A bus stop in Manchester with Christmas lights and a Christmas market in the background A bus stop in Manchester with Christmas lights and a Christmas market in the background

The best things to do in Manchester this Christmas

Manchester transforms into a winter wonderland during the Christmas season, offering a wealth of activities and experiences that capture the festive spirit. From twinkling Christmas markets and outdoor ice-skating rinks to enchanting Christmas light displays and heart-warming performances, the city is brimming with seasonal cheer. Whether you're looking to shop for unique gifts, indulge in festive treats, or simply soak in the festival atmosphere, our guide to the best things to do in Manchester at Christmas has something to delight everyone during the most magical time of the year.

Daniel Sheppard, Content Writer UK, Thatsup Daniel Sheppard, Content Writer UK, Thatsup
Daniel Sheppard
  1. Christmas in Manchester
    1. 1
      Manchester Christmas Parade A spectacular Christmas tradition
    2. 2
      Skate Manchester's beloved seasonal ice-skating rink
    3. 3
      The Dome Step inside a snow globe
    4. 4
      The Midland Indulge in Christmas afternoon tea
    5. 5
      Christmas markets Stroll the Christmas stalls
    6. 6
      Christmas lights A bit of Xmas razzle-dazzle
    7. 7
      The Bridgewater Hall A musical Christmas party
    8. 8
      Diecast Popular social hub gets a Christmas makeover
    9. 9
      Courts Club Family-friendly Christmas fun
    10. 10
      Freight Island The largest winter festival in the North
    11. 11
      Mayfield Park An enchanting park after dark
    12. 12
      RHS Bridgewater Let it Glow
    13. 13
      The Trafford Centre A wide range of Christmas events
    14. 14
      B.E.C Arena Weather-proof winter wonderland
    15. 15
      Opera House Manchester Catch a riotous panto
    16. 16
      Popeyes Try Popeyes' first festive feast
    17. 17
      Whistle Punks Merry Axemas!

Christmas in Manchester

The best Christmas events and activities in Manchester

 – Christmas activities
 – Christmas activities
 – Christmas activities
Manchester Cathedral – Christmas activities
Manchester Cathedral
 – Christmas activities
 – Christmas activities
 – Christmas activities
Manchester Cathedral – Christmas activities
Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Christmas Parade

A spectacular Christmas tradition

The Manchester Christmas Parade, now an annual favourite since starting in December 2022, is set to captivate families with an even grander spectacle this year featuring over 400 participants. Highlights include the Elf Express, a magical train of elves, and an array of whimsical acts like stilt-walking elves, dancing mice, giant polar bears, and Segway skiers, all bringing festive cheer to the city centre. The Christmas parade starts and ends at Manchester Cathedral, heading down Deansgate to John Dalton Street and then back up via Cross Street and St Mary's Gate.

  • Date: 8 Dec
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester
Skate Manchester – Christmas activities
Skate Manchester

Skate

Manchester's beloved seasonal ice-skating rink

Skate Manchester, located in Cathedral Gardens, is a popular seasonal ice-skating rink open from early November to early January, welcoming skaters of all ages and skill levels with 45-minute sessions. Skate hire is included in the ticket price, and beginners can book helmets and skating aids for extra support. Alongside the rink, Cathedral Gardens hosts a Christmas market, perfect for enjoying festive treats and warm drinks after skating.

The Dome – Christmas activities
The Dome
The Dome – Christmas activities
The Dome
The Dome – Christmas activities
The Dome
The Dome – Christmas activities
The Dome
The Dome – Christmas activities
The Dome
The Dome – Christmas activities
The Dome

The Dome

Step inside a snow globe

The Dome is a unique event venue perched atop the ABC Building in Spinningfields. Usually you have to host an event there to be granted access, but during the festive season, you can book various weekend events there. What's more, the already striking venue is getting a Christmas makeover of its own in 2024, with the transparent dome turning into a giant snow globe.

