11 Wonderful Things To Do In Manchester This Weekend (November 14-16)

For the first time, Hyper Japan will take place at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, bringing food, fashion, and so much fun to Manchester. From Friday 14th to Sunday 16th November, Hyper Japan will offer something for every fan – from families and first-timers to long-time fans of Japanese music and culture. The programme includes everything from exclusive pop culture and food and drink experiences, to a bustling marketplace, live music from anime stars and J-Pop artists, and artisan workshops.

Children in Need is coming round again, and this year, Pudsey and the team are hosting a big celebration – lovingly named Pudsey’s Piazza – in Salford. For one day only on November 14, the MediaCityUK piazza will be transformed, featuring exciting activities and treats for all ages. You can expect a Greggs double-decker bus packed with treats, McDonald’s Fun Football sessions with special guests on a pop-up pitch, Spud Bros, social media superstars, are back with their brand-new Spudmobile selling ‘Spudseys’, a real-life Red Arrows jet replica and much more.

Nothing gets you into the festive spirit like a trip to the Christmas markets. This November, an alpine-style wonderland will be popping up in multiple locations across the city – including the return of Albert Square after six years. What better reason to wrap up and face the frosty chill than the promise of yuletide bars serving locally-brewed ales, food stalls enticing you over with the aromas of freshly cooked paella, pork rolls and triple-cooked chips, and ticking off your Christmas pressie list buying some quaint creations from craft sellers.

The North’s largest winter festival, Winter Island, is set to make its highly anticipated return to Freight Island in Manchester this week, bringing a brand-new immersive experience with it. Known as Twilight Tales, the event will see Freight Island’s spacious and heated courtyard transformed into a wonderland of light, sound and festive adventure. Visitors can expect a series of immersive walk-through installations, including a Mirrorball Cave, as well as the North Pole playground, Santa’s workshop and The Twilight Express, a neon-lit train experience.

Opening just a few years ago in Worsley, the RHS Garden Bridgewater gates lead to a beautiful, nature wonderland – and it’s the perfect place to catch a literal breath of fresh air. Featuring multiple areas throughout to explore, including the ‘crown jewel’ of the site – the 11-acre Weston Walled Garden – visitors won’t be at a loss for beautiful sights, with tons of greenery, blooms, a peaceful lake, and several lovely little ponds to potter around, as well as seasonal flowers and plants that transform throughout the year. Escape the city and witness nature doing its thing at this scenic garden.

Since the iconic Campfield Market Hall in Castlefield was reopened earlier this year, it has really been making its mark in the city as it did in its Victorian heyday. Now, Manchester street food icons GRUB have collaborated with Campfield to create a weekly market, and with it Manchester’s first European-style food hall experience. Every Saturday from 10am–4pm, the historic Campfield campus in Manchester’s St. John’s neighbourhood will transform into a vibrant city market, celebrating the best of independent retail, food and drink across all three Campfield buildings.

For over 28 years, Tampopo has been perfecting Thailand’s national dish since first opening in the UK, at Albert Square, Manchester, back in 1997. Recognised as the No.1 Pad Thai in Manchester and London (according to TripAdvisor reviews), the restaurant brand is marking the occasion with a special £5 Pad Thai offer all week long. The offer is available for dine-in only every day up to 5pm between November 7th-14th, simply by mentioning “No1 Pad Thai for £5 please” to your server when ordering.

For fans of The Great Pottery Throwdown, people wanting to make homemade Christmas presents or just hoping to learn a new skill, Seven Limes Pottery teaching studio in Ardwick is hosting a taster session this weekend. On Saturday 15th November, you can head to Manchester’s oldest pottery teaching studio for a hand-building taster class. The pottery wheel throwing classes are a reduced class size and are a great way to get creative.

Stockport town centre is set to get into the festive spirit this weekend as Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday returns. Now in its third year, this much-loved event will be bigger and brighter than ever, with live music, festive bands, giant puppets and street performers bringing Christmas cheer to every corner. Families can enjoy a full day of free entertainment, festive activities and surprises across the town centre. Performances will take place at Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.

On Saturday 15th November, Manchester City will play Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League at the Etihad Stadium. The match is the perfect family day out, and it’s the perfect opportunity to see some of England’s biggest footballing stars like Alex Greenwood and Ella Toone.