As the song goes, the best things in life don't need to cost a flippin' fortune. Or something like that. Times are hard right now, so thankfully our city has free gigs, drink deals, cinema dates, and club night offers to save you spending loads. We've selected those stellar options and more in our list of free and cheap things to do in Manchester.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 8th August 2024
@ MiniCine on Sunday 1st December 2024
Nothing beats a night at the movies when it comes to cheap things to do in Manchester for couples. Especially when IndieFlicks Monthly Film Festival are showcasing the latest short movies at £8 a pop and - it gets sweeter - you view them at the gorgeous Chapeltown Picture House.
From 12pm to 4pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, plus all day on Sundays, you can book your own premium range at Point Blank Shooting Manchester for just £10 per hour and person. While you practice your aim? Enjoy bespoke cocktails and pizza.
777 Happy Hour | 7 Cocktails, £7 each, available 7 days a week.
Looking for some affordable, competitive fun? Then head to Courts Club at Spinningfields' Good Yard Park, where you can book their tennis and basketball court for you and your friends. A great way to unleash your inner big kid, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor places to unwind here as well, and you can enjoy refreshing beer, cocktails or soft drinks at the bar. There's a selection of cheap eats on offer too, from cheese toasties to Greek delicacies from their street food truck Lucky Gyros.
@ Doghouse Manchester on Every Saturday
If you're after free things to do in Manchester this weekend and love talented guitarists, swing by the Live Acoustic Nights at Doghouse. It won't cost a penny to get in, and the next Matty Healy might just be doing their thing on stage.
@ Area on Saturday 23rd November 2024 and 18 other Saturdays
Mamma mia! If you opt against getting stuck into the bottomless brunch deal, you can catch the ABBA Believe In Angels tribute act for just £15. The bar is still available though, so feel free to loosen up a little before joining in the singalongs at this lively event.
FunnyBoyz hosts all kinds of cheap events in Manchester, including Benidorm Bingo, which promises a night of fun prizes and outrageous comedy from a RuPaul's Drag Race star. Tickets start at just £5, so we recommend booking quickly to avoid missing any of the fabulous action.
@ At ON BAR or AREA Manchester on Saturday 30th November 2024 and 12 other Saturdays
Get on board the early bird train and you'll embrace an afternoon of shows, minus the cocktails or munch, at Bougie Drag Bottomless Brunch for £15. Gimme gimme more? Well, you can party to four hours of Britney classics for the same price.
Taste + Liquor is offering a five-hour R&B Brunch experience, with tunes from the 90s to today's charts, plus 60 whole minutes of bottomless rum punch, all for just £15.50. It's a great shout when you're wondering what cheap things to do in Manchester city centre are about.
1UP Themed Quiz has a quirky night of game-inspired trivia in store for you. Sign up for a quid to win prizes and test your knowledge of Tetris, Pokémon and other topics that are a little on the geekier side of life. No offence, we love them too.
If you work in hospitality and want free things to do in Manchester at night, head to Cargo before 10pm where entry at Industry Sunday is on the house. To enjoy more chart-toppers and a party that won't hurt the bank account, get down on Saturdays with a £5 early bird ticket.
@ The Blues Kitchen Manchester on Every Saturday
Sometimes you wanna two-step and bop without spending a bomb for dinner too. Thankfully, The Hip Hop Orchestra Brunch has got £10 tickets for those who just need the sounds of a live band playing hits from legends like Pharell, Lauryn Hill and Rihanna.
For under £20 per person, CityDays Manchester is making sure you can get stuck into immersive exploration games for your group outing, date, or corporate event. Think solving riddles hidden in statues and cracking escape game-style puzzles, all with built-in pub stops along the way.
A quirky independent street food venue with craft beer, a garden and a cinema, GRUB hosts all kinds of wicked goings-on. And one of our favourite cheap and fun things to do in Manchester? Disco Bingo, which only costs £5 per ticket but promises hours of entertainment.
The great outdoors is a real gem for saving cash while having a wholesome time too. When you're yearning for free things to do in Manchester for couples, bring your partner - with sarnies, of course - and stroll along Wharf City Trail or even head out of town to the nearby Peak District.
The Northern Quarter might be tempting, but look a little deeper and embrace the cheap things to do in Manchester this weekend. There are so many unknown green spaces which are well worth exploring, like the beaut Mala Secret Garden.
