Things to do off the beaten track in Manchester
Whether it's going for a wee wander or yielding a bloody great axe, there's something for everyone in Manchester
If you fancy straying a bit from the regular haunts, there are plenty of unique activities, events and venues in Manchester. Want to drink in a laundrette? Sure! Want to chuck an axe around? That's covered too. Check out five unique experiences Manchester has to offer.
Go on a treasure hunt
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Making sure you connect with your inner child, huntfun have put together more than 200 different types of treasure hunts throughout the city. There are family and kid-friendly routes designed to open your eyes to places you might normally just walk past, hunts designed for international students to welcome them to the city's best bits, or stag and hen do treasure hunts for something a little different pre-wedding.
huntfun.co.uk
Get the axe
One of our instructors somehow managed this.
We'll have the video of how he did it up tomorrow!A post shared by Whistle Punks (@whistlepunks) on
Are you ready to seriously vent some frustrations? After a hard week, can you think of anything better to do than sling an axe against your friends or colleagues (not literally against them, obviously)? Whistle Punks' throwing coaches talk you through the safety part, and the dos and don'ts, then your group compete to be queen or king of the axes, with music to get you in the mood and plenty of socialising between throws.
whistlepunks.com
Enjoy some truly clean drinking
Chocolate cocktails 🍸💕 #Manchester #washhouse #cocktails #weekend #weekendvibes #chocolate
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One of few examples of a real speakeasy, we're not going to say where The Wash House is (you need to make a reservation anyway), but once you're there, you only have to navigate the man at the door of the laundrette, some old fashioned telephones, and a host of washing machines posing as doors posing as washing machines before you've made it into Manchester's best-kept drinking secret. You'll deserve a drink after all the detective work involved in getting there, plus think how good it'll look on Instagram.
the-washhouse.co.uk
Go a bit mad
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MadLab (or Manchester Digital Laboratory if we're being formal) is a grassroots centre for science, technology, arts and culture activities and events. The mission is to help people make things better together, through community innovation, experimentation and craftsmanship. You can get involved in their lineup of events, which cover everything from game designing (and playing), coding, creative writing, book clubs and even taxidermy classes.
madlab.org.uk
Get on Shanks' pony
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Who needs a tour bus? See more of the city and get a bit of exercise by taking one of New Manchester Walks' walking tours. No matter what it is about Manchester you're interested in, there's a walk for you: if it's art, try L S Lowry's Manchester or Great Art Treasures of Manchester. If it's politics, try Heroic Women of Manchester or Reds, Revolutionaries or Real Ale. For music, check out The Smiths' Manchester or Manchester in 12 Songs. And for those looking for something really out there, why not go for Gangland Manchester, Southern Cemetery or Victorian Diseases?
newmanchesterwalks.com