The Manchester Museum | 21 – 24 October 2021
Experience an Indigenous Mexican response to climate change as TOTEM LATAMAT travels to Brunswick Park, opposite Manchester Museum, before its final stop at COP26.
Corridor of Light Plus
When visiting Corridor of Light take time out to explore the Oxford Road Corridor, a vibrant corner of Manchester with buzzing neighbourhoods and cultural historic sites to discover.
Oxford Road Corridor is Manchester’s innovation district with knowledge and culture to be discovered around every corner, from the historic Central Library in St Peter’s Square to the sprawling campuses of The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, both adorned with beautiful architecture and surrounded by landmarks, historic parks and contemporary green spaces.
There is a rich cultural heritage on Oxford Road Corridor with many of Manchester’s famous music venues here, whether you’re looking for a sophisticated evening at a world-class concert hall or an all-night rave, you can find a venue that suits your mood. For fans of the stage, there is a wide-ranging choice of theatre and performance on offer, from the contemporary and cutting-edge to huge musicals and family favourites. Likewise, the museums and galleries offer on Oxford Road Corridor is unrivalled in Manchester, with impressive historic and contemporary spaces that suit families looking for adventurous days out and culture buffs keen to see a mix of famous and emerging visual arts.
With hidden gems and heritage to uncover too and a huge variety of food and drink options available, don’t just see Corridor of Light this weekend, spend it exploring the entire Corridor.
What else to see
There is plenty going on this weekend to enjoy before, during and after your exploration of Corridor of Light
The Holden Gallery | 21 October 2021
A one-hour live event, encompassing performance, installation and interactivity within the context of Queer politics.
HOME | 20 – 22 October 2021
Manchester Folk Festival is an urban folk festival. It takes place from 21-23 October 2021 across the Oxford Road Corridor. Over the autumn weekend, they present an exhilarating range of events, with the spotlight on contemporary and traditional English folk music.
Manchester Central Library | 21 October 2021
Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries present a free night of Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word hosted by Tony Curry.
The Pankhurst Centre | 29 August 2021 – 31 August 2025
The transformation of the Pankhurst Centre exhibition space is incredible thanks to its new permanent exhibition, At Home with the Pankhurst Family.
The Holden Gallery | 22 October 2021
Word of Warning and the Holden Gallery present performance exploring the experience of restricted movement across borders.
Manchester Central Library | 21 October – 31 December 2021
Completely A Hustling Place is an exhibition at Central Library from Venture Arts that offers an exciting and immersive showcase of creativity and studio output over the past year.
Manchester Academy | 22 October 2021
Seven-piece soul, jazz and ambient electronica band Submotion Orchestra stop by The Academy this October.
HOME | 22 October 2021
Jesca Hoop brings her beautiful songs, rooted in the folk tradition are intricately detailed, acoustic-led pieces to RNCM as part of the Manchester Folk Festival.
Manchester Central Library | 28 – 29 October 2022
Science X is a free, interactive festival of exploration and experiments and a great chance for kids to discover the fun behind science and engineering.
O2 Ritz Manchester | 23 October 2021
Cory Wong, Grammy-nominated composer, producer and the virtuoso touring guitarist with Vulfpeck stops by O2 Ritz Manchester in October.
Manchester Academy | 23 October 2021
Liverpool band The Mysterines bring a set-list packed with catchy indie anthems to the Manchester Academy stage this October.
Food & Drink
Whether looking for coffee or lunch before the event or dinner and drinks after, you’re spoilt for options here on the Oxford Road Corridor
Hatch is Manchester’s pop-up retail, food and drink destination on Oxford Road with something for just about everyone. It is a place to shop, eat and drink, 7 days a week at over 30 independent traders.
Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.
The Refuge, at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, is a luxurious, modern restaurant, housed in a magnificent, Alfred Waterhouse designed, Victorian brick and terracotta building offers 10,000 sq ft of drinking and dining for everyone and anyone with the instruction “Come As You Are”.
The Font Manchester is a cracking bar found just off Oxford Road on New Wakefield St where it’s been for over 20 years.
Manchester Museum’s cafe is run by the people behind award-winning cafe Teacup Kitchen. The menu features home-baked cakes, the finest loose leaf teas and breakfast, as well as a wide selection of mains and meals for kids.
The gallery in the park which has gained global attention with contemporary exhibition programmes giving new life to international collections.
Seoul Kimchi is an intimate restaurant on Upper Brook Street that serves Manchester’s most acclaimed Korean cuisine.
An iconic pub with an impressive whiskey list running into the hundreds. A welcoming atmosphere and a sprawling beer garden.
WOOD Manchester offers one of the city’s best fine dining experiences, from the locally-loved winner of 2015 MasterChef winner Simon Wood.
Takk Coffee at Hatch is an espresso bar where you can grab a coffee to go and venture up Oxford Road, or sit in Takk’s own seating area or the pleasant environs of the Hatch courtyard.
Ditto Coffee is a coffee shop specialising in independent music and speciality coffee. This Manchester coffee shop is the second from the Liverpool-based Ditto Music company.
Zouk Tea Bar and Grill is a modern, exciting restaurant, serving up some of the very best Indian-Pakistani cuisine in Manchester.
Late Night
There are lots of options if you want to keep your Corridor of Light experience going until the small hours with many of Manchester’s best music venues, clubs and late night drinking spots found here on Oxford Road Corridor
Four floors of YES with something for everyone – including a rooftop bar, two live music spaces, a club space, DJs and extensive coffee, street food and bar selection.
An ever-popular nightclub, bar and affordable street food stop housed in a landmark, Grade II listed building. Come for the unique space, stay for the live music and DJs.
Since opening in 2012, Gorilla has proved itself as Manchester’s definitive mid-sized modern gig venue and one of the city’s best bar and kitchens.
Four spaces in one, Manchester Academy has been welcoming world-famous bands to Manchester since the early 1960s.
Big Hands at the South end of Oxford Road may be small, but it comes with added rock n’ roll swagger, a great atmosphere and a lovely roof garden.
Originally called The Temple of Convenience owing to its former life as a public toilet block, this is a tiny bar with some of the finest bathroom graffiti in town.
Where to say
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel offers an unforgettable stay on Oxford Road Corridor in one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings.
The Midland Hotel is one of the most famous places to stay in Manchester, and one of Oxford Road Corridor’s most lavishly decorated hotels.
The Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road is a centrally located hotel that offers visitors great value for money.
Hotel ibis on Princess Street offers 126 value for money rooms in a central Manchester location near Oxford Road.