The festive season is here and if you’re looking to celebrate as much as possible before it inevitably comes to an abrupt end, we’ve found the very best ways to make the most of it. Fancy celebrating in style this year? From wonderful Christmas shows and Candlelight concerts to indulging in all of the festive food and drink Manchester has to offer, here are the most festive things to do in Manchester over the Christmas period.
1. Grab a Yorkshire pudding wrap at Porky Pigs
When it comes to Manchester Christmas Market traders, Porky Pig is iconic. Popping up every single year, the beloved stall offers up their now-famous Yorkshire pudding wraps, which are stuffed with pretty much an entire roast dinner and smothered in gravy before being sealed to perfection on the grill. It’s not a successful Christmas without one, that’s for sure.
2. Practice your ice skating skills
Grab your skates, Mancs, you’ve pulled! (A date with the ice rink, that is). Popping up all over the city for the festive season, guests can glide their way towards December 25th to the tune of Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday while enjoying a hot mug of mulled wine, with plenty of new and wintery scenes to skate around. From views of the festive markets at Skate Manchester to the Trafford Centre’s glimmering TinselTown, Manchester boasts a number of ice skating rinks to glide across this winter.
3. Browse quirky Christmas gifts at the annual markets
It might be a novelty, but that’s kind of the point. Here once a year only, Manchester’s wonderful market traders have some lovely, quaint gifts to explore – even if it’s just to have a look. From cute, festive ornaments to locally made crafts, there’s tons to explore.
4. Grab some Christmas shopping under the festive roof of the Trafford Centre
There’s nowhere better for shopping in Manchester than the Trafford Centre. It’s kind of like the holy mecca for retail addicts, with tons of big names under one roof. But what makes it extra special? Its unique architecture resembles the grand baroque era, and is annually decked out with sparkling Christmas lights once the festive season comes around.
5. Get lost in a trail of Christmas lights
Manchester’s Christmas lights are making a return, and just like recent years, people enjoying the city can enjoy a huge trail of them spanning across some of the most popular areas in town. It’s free to do, and perfect for festive strolls in the evening. However, for more added magic this Christmas, Mancs can venture to beautifully-curated, twinkling light trails in and around the region such as Christmas at Dunham Massey and and Glow at RHS Bridgewater currently confirmed for the 2024 season.
6. Cosy up in one of the city’s wintery terraces, tipis or huts with a mulled wine
Nothing beats kicking back in a cosy spot on a cold day, and luckily for us, Manchester is absolutely full of ’em. From the alpine-themed huts at Bar Hütte to the wintery terrace at The Refuge, the Teepee at The Oast House to The Black Friar’s Winter Tavern, there’s plenty to choose from – with many of which serving up proper hearty grub and warming glasses of mulled wine. And how can you not have a least one mulled wine this festive season?
7. Discover the most brie-lliant fromage on this cheese crawl
Nothing says the festive season quite like cheese – we Camembert a Christmas without it! Why not munch on moreish cheese whilst exploring the city on this Manchester cheese crawl. On what might be the gratest crawl in Manchester, you will be able to discover the finest and most brie-lliant cheeses, with very mature fun facts along the way. There’s no feta way to get in the festive mood than the Manchester Cheese Crawl – plus this experience can be a great gift for friends or family members.
You’ll find Manchester Cheese Crawl at Richard Cobden Statue, St Ann’s Square, M2 7JB.
Tickets are available here.
8. Catch a Christmas show or pantomime
Nothing says Christmas quite like a show or pantomime, and thankfully, there are a wide selection of performances to enjoy in Manchester this festive season, including the award-wining musical, Wicked. From family favourites to beautiful ballet performances, playful pantos to amazing adaptations, Christmas in Manchester is sure to be show-stopping.
9. Indulge in a warming mug of hot chocolate
There’s only one drink to enjoy as a wondrous, winter warmer in Manchester: the classic hot chocolate. From those warming enough to defrost our cold, unbothered hearts, to those sweet enough to class as a dessert, there are plenty of hot chocolates to sip on for the ultimate cosy vibes this Christmas.