The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland
The Midland – Christmas activities
The Midland

The Midland

Indulge in Christmas afternoon tea

The Midland is a historic Manchester hotel that has hosted movie stars, royalty, and other famous faces through the year. It also boasts Manchester's only setting dedicated to afternoon tea, the opulent Tea Room. During the festive season, this indulgent British tradition makes for an ideal break while out shopping for gifts, to catch up with friends, or treat someone special to an unforgettable experience.

The best Christmas markets in Manchester – Christmas activities
The best Christmas markets in Manchester
The best Christmas markets in Manchester – Christmas activities
The best Christmas markets in Manchester
King Street West Christmas Market Piccadilly Gardens Christmas Market Cathedral Gardens Christmas Market The best Christmas markets in Manchester
King Street West Christmas Market Piccadilly Gardens Christmas Market Cathedral Gardens Christmas Market

Stroll the Christmas stalls

Browsing festive knickknacks with a hot drink in one hand and some dangerously drippy street-food snack in the other is a time-honoured Christmas tradition, and there's no shortage of Christmas markets to explore in Manchester. Our guide to the best Christmas markets in Manchester highlights which one to head to depending on what you're after – food, shopping, family-friendly fun and the like – though to be honest, the holidays are long enough to let you check out all of them.

  • King St W, Manchester City Centre Manchester City Centre Corporation St, Manchester City Centre
    King Street West Christmas Market
    King St W, Manchester City Centre
    Piccadilly Gardens Christmas Market
    Manchester City Centre
    Cathedral Gardens Christmas Market
    Corporation St, Manchester City Centre
  • Cathedral Gardens Christmas Market
    016-123 450 04
  • King Street West Christmas Market Piccadilly Gardens Christmas Market Cathedral Gardens Christmas Market The best Christmas markets in Manchester

Christmas lights

A bit of Xmas razzle-dazzle

Though there was no big Manchester Christmas lights switch-on event in 2024 due to all the construction taking place across the city centre, there are still plenty of sparkly festive displays to take in as you stroll around Manchester. The big one is the giant Santa Claus in front of the Central Library, but our personal favourites are the illuminated Christmas worker bees, adding a bit of local pride to the holidays.

The Bridgewater Hall

A musical Christmas party

The annual Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival returns to Manchester's Bridgewater Hall this December, offering a diverse line-up of shows perfect for the whole family. Highlights include orchestral tributes to film composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams, lively carol sing-alongs, and performances by The Glenn Miller Orchestra. The festival also features The Big Christmas Party, blending festive pop hits with traditional favourites to create an unforgettable holiday celebration.

  • Date: 17, 24, 27, 28 Dec

Diecast

Popular social hub gets a Christmas makeover

Diecast, the food court and nightlife spot near Piccadilly, has transformed into a festive winter wonderland called Winterhood, offering a variety of holiday-themed activities and events. Visitors can enjoy drag queen and sing-along cabaret performances, seasonal food and drinks like s'mores hot chocolate and cinnamon dough balls, and socialise in the Winter Beer Hall or dance in the Berlin-style club space. Outdoor attractions include the Tinsel Town Trailer Park with warming drinks, while special events like a Christmas night market will run throughout the season.

Courts Club

Family-friendly Christmas fun

Part of the St. John's redevelopment, Courts Club is turning into Winter Assembly from November, offering festive fun with Christmas decor and activities. The outdoor basketball and tennis court have been converted into a family-friendly ice rink, and karaoke chalets are available for indoor entertainment. Visitors can enjoy seasonal treats like boozy hot chocolate and festive grilled cheese, alongside special events such as holiday film screenings.

Freight Island

The largest winter festival in the North

Freight Island, the massive food and leisure venue next to Mayfield Park, hosts the largest heated outdoor and indoor winter festival in the North each year. The annual Winter Island features a wide range of street food and drinks, along with loads of festive fun, Christmas attractions including Santa's Grotto for children, and other holiday mainstays.

Mayfield Park

An enchanting park after dark

Speaking of Mayfield Park, Manchester's newest green space hosts an enchanting Christmas light trail during the festive period. More than 50,000 lights twinkle across 6.5 acres of open space, bringing a special sparkle to the park after dark. The family-friendly Twilight Trail features spectacular light displays and lantern installations, accompanied by an immersive soundscape.

RHS Bridgewater

Let it Glow

This Christmas season, the RHS Bridgewater gardens invite visitors to experience Glow, a vibrant trail of lights through their woodlands and gardens, featuring interactive displays like giant petunias, twinkling yew domes, and glittering tunnels. Highlights include the return of the Moonlight Gardener with a new light juggling show and a thought-provoking show highlighting the issue of insect population decline. During your visit can enjoy festive food and drink at the Bridgewater Café, seasonal treats at the Garden Cottage, and warm up at the marshmallow toasting station.

The Trafford Centre

A wide range of Christmas events

Manchester's premier shopping destination, the Trafford Centre, naturally goes all-in on Christmas. In addition to the various special offers and seasonal treats offered by the on-site retailers, the mall hosts a range of family-friendly things to do at Christmas. You can pay a visit to Santa in his Grotto, skate around Tinsel Town, or wander the outdoor Christmas Trail in the Wilderspool Woods.

B.E.C Arena

Weather-proof winter wonderland

Transforming the B.E.C Arena into a festive paradise, Winter Funland is an expansive indoor wonderland packed with exciting rides, captivating circus performances, delicious festive snacks, an abundance of candy canes, sparkling baubles, dazzling lights, and countless other Christmas-themed delights to entertain the entire family. With a variety of activities and decorations, this seasonal fairground promises hours of fun and holiday spirit for all ages.

Opera House Manchester

Catch a riotous panto

Comedy star Jason Manford returns for his third year at the Opera House as Prince Charming in “Cinderella”, joined by panto favourite Ben Nickless as Buttons and Myra DuBois as the Wicked Stepmother. The cast also includes Wendy Mae Brown as the Fairy Godmother and Sarah Vaughan as Cinderella, promising a show filled with talent. Audiences can expect all the classic pantomime elements, including laugh-out-loud humour, impressive scenery, dazzling costumes, and interactive fun with boos and hisses.

Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly Popeyes Bury New Road
Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly
popeyesuk.com/restaurants/manchester-piccadilly
Popeyes Bury New Road
popeyesuk.com/restaurants/bury-new-road
Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly Popeyes Bury New Road

Try Popeyes' first festive feast

The UK division of the US fast-food giant Popeyes, which has recently been making a big push into the UK market, has launched its first festive menu this year. The six specials on the Festive Feastin' Menu bridge the distance between New Orleans and Britain, with options including the Festive Superstack Sandwich, sage and onion hash browns, and a mint Oreo shake.

  • One Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester City Centre 288-292 Bury New Rd, Salford
    Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly
    One Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester City Centre
    Popeyes Bury New Road
    288-292 Bury New Rd, Salford
  • Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly
    popeyesuk.com/restaurants/manchester-piccadilly
    Popeyes Bury New Road
    popeyesuk.com/restaurants/bury-new-road
    Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly
    033-017 587 60
    Popeyes Bury New Road
    033-017 587 60
  • Popeyes Manchester Piccadilly Popeyes Bury New Road

Whistle Punks

Merry Axemas!

In December, popular axe-throwing destination Whistle Punks in Deansgate will be getting an Axemas makeover, decking out its lanes for added festive cheer. They'll also be adding a special seasonal twist to every game – at the end of each session, players will face the Snowflake Target. If you hit one of the snowy corners, you'll win a free drink!

Christmas activities – About the guide

The best things to do in Manchester this Christmas - Our guide to things to do in Manchester at Christmas is updated regularly. If you know of a fun Christmas activity in Manchester that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to festive things to do in Manchester. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.