Culture on the Corridor

A vibrant nightlife and home to many of the city’s most iconic music venues, theatre spots and high-end cultural offerings such as the Whitworth, HOME and RNCM.

Oxford Road Corridor has one the UK’s most concentrated, diverse and distinctive collections of cultural attractions. Home to many of Manchester’s iconic music venues, auditoriums and exhibition spaces as well as a vibrant night-life and an abundance of cafés, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the beautiful architecture and significant landmarks and memorials are a number of historic parks and contemporary green spaces to discover.

The area boasts a world-class line-up of cultural spaces; from the award-winning Whitworth Art Gallery at the south to the iconic Central Library in the city centre. In between, you will find Contact, Manchester Museum, the Royal Northern College of Music, Palace Theatre, HOME, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, the International Anthony Burgess Foundation and Castlefield Gallery. 

Things to do

exhibition At Home with the Pankhurst Family
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.

exhibition Golden Mummies of Egypt
Manchester Museum | 18 February 2023 – 14 April 2024

Catch the final weeks of Manchester Museum’s re-opening exhibition, the Golden Mummies of Egypt which closes its doors in April. Don’t miss your last chance to see it!

heritage A Tale of Manchester Life – Elizabeth Gaskell’s Manchester
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House | 2 April 2023

A new exhibition exploring how Elizabeth Gaskell presented Manchester and its people through her novels and short stories, and the impact she had through her writing.

exhibition Material Power: Palestinian Embroideries
The Whitworth | 24 November 2023 – 7 April 2024

Material Power: Palestinian Embroideries explores the historical life and contemporary significance of Palestinian embroidered dress.

exhibition David Gleave: Rescued Time
Manchester Central Library | 12 January – 31 March 2024

Manchester photographer David Gleave’s new exhibition at Central Library, Rescued Time, presents a decade of work that captures the present with a historian’s eye.

exhibition Naomi Harwin: Middle Moments
HOME | 13 January – 24 March 2024

Naomi Harwin invites you to explore her collection of ‘middle moments’ in Manchester through cutouts and interactive, tactile installations.

exhibition (behind the scenes) Reality or Not – Cécile B. Evans
Modal Gallery | 26 January – 24 March 2024

New work from American-Belgian artist Cécile B. Evans addresses the impact of the rebellion of emotions encountering ideological, physical, and technical structures.

exhibition Manchester Open Exhibition 2024
HOME | 3 February – 28 April 2024

HOME’s Manchester Open returns in 2024. Greater Manchester’s largest open art exhibition will showcase the work of nearly 500 artists.

music La scala di seta: Rossini
Royal Northern College of Music | 17 – 23 March 2024

RNCM students take on Rossini’s one-act opera, La scala di seta for their spring opera, a lively blend of humour and romance.

theatre Sister Act
Palace Theatre | 18 – 30 March 2024

Based on the 1992 American comedy, the Broadway and UK smash-hit musical Sister Act returns to Manchester’s Palace Theatre in 2024.

music The Hallé – Sibelius’s Symphony No.1
The Bridgewater Hall | 20 March 2024

Kristiina Poska, a distinctive interpreter of Sibelius, begins her second visit to the Hallé with Britten’s atmospheric Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes

music Tapir!
Yes | 20 March 2024

Following of their debut album, South-London-based 6-piece Tapir! are on tour and bring enchanting alt-indie folk to YES this March.

theatre In Conversation with Dave Moutrey
HOME | 20 March 2024

Join HOME Artistic Director
and CEO Dave Moutrey, one of the UK’s major cultural leaders, in conversation with Nick Ahad.

music The Next Frontier in Accessible Music-Making
School of Digital Arts (SODA) | 21 March 2024

A groundbreaking event exploring the future of inclusive music-making, at the School of Digital Arts at Manchester Met.

music FaceSoul
Yes | 21 March 2024

FaceSoul, a London-based Somali artist born in East Africa, brings meditative modern R&B and Neo soul to YES.

performance No More Mr Nice Guy
HOME | 21 – 23 March 2024

No More Mr Nice Guy is a new experimental gig-theatre chronicling the life of a British Caribbean Music Teacher caught in a love cube.

music Meet Mary In The Junkyard
Yes | 22 March 2024

New experimental indie trio Meet Mary In The Junkyard make their Manchester debut in the YES basement this month.

music Metalheadz with Goldie
Joshua Brooks | 22 March 2024

Metalheadz marks three monumental decades of innovation and influence with an anniversary celebration at Joshua Brooks

music BBC Philharmonic – Rise and Shine
The Bridgewater Hall | 23 March 2024

Leslie Suganandarajah conducts an evening of Mozart, Bruch and Strauss with guest violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing.

exhibition 40 Years of the Future: Painting
Castlefield Gallery | 24 March – 23 June 2024

40 Years of the Future: Painting welcomes back five artists who exhibited as part of Castlefield Gallery’s 1984 inaugural programme.

music Manchester Punk Festival
Various Venues | 29 – 31 March 2024

After a sell-out success in recent years, the ever-growing Manchester Punk Festival returns in Easter to venues across Oxford Road.

music 1-800 GIRLS
Yes | 29 March 2024

Jake Stewart has successfully located the pleasure centres of UK ravers via the diverse output of his 1-800 GIRLS artist project.

music TAK Ensemble / Distractfold
International Anthony Burgess Foundation | 29 March 2024

Join IABF for Tak ensemble’s Manchester debut with one of our most-admired ensembles in the world, Distractfold.

theatre Hedda
Contact | 2 – 6 April 2024

Experience a brand new version of Henrik Ibsen’s classic Hedda Gabler written by Here to There’s Artistic Director, Andrew Whittle.

See what’s on