Summer Graduation | Things to do in Manchester

July is a busy month for Oxford Road with thousands of students celebrating their graduation here in Manchester. Here are the places to go and things to do.

Graduation time in Manchester is one of the most exciting times of the year, especially here on the Oxford Road Corridor which is home to both The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, making this the place to be for summer graduations. Each July, thousands of students take to the streets around Oxford Road to celebrate their hard work and achievements here in Manchester.

Oxford Road is a special place for education where Nobel Prizes were awarded for the isolation of Graphene, the discovery of the electron and the splitting of the atom. It was here where the work of Alan Turing produced the first marketable electronic digital computer and paved the way for the modern world. Students graduating in Manchester join significant names including L. S. Lowry, Brian Cox, Sylvia Pankhurst, Jennifer Saunders, Steve Coogan, Julie Walters and many, many more.

Graduation is a special time for students and their families and friends, this page is here to help you mark the occasion with some of the best things you can do to celebrate here on Oxford Road. From the best places to stay, where to eat, things to do and where to celebrate late into the night.

Post Graduation Food & Drink

North Taproom

North Taproom sits at the heart of Circle Square, serving everything from small-batch craft ale to high-end cocktails; they even have prosecco on tap alongside a well-designed menu of Asian street food. If you’re graduating this summer, they’ll even throw in a free drink to help you celebrate!

Circle Square

Not just North, but lots of places here to stop for brunch or drink. It’s a modern green space which is perfect for taking a breath and stopping for pictures.

Society Manchester

A food hall which has a bit of something for everyone but is especially suited for Manchester Met students graduating at The Bridgewater Hall. The water makes an excellent setting for a graduation snap too.

University Green

A lovely green spot found halfway up Oxford Road is an excellent choice for lunch with food options from Bold Street, Five Guys and Navarro Lounge. There’s plenty of outdoor seating which is ideal for the July weather.

Kro Bar

Kro is a popular spot with students all year round and its handy University of Manchester-facing beer garden makes it an easy choice for a celebratory tipple.

Big Hands

Like Kro, Big Hands is ideally placed for a post-graduation celebration. In July their roof terrace is an idyllic spot for those who like to mark the occasion with more of a rock n’ roll swagger.

The Abbey

A short walk from the universities through Manchester Science Park brings you to The Abbey. Part traditional pub, part modern music venue, it has plenty of outdoor seating, while its pies are just the ticket for rumbling bellies.

Hyatt Regency Manchester

The Hyatt Regency’s aptly named Graduate Bar is a lovely indoor, terrace and outdoor space, serving fresh bar dishes and an enviable cocktail, beer and wine list. Just a stone’s throw from The University of Manchester, it’s an excellent spot to pop the fizz.

Dinner

Onda

Onda delivers one of Manchester’s best casual dining experiences, thanks to its laid-back vibe and delicious, artfully made food.

Bundobust Brewery

Bundobust Brewery in the St James Building on Oxford Street is the latest, and arguably the best addition to the ever-growing Bundobust family. It’s all vegetarian and an easy recommendation.

The Refuge

The Refuge is a luxurious, modern restaurant, housed in a magnificent, Alfred Waterhouse-designed Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. A stunning venue with a great menu and superb bar.

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.

Hello Oriental

Hello Oriental is a recent addition to the stunning Circle Square development on Oxford Road. Head here for three floors of ‘the best street food the Orient has to offer’.