THINGS TO DO IN MANCHESTER
Manchester is one of the most exciting cities within the UK. Its rich history of art, politics, music and football make the city an amazing place to live, work and study.
The Northern Quarter – Located between Piccadilly and Ancoats, this is Manchester’s creative hub. It’s full of independent shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants, and is home to the famous Afflecks Palace, with four floors of unique stalls and designers, and Mackie Mayor’s cosmopolitan food hall. It’s also a great place to go out at night.
Flok – Try it for alfresco drinks and snacks.
Trof – Come for open-mic and quiz nights.
Mint Lounge – Great for late-night dancing.
Manchester’s Gay Village – One of the most vibrant and historically rich LGBTQ+ districts in the UK and is anchored by the iconic Canal Street which is lined with a lively array of restaurants and bars. Home to a whole host of LGBTQ+ friendly venues, the area hosts the annual Manchester Pride Festival every August and offers a very popular destination for people looking to enjoy the joyous atmosphere.
Spinningfields – Home to the iconic leisure and shopping destination, Great Northern, the Spinningfields estate has hosted some of Manchester’s biggest calendar events, including Manchester Jazz Festival and Skate Manchester.
The Printworks – A lively entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester. Open every day, it’s busy from morning gym sessions to late-night meetups. It features a modern Vue cinema, a full gym with a 20m pool, and 20+ bars and restaurants. It also has a hidden gem—a rooftop garden.
Freight Island – Located on Baring Street in Depot Mayfield, is a lively market and festival space. It has bars, restaurants, food trucks, shops, a bike park and a hidden audio bar that turns into a karaoke spot called Queen Samantha’s. For seven days a week they are open and playing host to a variety of live music events, DJ sets, comedy gigs and film screenings.
Manchester Art Gallery – Located on Mosley Street, this publicly owned gallery houses both historical collections and contemporary art. It’s one of the best art galleries in the UK and is worth visiting. Manchester Art Gallery is free to enter and open every day of the week.
Chinatown – Manchester’s Chinatown is the second largest in the UK so there’s always a wide choice of restaurants, bakeries and shops. The annual Chinese New Year festival, in February, is a highlight in the Manchester events calendar, it includes stalls and dancing Dragons in the famous parade. Look out for some amazing Karaoke spots!
Z-arts – Don’t forget the obvious! The UK’s only dedicated arts centre for children and families, Z-arts plays host to a wide range of live events and has its own café space (where Mountview students get 20% off)
SU AND NUS
Mountview’s Student Union (SU) is made up of second-year students from across all courses who have been elected to represent students both inside and outside of Mountview. They organise social events, fundraise for charities, work with the National Union of Students (NUS), and act as friendly faces. The SU will be formed in July and include the following roles:
President, Open Mic Team, Anti-Racism Officer, Vice President, Women’s Officer, International Student Officer, Secretary, Men’s Mental Health Officer, Disabilities Officer, Treasurer, Gender, Sexuality & LGBTQIA+ Officers, Environmental Officer, Publicity Officer, Welfare Officers, Production Arts Representative, Events Team, Sexual Health Officer, CertHE Officers
Contact the SU on [email protected].
Join the 2025-2026 Facebook Group here (please note that the group is managed and run by the SU, and operates independently of Mountview).
The National Union of Students (NUS) is an organisation whose aim is to “promote, defend and extend the rights of students and develop and champion strong students’ unions.” Find out more on their website.
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
Many businesses offer discounts for students. The top student discount providers include:
