruWalkFreeFree Express Tour of Manchester city centre in SpanishDaily · 1.5 hrs · ★ 4.9 on GuruWalk▶ VideoTwo Days in Manchester - UKAny time · From €2
New in ManchesterYour first month in Manchester, plannedFour weeks, sixteen small steps: your people, your places and a Saturday routine.For hotels & hostelsRun a hotel or hostel in Manchester?List your trivia nights, pub crawls and tours here for free, in front of everyone looking for something to do.

Tours & day trips

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Booked with the operator

Chester ZooSelf-drive or train to ChesterJodrell Bank Discovery CentreSelf-driveTatton ParkSelf-drive · From £11East Lancashire RailwayBury Bolton Street stationRHS Garden BridgewaterSelf-drive or bus

Get outside

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Parks, beaches, walks and hikes around Manchester

FreeKinder Scout circular from Edale15 km · about 4.5 hrsFreeIrwell Sculpture TrailRoute from Irwell Sculpture TrailFreeCanal walk from Castlefield2.4 km · about 1 hrFreeWellbeing walk in Manchester2.2 km · about 36 min

Free this week

FreeOn The Line: 100 years of strikes & solidarityThu 15 October, 10am · People's History MuseumFreePortrait of Black BritainThu 15 October, 10am · The Social, Aviva StudiosFreeN&D DJ's // Adam Statham Presents Split the DecksFri 16 October, 10pm · Night & Day CafeFreeBury Market (Saturday outdoor market)Sat 17 October, 9am · Bury MarketFreeBar DJ's // J HoySat 17 October, 7pm · Night & Day CafeFreeCheetham Cultural Festival: Museum Open DaySun 18 October, 12pm · Manchester Jewish MuseumFreeFree Manchester Walking ToursDaily · 3 hrs · ★ 4.9 on GuruWalkFreeMust-do Manchester Free Tour with World Famous Dog SalchichaDaily · 2.3 hrs · ★ 5 on GuruWalkFree#1 Manchester Free Tour - As Seen on BBC & The Sidemen!Daily · 2 hrs · ★ 4.8 on GuruWalkFreeRadical Manchester - How Manchester Changed the WorldDaily · 2.5 hrs · ★ 5 on GuruWalkFreeFree Express Tour of Manchester city centre in SpanishDaily · 1.5 hrs · ★ 4.9 on GuruWalkFreeKinder Scout circular from Edale15 km · about 4.5 hrsFreeIrwell Sculpture TrailRoute from Irwell Sculpture TrailFreeCanal walk from Castlefield2.4 km · about 1 hrFreeWellbeing walk in Manchester2.2 km · about 36 min

Date night

Dinner, drinks and a show

Dishoom ManchesterCity centre · $$The Warehouse Project (Depot Mayfield)MayfieldFri 7pmThe Mountain GoatsFri 16 October, 7pm · Albert Hall · From £35Hawksmoor ManchesterDeansgate · $$$Albert's SchlossPeter StreetSat 7:30pmHallé: Classical ExtravaganzaSat 17 October, 7:30pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £22Sam's Chop HouseCity centre · $$$Band on the WallNorthern QuarterSun 7pmStarsailor performing Love is Here (in full)Sun 18 October, 7pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £32Mowgli Street FoodCity centre · $$Cloud 23DeansgateMon 7pmCabaret VoltaireMon 19 October, 7pm · Albert Hall · From £35Mughli Charcoal PitRusholme (Curry Mile) · $$HiddenCity centreTue 7:45pmSteve Hackett - Best of Genesis and Solo GemsTue 20 October, 7:45pm · The Bridgewater Hall · From £54TampopoCity centre · $$

More in Manchester

Manchester: what's on, answered

What's on in Manchester this weekend?

This weekend (17 October and 18 October) there are 10 events listed in Manchester, including Bury Market (Saturday outdoor market), Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors and Hugh Bonneville: Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea. Free walking tours run every day too.

Are there free things to do in Manchester?

Yes: 5 free walking tours (tip-based, booked through GuruWalk) and 6 free events this week.

What tours can I do in Manchester?

There are 5 tours and day trips to book, including Chester Zoo and Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and 1 self-guided walking tour you can start on your phone at any time, from FreeGuides Tours.

Where should I eat in Manchester?

Local favourites include Bundobust Manchester, Dishoom Manchester, Hawksmoor Manchester and Rudy's Pizza, and for a drink, The Warehouse Project (Depot Mayfield) and Albert's Schloss.

Where can I go hiking near Manchester?

Walking and hiking routes within 30 km of Manchester include Kinder Scout circular from Edale, Irwell Sculpture Trail and Canal walk from Castlefield.

How is this page put together?

It covers 15–22 October and is refreshed several times a day from FreeGuides' own weekly research of Manchester, booking partners and self-guided tours from tours.freeguides.com. Times and prices come from each organiser, so check before you go.

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