Places for Entertainment
With four universities calling the city home, Castlefield is in a prime location to enjoy the events and activities a vibrant university city brings. Urban living doesn’t get much better than this, with a plethora of art galleries, museums, theatres and music venues to enjoy, all within walking distance of canal-side Potato Wharf, home to Manchester luxury apartments for sale.
Whether you’re into history, football, British democracy or science, there’s a museum waiting for you. Fans of the theatre are well-catered for, too, with huge historic venues that have seen the likes of Judy Garland, Laurel and Hardy, and Noel Coward tread their boards, alongside shiny new buildings that combine modern theatre with art galleries and cinemas.
With a music history as rich as Manchester’s, it’s no surprise that gig-goers flock to the city. With a continuous line-up of great live acts to choose from, you might even get to see the Joy Division and Oasis of tomorrow – who knows?
A Manchester institution for more than 25 years, the Night & Day Café in the city’s Northern Quarter has welcomed many of the best-known bands to its stage over the years – it’s described as ‘where tomorrow’s stars come to play’. By day, you can grab a tasty lunch in a relaxed environment, while by night you can really let your hair down and rock out to live music from top musicians.
26 OLDHAM STREET, M1 1JN
Dating back to 1912, the Opera House is an established entertainments venue where many of the best-known performers – actors, dancers, singers and comedians – have taken to the stage. Offering something for everyone, from comedy, music and full on stage shows to ballet, pantomime, musicals and solo shows, it’s just a short 10-minute walk from Potato Wharf.
3 QUAY STREET, M3 3HP
This outdoor music venue, popular with locals, is home Manchester’s annual Sounds of the City concerts, which brings together shows from top names in the music industry – think Elbow, Kylie and The Kooks for starters. An mere three minute walk from Potato Wharf – what’s not to like?
101 LIVERPOOL ROAD, M3 4JN
Out of the city at neighbouring Salford Quays, the Lowry opened in 2000 as the Millennium Project for the Arts. With a large collection of paintings and drawings by the venue’s Mancunian namesake, TS Lowry, the arts centre also offers three theatres that have shown the likes of Wicked and War Horse, alongside smaller productions from new companies. It now has MediaCityUK, home to the BBC among others, as its neighbour.
PIER 8, SALFORD QUAYS, M50 3AZ
Dating from 1938, the 02 Apollo is one of the premier music venues in England, with a hall of fame including the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Prince. Today, music fans are still spoilt for choice, with cutting-edge British music, big-name bands and well-known comedy acts on the bill each month.
STOCKPORT ROAD, ARDWICK GREEN, M12 6AP
Indulge your interest in culture at the People’s History Museum, a national museum of democracy. This award-winning museum tells the story of the development of democracy in Britain, and peers into the future. Home to galleries and exhibitions, it also provides opportunities for people to learn about, be inspired by and get involved in ideas worth fighting for, such as equality, social justice, co-operation, and a fair world for all.
LEFT BANK SPINNINGFIELDS, M3 3ER
It’s set within the world’s oldest train station and, if that isn’t reason enough for you to visit, the Science and Industry Museum is packed to the hilt with displays to inspire and inform you. Just a five-minute stroll from Potato Wharf, here you can have a go at flying a jet in the Fly 360 flight simulator, discover all about the machinery that once powered mills all over the north west, or uncover the story behind Manchester’s cotton industry in the Textile Gallery.
LIVERPOOL ROAD, M3 4FP
The exterior of this late Victorian Neo-Gothic building is as impressive as its contents. The John Rylands Library is home to approximately 200,000 books, including one of the world’s finest collections of rare books, maps, works of art and objects. It’s a truly awe-inspiring venue, and it’s a mere 13-minute walk away.
150 DEANSGATE, M3 3EH
