Manchester, UK | Our Essential Guide to the Best Must-Do Activities + LGBTQ Spots

This was our first time visiting Manchester (we’ve been to the UK a few times before) and we absolutely fell in love with the city! It’s smaller than some of the bigger British cities like London, but yet has tons to do while still having that charming, small town vibe.

Manchester is known for its industrial heritage, thriving arts scene, inclusivity, and and eclectic music scene. Manchester offers an so many different experiences that cater to every type of traveler. We spent a few days exploring the city in the Spring and had an amazing time! Keep reading to see our guide to all the best things to do on your trip.

Where to Stay in Manchester

During our trip we stayed at Leven hotel in the Gay Village. Leven is a an LGBTQ+ friendly hotel with a contemporary vibe. It’s located right in the heart of the city, so it was very easy to walk to anything we wanted to see and do. Leven offers range of on-site facilities, including a trendy bar and restaurant, and our room was massive! We stayed in the suite which feels like a 2-floor loft apartment equipped with a kitchen and balcony.

You can find more Manchester accommodations here on Hotels.com

How to Get Around Manchester

To get to/from the airport, the easiest way to the city center is the train. The train system works amazing in the UK and is very reliable. Other than that, the city is small enough where you could walk almost everywhere if you wanted to, or you can use Uber to get to some places outside of the city. We booked our train tickets in advance to get to/from the Manchester Airport, but you can also buy them at the station or airport as well.

Best Things to Do in Manchester

RHS Garden Bridgewater

Manchester Art Gallery

Northern Quarter

Castlefield Viaduct

• Explore the Northern Quarter - known for its vibrant atmosphere and artistic flair. This neighborhood is a haven for artists, musicians, and independent businesses, making it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the city. Our favorite stops during our trip were:

  • Afflecks - Three floor emporium of second-hand items and independent shops

  • Queer Lit / Social Refuge – the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ bookshop and cafe

  • Piccadilly Records - Open since 1978, this is the original place to go for vinyl records in Manchester

  • Vintage clothes shops – Cow, Pop Boutique, Blue Rinse, but you’ll see tons more just walking around the exploring

  • Mackie Mayor - Named one of the UK’s best food halls, Mackie Mayor is a former Victorian meat market turned casual eatery, with multiple kitchen traders to choose from

• Go to the Manchester Art Gallery - here you’ll see displays of British and European art and design, and a large collection of locally-born L.S. Lowry.

• Walk the Castlefield Viaduct - This reminded us so much of the Highline in NYC, but at on smaller scale. Castlefield Viaduct was originally built in 1892 as a railway line, but now The National Trust have reclaimed a small section of the line to create a ‘park in the sky’ with plans to extend the 330-meter long walkway to over 1 km.

• Visit RHS Garden Bridgewater - Europe’s largest gardening project! This is the newest garden from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), in Salford, part of Greater Manchester. The garden features a walled garden, Chinese streamside garden, lake, and visitor centre. If you’re like us and have always wanted to eat lunch at a British Garden Center, then this is the perfect place to have that experience!

• Do an LGBTQ+ Walking Tour of Manchester - Join this public walking tour with a local guide to explore Manchester’s famous Gay Village, learn about the cities queer monuments, and find out the story of how Manchester got so queer. We did ours with @freetours_mcr

Find more Manchester activities and tours here on Expedia

Where to Eat & Drink in Manchester

Evelyn’s

Maray

• Feel Good Club (queer owned cafe & brunch spot)

• Evelyn’s (had vegan & non-vegan Sunday roast!)

• Gail’s Coffee (great coffee chain)

• Wholesome Junkies

• Maray (Mediterrianian cuisine)

• Nell’s Pizza

• Yum Cha

• Red Light (LGBTQ+ bar)

• Vanilla (queer women’s night party)

The LGBTQ+ Scene in Manchester

Manchester is one of the most LGBTQ+ cities we’ve ever visited. They are very open about being inclusive and welcoming to all members of the queer community. Manchester has played a pivotal role in LGBTQ+ history, and they hosted first Pride event in the UK in 1985. The city has been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights and activism ever since. You’ll see rainbows and pride flags everywhere, and Manchester Gay Village is a haven for queer bars and restaurants. The heart of the Gay Village runs through Canal Street, where lots of the bars and restaurants are located on the canal.

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If you want to see everything we did on our trip to Manchester, make sure you check out our YouTube vlog below!

Thank you to Marketing Manchester for hosting us on this trip! As always, all opinions are honest and our own. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.