Quirky Things To Do In Manchester

One of the most fun indoor activities, THE CUBE lets you dive into the iconic glass boxes of the TV gameshow in real life, right at Urban Playground in the city centre. Take on challenges that include speed, balance, memory and more, with The Butcher burgers, crazy golf and drinks available too.

One of the hottest immersive experiences around, Alcotraz: Cell Block Three-Four will have you donning orange jumpsuits and attempting to smuggle liquor into a high-security prison. Once inside? You'll get to sip on bespoke prison hooch created by your fellow inmates and get involved in the unfolding story.

Fancy learning a little more about your favourite tipples? The Four Sisters Gin Making Experience at 11 Central in Salford is the perfect way to do it. You'll kick off with a refreshing G&T before learning all about the history and process of creating gin, finishing by creating your verry own unique recipe from a choice of over 60 botanicals, leaving with a personalised 700ml bottle to take home. Don't fancy the hard work? Check out their tasting experience instead.

When you need unique things to do, 1UP is up there as a bar you should head to, complete with quirky decor like an 8ft Donkey Kong. The Didsbury destination not only had D&D tournaments, Pokemon cards, board games, Warhammer figure painting and more, but also the classic consoles and arcade machines to match. After all that fun, enjoy crispy chicken tenders, vegan burgers, Cajun fries and more.

Indoor activities in Manchester for adults don't get much better than Sixes Cricket. A top choice of things to do, this fun time sees you step up to the crease in high-tech batting nets, as well as trying out their bowling simulator, fusball and pool tables. There's a trendy a bar waiting for you to refuel at afterwards, with plenty of cocktails and plates like crispy fried chicken burgers or truffled egg and cheese fries.

Get ready for an unforgettable night at Bougie Drag Events, where fierce performances and high-energy entertainment collide in a celebration of drag culture. Whether you're here to enjoy spectacular lip-sync performances, jaw-dropping costumes, or hilarious comedy, every show at Bougie promises to be a glitter-filled extravaganza.

With a lively atmosphere, interactive performances, and a menu full of delicious drinks and food, it's the ultimate night out for anyone who loves glamour, comedy, and fabulous drag queens.

If you're in need of quirky things to do in The Printworks, Boom Battle Bar is a firm choice. Fronting lots of activities, such as shuffleboard, axe throwing, karaoke and more, this is a great spot to let loose. Better yet, there are also live DJ sets and a mouthwatering food menu, featuring blue cheese loaded fries, classic nachos and crispy chicken tenders.

Does iconic bangers, 90 minutes of free-flowing bubbles and glitzy drag stars sound like a good time to you? If baby, you were born this way, then you should snap up tickets to Applause: The Gaga Brunch, taking place at Manchester's lively The Cockatoo Club on Saturday the 23rd of March. Just dance as the UK's biggest Lady Gaga tribute act, Donna Marie, takes to the stage alongside her glitzy dancers, icon Miss Blair and DJ Josh Smith. Expect up to four hours of entertainment and tasty themed burgers like The Paparazzi Party and Veg Of Glory from just £31.95 each.

Looking for something gin-credible to do and a top choice of fun things to do in Manchester for couples or groups? Look no further than The Spirit of Manchester Distillery on Watson Street. From gin-making events to their Barley & Beyond: New-Make Tasting Experience, you'll get to sip on award-winning spirits and even try your hand at being a distiller (with a gin and tonic in hand, of course).

Offering some of the most fun things to do in Manchester for adults when drinking are Blues Kitchen, who are making even more waves with their Hip Hop Orchestra Brunch. Venture over on Saturdays for Southern-inspired food, three live shows from Untold, 90 minutes of bottomless booze and a DJ host to boot.

One of the most unusual things to do? Drink your way through top exhibitors' rum at the Official Manchester Rum Festival 2025, where your £27.50 ticket includes all rums consumed from the exhibitors. Not only that, but you can upgrade your ticket for an extra tenner to include a seminar with a top brand.

You can also expect a rum cocktail bar and food places to make extra purchases at, keeping you fuelled throughout the one-day-only event.

Whether you're looking for a fun daytime activity or have a love of all things juniper, Gin Journey Manchester is an experience not to be missed. Led by your brilliant, knowledgable guide Jono Ojinnaka (a born and raised South manchester local whose brain is like a Wikipedia for gin), you'll visit four of the city's top distilleries and bars.

At each venue, you'll enjoy a taste of a local or international gin, plus an expertly crafted cocktail, conjured up by some of Manchester's very best bartenders.

