Manchester bucket list

If you’ve not left the cosy confines of the Oxford Road corridor very much this year, here are some things not to miss in the city centre.

Get the touristy stuff done

‘Oh have you done X in Manchester?’ is what you’ll often hear when you tell someone you go to uni here. To avoid looking like a library hermit, however true this might be, there are essential tourist activities to tick off your list.

  • Recreating that classic picture of The Smiths outside Salford Lads club.
  • Watch the sun go down with a cocktail at Cloud 23 in Beetham Tower.
  • Paying homage to The Hacienda (now an apartment block). The back of the building is inscribed with the musicians and bands that made their name there. 

Visit Manchester’s museums

The city boasts some truly amazing collections among its many museums, from monuments from Rapa Nui to a model of baby – the world’s first stored-programme computer.

Eat some gourmet street food

American style BBQ food with a gourmet twist is all the rage at the moment, and nowhere is doing it quite as well as Manchester. From doughnut burgers to desert pizzas, here are three of our favourites.

Check out some art

We’re spoiled for choice for art in the city with numerous internationally renowned galleries, including one right on campus which has recently undergone a £15 million development.

Go indie shopping in the Northern Quarter

Love or hate the bohemian Northern Quarter, you can’t deny it tops Market Street or the Trafford Centre when it comes to shopping for unique items.

Catch a play

Start your summer with a bit of culture, at one of Manchester’s many theatres, all of which offer special student rates on tickets.