Manchester’s buzziest neighbourhood is filled with indie bars, galleries and shops. Here’s our pick of the best things to do in the Northern Quarter
Written by Rob Martin & Ed Cunningham
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Manchester is one of the UK’s most exciting cities – and the Northern Quarter is one of its most fascinating and happening districts. The area centred around Oldham Street has it all: cutting-edge bars, bougie cafés, world-class record shops, eclectic street art and much more, all surrounded by characterful architecture that bears the marks of the area’s rich industrial Victorian history.
If you were to distil Manchester, with all its mighty history, cultural wealth and social buzz, into one area, it’d be the Northern Quarter. After all, there’s a reason why we named the Northern Quarterone of the coolest neighbourhoods in the entire worldlast year.
Wondering where to get started with this marvellous ‘hood? Well, wonder no more. Here’s our ultimate guide to what to eat, drink, do and see in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to thebest things to do in Manchester
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Best things to do in the Northern Quarter
- Restaurants
- Indian
Bundobust offersthe best Indian street food in the city and the menu, which combines delish nosh with some very drinkable craft ales, makes for a thoroughly indulgent night out. Entirely vegetarian or vegan, the combo platters are especially good.Be sure to try the rajma,one of the best curries in the UK.
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- Museums
- Sport
Housed inside one of the most impressive Northern Quarter buildings, the former URBIS museum, this four-floor institutioncontains one of the world’s greatest footy collections. It’s the permanent home to the FIFA collection, the Football League collection, the FA collection and many more, and it works towards the preservation and conservation of such memorabilia.
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Tib Street’s award-winning LGBTQ+ bookshop started life as an online venture but now you can visit in person and peruse thousands of titles covering history, poetry, graphic novels, you name it. There are also clothes and accessories including jewellery and flags.
- Music
- Music venues
Band On The Wall represents a real musical success story for the city of Manchester. Funded by both the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Arts Council, the venue is one of the best in the city for live music. So why the name ‘Band On The Wall’, you ask? Well, when the building started life as a live music venue over 200 years ago, bands playedon a stage built halfway up the wall. Pretty nifty, eh?
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A group ofindependent kitchens and bars havecome together to create one of the most vibrant and beautiful places to eat and drink in the entire city, let alone the Northern Quarter. A vast food hall housed inside an 1858 Grade II-listed market building, Mackie Mayor has something to suit every palate, whether you’re after fresh pizza, grilled meats andfish, or a vegan brunch. And if it’s just a nice bottle of wine or a craft ale you’re after? Well, there’s plenty of that, too.
- Shopping
- Art, craft and hobbies
Awarded ‘Best Independent Retailer’ at the 2013 Manchester Tourism Awards, Manchester Craft & Design Centre hosts more than 30 artists, designers and craft makers under one roof.Itlies in the heart of the Northern Quarter, offering an impressive array of quality goods that you won’t find on the high street – handmade, bespoke and personal.
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For brunch, lunch, coffee or cake, you can’t go wrong with a nice sit down in Ezra and Gil. Established in 2014, it remains one of the most essential venues in the Northern Quarter: relaxed, friendly and with great quality food and drink. Its original mission to create a strong social space has never diminished, making Ezra and Gil the coffee-scented heart of thedistrict.
More than just and arts and crafts shop, Fred Aldous is a Northern Quarter institution, having been around for more than 130 years. Whether you’re looking to top up your paints and brushes, on the huntfor some sequins for a new costume, or just searching inspiring craft ideas for the kids, it’s pretty much your ideal spot. But there’s so much more here, too, with a superb array of cards, gifts, books andother knick-knacks on offer.
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- Art
- Galleries
Formally known as the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Arts, the esea contemporary works to bring Chinese art and visual culture to UK audiences. Working with a four-strong team of associate curators based in East Asia– each specialising in a particular strand of the centre’s programme– expect exhibitions, artists in residence, engagement projects, festivals, talks and events.
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Thismusic venue at the heart of the Northern Quarter’s music scene has seen more than 26,000 bands perform on its stage over the past three decades. It nurturedthe talents of Elbow, Delphic, Badly Drawn Boy, and saw the likes of Johnny Marr and Mark E. Smith in regular attendance. Go for some music,grab a pint or catch an exhibition during the day.
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The rise of vegan options in the Northern Quarter increased massively with the opening of Purezza, a fully plant-based pizzeriawhere everything is fully vegan – wine included. And don’t fret about the cheese – it’s all excellent. Unusually, dogs are allowed, too.
- Hotels
- Boutique hotels
Nicely placed for Manchester Piccadilly station and the shopping and drinking delights of the Northern Quarter, ABode hotel is housed in a nineteenth-century textile factory and retains some handsome period features. Bedrooms and suites are decorated in a quietly quirky, modern style; suites come with extras such as Nespresso machines and Bose sound systems. There are two bars and a modern European restaurant.
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