Our microguides series is inspired by the slow travel movement, encouraging travellers to relax their pace and take a deep dive into one particular neighbourhood in a well-loved city. Rather than a whirlwind itinerary which aims to hit up every must-see attraction, these compact, close-up guides encourage you to zone in, take your time and truly explore like a local.
Manchester’s creative neighbourhood, the Northern Quarter, is the place to go for a good time. In its huddled, mural-adorned streets you’ll find a huge spectrum of eating, drinking, live music and quirky shopping venues, delivering craft beers, imaginative cocktails, perfectly presented flat whites or vintage clothes.
Sandwiched between Piccadilly railway station and the Arndale Centre, it’s also the area of Manchester with the highest density of listed buildings – from Victorian markets and textile warehouses to historic weavers’ houses – making it a popular backdrop for films and TV shows.
It’s not always been cool, though; 2022 marks 30 years since Manchester City Council employed an artist-in-residence, Liam Curtin, to create public art and kickstart a change in this formerly rundown area. The NQ’s unique blue-and-white ceramic street signs, created as part of this regeneration, will still guide you around its mishmash of treasures. If you need more help, here are some of its best bits, from hidden bars and standout artworks to great value places to eat.
Street art murals in the Northern Quarter
(Wambam Photography)
Do
Spot street art
You can’t miss this neighbourhood’s colourful street art. The murals in central Stevenson Square are repainted regularly as part of the city’s “Out House” project, while bigger pieces – such as an enormous blue tit by Faunagraphic on Newton Street and a woman in a scarlet dress called ‘Serenity’ by SNIK on Little Lever Street – are popular ones for an arty holiday snap. To dig into the meaning behind the spray paint, book an ‘anti-tour’ of the area and its art with Hayley Flynn, aka Skyliner, who has been guiding visitors for a decade.
Go to a gig
Many venues in the Northern Quarter host live music performances, but Band on the Wall, the city’s oldest music venue, is a Manchester institution. Joy Division, Buzzcocks and the Fall played some of their earliest gigs here and, in 2022, it re-opened after a £3.5m transformation and expansion. Expect DJ sets, soul soloists, Afro-Latin groups and Indie bands on an eclectic…
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