10 Unique Things To Do in Manchester in 2026

Food Escapes is easily the best experience we’ve tried in Manchester in a long time. The best way to describe it is a puzzle-solving food challenge, but hear us out for a second.

You choose one of their 8 themes, solve puzzles sent to you via WhatsApp, and through a series of clues, unlock food at different hidden gem restaurants around the city. The answers to the clues are all around you, in the buildings, signs, and architecture.

AND... all food is included in the ticket price! The restaurants are all in on the game, and the food? Proper hidden gem-type places. We’ve only played one of them so far, but we already had our second booked at the time of writing. :)

The whole game is also on a timer and there’s a leaderboard (for anyone who's read our articles before you'll know how we love a bit of competition!), but the clock pauses when you arrive at each venue so you can relax and eat before carrying on.

It’s like having a 3-course dining experience across the city while playing a game at the same time.

This is our standout vote of 2026, and there’s 20% off when you sign up to their emails on the website, which brings it down to about £36 a head on some games. I won’t give away any spoilers because I think part of the joy is in the mystery, but if you try only one thing on this list, make it this one.

Power Up is one of the best value activities in Manchester, full stop. For the price of a takeaway, you get access to hundreds of consoles from the last forty years, from retro classics to modern favourites. Kids go wild for it, adults rediscover long forgotten muscle memory, and the room is full of that happy chaos you only get when everyone is genuinely entertained. If you want maximum fun per pound, this is it.

It is also a lifesaver on rainy days. You can easily spend a few hours jumping between racing games, co op adventures and absurd old titles you did not realise other people remembered. We played everything from the original 1980 Space Invaders on an Atari 2600 console, to indie games built by Mancunian game developers, all the way through to Halo 3 (for nostalgia) and Fornite. You will leave feeling like you got great value out of the day without spending a fortune.

Even if you don’t have kids and want to go, all ages were definitely welcome!

Race Across The World Manchester is another brilliant interactive experience that turns the city into your playground. Inspired by the hit TV show, it’s a fast-paced challenge where you race between checkpoints, solving clues, managing your route, and trying to outsmart the clock (and your friends).

You’ll explore parts of Manchester you’d normally overlook, with a real sense of adventure as each clue pushes you somewhere new. It’s competitive, well-designed, and genuinely exciting, especially if you enjoy strategy and a bit of pressure. That said, it is very similar in format to our number one pick, Food Escapes, though for not a huge difference in price, Food Escapes includes a full meal across the city. Still, if you’re after a high-energy and a race-style experience in the city, this one is definitely worth a go.

Junkyard Golf is an indoor mini golf experience that fully commits to chaotic fun. Each course is stuffed with UV lights, quirky props, bizarre obstacles and loud music, which somehow all blend into something genuinely brilliant. It is playful, silly, energising and very good at bringing out the inner competitor you pretend you do not have.

What makes it great is how easy and social it is. You can turn up, pick a course, grab a drink and jump straight into the game. No planning, no stress, no pressure to perform. Just pure entertainment that works whether you are keeping the score serious or pretending the points do not matter. Spoiler: they always matter to someone.

If you have noticed a bit of a food theme running through this list, that is because we are unapologetically food obsessed, and Salvi’s Nonna Anna classes absolutely deserve their place here. Nonna Anna teaches pasta making in a way that is warm, funny and gently strict, which is exactly how you want to be taught by an Italian grandmother. You get stuck in quickly, learn loads and somehow end up producing pasta shapes you did not know you could make.

The atmosphere at Salvi’s adds to the charm. It feels intimate and authentic without being intimidating. You finish with a full stomach, a new skill and a deeper appreciation for just how much work goes into a plate of fresh pasta. It is a brilliant option for groups of friends or anyone who wants to try an activity that is both entertaining and delicious.

Mystery Museum Nights turn the museum into an after dark puzzle trail with an atmosphere you simply do not get during regular hours. The lighting is low, the building feels completely different and you wander through the galleries solving clues that lead you deeper into the exhibits. It is thoughtful, calming and strangely immersive for something so relaxed.

Because you go at your own pace, it is ideal for people who want an evening activity that is interesting without being intense. You end up seeing parts of the museum you skipped before, and the setting makes even familiar exhibits feel new. It is a clever concept delivered in a genuinely enjoyable way.

The Whiskey Jar runs guided tasting sessions that walk you through several styles of whiskey, complete with explanations that actually make sense even if you are a beginner. The environment is warm, candlelit and relaxed, which makes it a great place to expand your palate without feeling like you are sitting an exam.

You learn a surprising amount in a short time and the variety means everyone usually finds a favourite. It works particularly well for groups who enjoy discovering new drinks or who simply want something different from the usual Northern Quarter pub crawl. Low pressure, enjoyable and a bit educational in the nicest way.

DNA VR offers an impressive range of virtual reality experiences, from escape style challenges to fast paced adventure games and realistic racing simulators. The setup is slick and the staff guide you through everything, so it suits both gamers and complete beginners. Within minutes you forget you are indoors in Manchester and find yourself battling zombies or flying across digital worlds.

It is brilliant for groups because the real entertainment comes from watching your friends react to things you cannot see. People duck, jump, scream and laugh their way through each mission, which makes it a very memorable outing. High energy and surprisingly bonding.

ClayLife offers a peaceful, creative evening where you can shape clay into something beautiful, or at least something charmingly wonky. The atmosphere is friendly and calm, making it a great choice for people who want an interactive activity without the noise or chaos of more energetic venues. The instructors are helpful and encourage you to experiment, even if your piece takes questionable artistic direction.

Because it is hands on and gently structured, it is a relaxing break from everyday life. You focus, you shape, you chat, and before you know it you have spent a couple of hours making something you are weirdly proud of. It is one of Manchester’s nicest low key experiences.

Factory International continues to bring some of the most ambitious immersive exhibitions to Manchester. We’ve been to these in previous years but these installations surround you with sound, light and huge visual landscapes that you walk through rather than observe. It feels more like entering a world than attending an art show, even for people who do not usually consider themselves arty.

Each exhibition is different, which means you can come back throughout the year and see something entirely new. The productions are impressive without being confusing, and the scale alone makes it worth the visit. It is a standout cultural experience that offers something you cannot get anywhere else in the city.