10. Enjoy a festive bottomless brunch
Possibly one of the best ways to kick off the festive season in Manchester is by having a banging bottomless brunch. Bars and restaurants across the city are offering festive brunch menus complete with free-flowing bubbles and Christmassy cocktails to celebrate the season.
11. Sing your heart out to festive tunes in a cosy cabin
Christmas means the classic festive tunes return and there are a few spots in the city where you can unleash your inner Mariah or Bublé. Bringing ski village vibes to Great Northern Square and Kampus, guests at Bar Hütte will be able to book out their very own private ‘hütte’, and they haven’t forgotten the much-loved karaoke sessions, either, with each hütte coming complete with its very own machine loaded up with the best festive hits.
You’ll find Bar Hütte at Great Northern Square, M3 4EN and Kampus, Aytoun Street, M1 3GL.
Each hütte costs £60 for exclusive use for 1 hour and 40 minutes with full use of the karaoke machine.
12. Deck the halls with these wreath making classes
The Christmas tree might be up but a beautiful wreath to your door adds the finishing touch and a warm, festive welcome. This season, The UK School of Floristry based in Bury are offering festive wreath-making classes, with their expert tutors guiding students to help create fabulously festive door wreaths using fresh winter foliage, with several classes over selected weekends during the Christmas period. Plus, Manchester spots such as Bar Hütte, Winter Island, and more are all likely to be bringing their own wreath-making workshops back for another year.
You’ll find The UK School of Floristry at 16-20 Heaton Fold, Bury, BL9 9HF.
Tickets cost £65 per person for a two and half hour wreath-making class.
13. Hop aboard this festive train ride through the countryside with Santa
You better not pout and you better not cry, Santa Claus is coming to town! Steam into Christmas on the East Lancashire Railway’s famously festive Santa Specials. Begin the adventure at Bury Bolton Street Station where you will journey through a gorgeously decorated winter wonderland. Say hello to Mrs Claus and the talking Christmas Tree, and maybe even stop for a quick singalong with our carol singing choir of polar bears, before boarding your train. Whilst travelling, Santa himself will visit your carriage with a gift, a chat and even a selfie!
You’ll find Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bury, BL9 0EY.
Tickets start from £23 for adults depending on time and date.
14. Gorge on plenty of mince pies at these Manchester spots
Christmas time is the one time a year that we can gorge on mince pies for every meal of the day – and not a single person can say a thing about it. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Starting with the finest mince pies served up at some of the best bars and restaurants in Manchester, we’re so ready to turn into a giant, sugar-dusted shortcrust, before, of course, turning to our trusty British supermarkets on Christmas Eve and scooping up any (and all) discounted boxes.
15. Snuggle up watching a festive film at King Street Townhouse
Shimmering with Christmas lights inside and out, King Street Townhouse will host both festive afternoon teas and Christmassy cinema screenings, where guests will be able to kick back and relax away from the Manchester chill. The hotel’s cosy, mini 20-seater cinema will show a huge array of festive screenings ahead of Christmas Day, with tons of classics to enjoy including Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Muppets Christmas Carol, Die Hard, Bad Santa and It’s A Wonderful Life.
You’ll find King Street Townhouse at 10 Booth Street, M2 4AW.
Tickets start from £16.54 per person.
16. Jingle all the way with a Christmas-themed Candlelight concert
The festive season is gradually on the horizon, and set to bring joy to even the Grinchiest of grumps, are a number of Candlelight Christmas concerts set to fill Halle St Peter’s and the Concorde Conference Centre with the sounds of festive music. From some of the world’s favourite Christmas films, including Love Actually, Home Alone and Home Alone 2 to quintessential Christmas songs that let us know ’tis the season like Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad and Last Christmas. A classically-trained string quartet will take to the candlelit stage to take audiences on a memorable journey through some of the most heartwarming songs of the seeason.