Get your creative juices flowing at Paint A Pic by Prime Pass. Their resident artist will guide you step-by-step to create your very own masterpiece, be it a night in Paris or rainbow mountains. No need to paw around for supplies; they provide all the materials, including a canvas, apron, paint, and easel, all for just £30 per person.

Whether you're looking for a unique date, group gathering or social occasion, this is the bar for you. Thanks to their competitive high-tech darts throwing and electronic boards that offer a huge selection of quirky games, it's one seriously fun Spinningfields venue. And if you swing by on the weekend, you can try out their brunch socials that come with unlimited pizza paddles and a whole bottle of prosecco each.

Fancy competitive baking for your unusual pick of things to do? Then check out The Big Manchester Bake. This fun experience sees you and your baking buddy compete against other pairs to be crowned winning bakers of your 90-minute session. All ingredients and equipment is provided for whipping up your recipe, so all you need to bring if your 'A' game.

FunnyBoyz drag cabaret events are sure to fill up your calendar with something a little different. Whether it's weekly Benidorm Bingo, an appearance from a Drag Race star or a Spice Girls-themed event, the queens here bring guaranteed fabulousness. And the best part? Tickets start from just £5.

You'll find Courts Club at Good Yard Park in Spinningfields, complete with fun, sporty activities. This quirky event space is home to both a tennis and basketball court, where you can challenge your friends to some competitive action. Afterwards, be sure to head to their indoor or outdoor tables for tasty eats like loaded gyros, breakfast baguettes or toasties, which you can pair with refreshing draught beers or cocktails.

The Black Cat Club offers competitive darts with interactive game modes and tech shuffleboard where the scoring is automatically handled - so you can focus on the fun. But it's not just about games as you can revel in the most premium sports viewing experience in the city.

With personal table service, stylish interiors inspired by Manchester's music scene, and push-button ordering, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy every moment of the action. The food, curated by the chefs of El Gato Negro, includes everything from small plates like curry mayo chicken bites to hearty burgers and pizzas.

If you fancy a quirky day out with a little excitement thrown in, look no further than Escape Hunt - one of the best things to do in Manchester for families and friends. Choose between Blackbeard's Treasure, The Last Vikings, Escape The Wild West and The Fourth Samurai and crack the 60-minute challenge to earn your freedom. Whether you're competing in a traditional escape room or on one of their outdoor city hunts, our teamwork skills will be put to the test.

Out of all the fun things to do in Manchester at night, discovering a secret bar that dishes out incredible cocktails is one of our favourites. Tucked away behind launderettes, down discreet staircases and disguised as pawn shops, these hidden haunts are well worth the challenge - how many can you find?

Looking for fun things to do in Manchester city centre for adults? Combining a speakeasy-style bar with a massive number of fun shooting simulation games, Point Blank is definitely worth a shot. There's even more in store too, including two for £12 cocktail happy hours and bottomless brunch on Sundays that features cheesy slices of delicious pizza.

With venues in the Northern Quarter and on Peter Street, NQ64 is the ultimate gaming bar that celebrates all things neon and retro. Unleash your inner kid with old-school arcade games like Street Fighter, Time Crisis and Guitar Hero. They've even got themed cocktails to match, like the Powerstar Martini or a Kong Island Iced Tea, as well as moreish pizzas from Crazy Pedro's.

Every Saturday, Manchester Bierkeller throw open their doors for an Oompah show. Get the most out of this Bavarian pastime by stamping your feet along, nabbing plenty of steins and maybe even stuffing a wurst in your gob too. There are different packages to suit every budget, all of which guarantee you a bench for watching the entertainment and a drink each.

When you're wondering about things to do in Manchester today, don't forget to check out the lineup of events at GRUB, a welcoming street food venue and event space in the Green Quarter. From boozy pub quizzes to sip and paint sessions, disco bingo and tequila masterclasses, there's always something cool just around the corner here.

Get to know some of the very best microbreweries in town at one of these quirky days out. You'll be shown around innovative microbreweries, get to know all the equipment and learn how they craft every pint of their beer, which you'll get to sample in each taproom - we're talking IPAs, grisettes and wild-fermented beers.

When you need quirky outdoor activities in Manchester, CityDays is coming in hot with its combo of escape room-style games and puzzles with a hidden gem-finding treasure hunt. Expect bar stop offs, fascinating stories and more as you journey around industrial waterways and Roman ruins while working as a team to unlock the mystery.

