A celebration of Oxford Road Corridor through language, light and ideas

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

TOTEM LATAMAT
The Manchester Museum | Until 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.

Manchester Folk Festival 2021
HOME | Until 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.

Word Central
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.

At Home with the Pankhurst Family
The Pankhurst Centre | Until 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.

Interruptions: Dani Abulhawa, Concord
The Holden Gallery | 22 October 2021

Word of Warning and the Holden Gallery present performance exploring the experience of restricted movement across borders.

Completely A Hustling Place
Manchester Central Library | Until 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.

Submotion Orchestra
Manchester Academy | 22 October 2021

Seven-piece soul, jazz and ambient electronica band Submotion Orchestra stop by The Academy this October.

Jesca Hoop
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.

Science X
Manchester Central Library | Until 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.

Cory Wong (Vulfpeck)
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.  

The Mysterines
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 Manchester
Hatch

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.

An image of a sign outside Sandbar on the Oxford Road Corridor
Sandbar

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

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 bar area of The Font in Manchester one of the bars and pubs on oxford road
The Font

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 Café

No afterthought, the Manchester Museum Café serves real food and drink and has a firm eye on sustainability.

Wonderful views of sun rising through the trees from the windows of The Whitworth Café
The Whitworth Café

The gallery in the park which has gained global attention with contemporary exhibition programmes giving new life to international collections.

An external shot of Seoul Kimchi at night
Seoul Kimchi

Seoul Kimchi is an intimate restaurant on Upper Brook Street that serves Manchester’s most acclaimed Korean cuisine.

The Briton’s Protection

An iconic pub with an impressive whiskey list running into the hundreds. A welcoming atmosphere and a sprawling beer garden.

A dish from WOOD Manchester
WOOD Manchester

WOOD Manchester offers one of the city’s best fine dining experiences, from the locally-loved winner of 2015 MasterChef winner Simon Wood.

Someone holding coffee at Ditto Coffee Manchester
Ditto Coffee Manchester

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.

Photo of an Indian dish from zouk tea bar and grill
Zouk Tea Bar and Grill

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

Exterior of YES music venue in Manchester
YES

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.

A packed crowd watch a band at The Deaf Institute
The Deaf Institute

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.

An image of bikes locked up outside the venue Gorilla
Gorilla

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.

A vibrant crowd watching a musicians perform at Manchester Academy
Manchester Academy

Four spaces in one, Manchester Academy has been welcoming world-famous bands to Manchester since the early 1960s.

photo of roof terrace at big hands
Big Hands

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.

Interior shot of Temple Bar in Mancheter
The Temple

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

The lobby of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester's Oxford Road Corridor
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel offers an unforgettable stay on Oxford Road Corridor in one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings.

Midland Hotel Lobby Manchester Oxford Road Corridr
The Midland Hotel

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.

Image of the chandelier at Holiday Inn Express Oxford Road
Holiday Inn Express

The Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road is a centrally located hotel that offers visitors great value for money.