17. Embark on a festive guided wine tour around the city
‘Tis the season to be merry and so why not head on a wintery wine tour around Manchester? Manchester Wine Tours offer visitors a guided tour around the city centre, where they’ll visit some of the best places to drink and buy wine in Manchester along the way. You will be guided in small groups on a leisurely three-hour jaunt where they’ll be able to sample a few glasses en route, as well top notch nibbles. This is a great opportunity to try something new, learn the characteristics of different varieties and even discover a new favourite as well as get into the festive spirit!
18. Discover these magical alternative Christmas markets
Sure, the famous Manchester Christmas Markets are the flagship of the festive season here in the city. But if you’re tired of the same old sights after visiting season after season, there’s plenty more to see and do outside of those lined-up timber chalets. From quaint and Christmassy food markets to perfect independent gift stalls, there’s an assortment of alternative Christmas markets taking place in Manchester this year.
19. Pay Father Christmas a visit at these magical grottos
What better way to get the family into the festive mood than with a visit to see Father Christmas? Before the big man dashes back to Lapland to decide who has been naughty or nice and then distribute this year’s Christmas presents, he will be paying a visit to a number of places across the North West, including Manchester, so the little ones can tell him exactly what’s on their wish list. From Santa’s grottos to festive train rides, there are plenty of spots where the kids can meet Father Christmas in and around Manchester this winter.
20. Indulge in a luxurious festive afternoon tea at The Ivy
This festive season, The Ivy is launching a magical sparkling afternoon tea filled with traditional treats, elevated in time for Christmas, and also available with English Sparkling Wine, Nyetimber, for an additional £10 to make it even more luxurious. The Festive Afternoon Tea features an array of delicious finger sandwiches including The Ivy 1917 Cure smoked salmon finger sandwich and Brioche rolls with chicken and truffle mayonnaise, warm fruited scones and an array of festive sweet treats, perfect for getting guests into the seasonal spirit. The sweet selection features a wonderfully wintery Coconut and Chocolate Snowball, a creamy Orange and Cranberry Éclair and a Pistachio, Almond and Cherry Battenberg. Of course, no festive afternoon tea would be complete without a mince pie and The Ivy’s Almond Mince Pie is the perfect way to round off the meal.
21. Shop independent retailers all under one roof at The Pop-Up Club
The Pop-Up Club is bringing its innovative retail model to Manchester as it returns to the city to bring small businesses and independent traders to shoppers this Christmas. The store inside Manchester Arndale will be open from 10am until 7pm Monday to Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sundays. Shoppers will be able to choose from the carefully curated traders on offer including independent retailers such as beautifully hand-painted watercolour illustrations from By Tilly, celestial and nature inspired jewellery by Sian Mellor designs and beaded bracelets from That Wild Feeling. It’s also helping to promote local talent as it shares the work of Manchester based unique printed homewares from Lydia Meiying.
22. Spruce up your home by picking out your very own Christmas tree
It’s that time of year to dig out your baubles, tinsel and Christmas lights. Whether you want a giant Nordmann Fir – often the most popular – to take up half your living room, or a small and sweet-smelling Norway Spruce to sit cutely in the corner. There are plenty of places in and around Manchester to grab yourself a real Christmas tree and make a day of it, some of which also offer click-and-collect and other delivery options.
23. Visit a giant, immersive winter wonderland with a bratwurst hatch
A giant winter wonderland has launched in the Spinningfields area of Manchester, transforming the former Iberica site into a Christmas immersive experience called A Miracle on the Avenue. The space brings a winter oasis to the heart of Spinningfields with impressive sleighs, giant candy canes, a Santa’s Grotto, a selection of immersive games as well as a large seating area. Food and drinks will also be served with a special food hatch serving bratwurst and currywurst sausages, a selection of German-market inspired sides, and a number of desserts such as crêpes and waffles with all of the toppings.
24. Visit the most Christmassy pub in Greater Manchester
If you ever find yourself south west of Manchester, you might be lucky enough to come across a pub like no other, with its very own lights switch-on ceremony and a whole load of festivities. You honestly can’t miss The Stamford pub with its grotto-like façade. The pub owner adds new festive touches to the pub every year, and it boasts 12 decorated Christmas trees as well as a singing Santa in the bar.