Bringing something a little different to bottomless sessions, Cherry Jam have got everything from bottomless afternoon teas, complete with mini quiches, scones and prosecco, to boozy grazing board meals featuring creamy brie and salami kebabs. You can also expect themed supper clubs here with all the same treats, with 90s or RnB music playing as you indulge.

Out of all the fun things to do in Manchester city centre, Bougie Drag & Boy Toy Events have to be the most raunchy. Whether you fancy buff butlers, Beyonce-themed drag shows or whole ABBA shindigs, these guys have you covered. And thanks to tickets starting from £16, these lively activities won't break the bank either.

Electric Shuffle is from the team behind Flight Club, but instead of darts they're bringing you a new take on shuffleboard with fun mini games and high-tech equipment that automatically records your score. Better yet, you can also spice your weekend up with tickets their boozy brunch, which starts at £30 per person. Chomp on two hours of unlimited pizza and enjoy a bottle of prosecco each, with an hour of playing time too.

If you're in need of activities in Manchester for large groups, explore the different options at Immersive Gamebox. Your one-stop shop for things to do, this Arndale Centre hangout is combining motion sensor headgear with fun games, which span everything from Squid Game to Angry Birds - ideal for birthdays or team building activities.

Paintvine, London's favourite Paint and Sip, is now in Manchester. But hold on, they're not just painting now; they're sculpting, too. Get your drinks, switch your creative side on, create a masterpiece and the best part? Leave the cleaning to them. You'll be taught how to hand-build with air dry clay, paint using acrylics on canvas, make pinch pots and more.

After a little competitive fun? Treetop Adventure Golf boasts two immersive, indoor 18-hole courses, where you and your pals can battle it out. There's even a bonus 19th hole where you can win a free game, and if you're hungry then you can nab fresh, handmade pizza from Pizza Cabana, alongside tropical cocktails and mocktails from The Thirsty Toucan Bar.

One of our top picks for things to do in Manchester city centre this weekend, The Reggae Brunch is bringing a whole array of quirky, carnival-style events to Floripa. Enjoy an hour of free-flowing punch and a mouthwatering two-course Caribbean meal that features jerk chicken, chickpea curry and plantain, alongside massive feel-good tunes across reggae, soca, dancehall and beyond.

When it comes to unusual activities or something fun to do, check out Doghouse for their beer school sessions. You'll get to try a load of the brand's favourites across 1/3 pint tasters, all while getting in-depth info about the brewing process. Not your thing? There's also live music sessions, and if you stay over night, beer fridges in the showers.

A top choice of unusual things to do in Manchester city centre would be to head over to YO! for one of their sushi masterclasses, which will set you back just £29.95. Expect to chow down on gyoza and sip prosecco before you learn history, knife skills and how to create everything from maki rolls to sashimi across the session.

Step into the mind of one of Britain's most iconic artists with David Hockney: Bigger And Closer (Not Smaller & Further away), with tickets from £10 per person.

This multimedia extravaganza combines Hockney's groundbreaking artwork with cutting-edge projections, creating an immersive journey through his career. Think of it as art meets technology in a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity, and a touch of charm.

If you want to try out one of the wildest bars for a quirky night out, you'd be barmy to miss Albert's Schloss, which boasts copper tanks that brew only the freshest Pilsner. From live entertainment down to giant steins, schnitzels and alpine-themed cocktails, there's nothing quite like a night at this vibrant slice of Bavaria.

Manchester is full of gorgeous outdoor spaces, from secret gardens to spacious parks and hidden walkways. Whether you're heading to Sky Park's Castlefield Viaduct, Sackville Gardens or The Secret Valley just outise the city, there's plenty for you to discover in this beautiful part of the world.

Prepare for an electrifying evening at Albert Hall with Bongo's Bingo Manchester. This event is a high-energy mashup of dance-offs, rave sessions, audience interaction, and bingo revelry. You're in for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, plus the chance to bag iconic prizes like giant pink unicorns, Henry Hoovers, mobility scooters, and karaoke machines at every single show.

For those of you who fancy trying something a little different, make sure to give DNA VR in Manchester city centre a visit. Nestled in the city centre, this quirky VR arcade is home to all kinds of wicked games where you can battle it out against zombies, race each other on boats and more, for groups of up to 15 people.

Manchester is full of fantastic immersive experiences, from The Cube and The Crystal Maze live experiences to Breakout escape rooms. Whether you're looking to try out some high-tech VR or feast on an interactive dining event, there's something for everyone to be found in this city.