There are plenty of terraces and beer gardens to enjoy outdoor drinks in the sunshine around Oxford Road.
Things to do this July
Summer theatre, gigs, the return of Contact Young Company and The South Asian Heritage Festival. Loads to do this July in and around Oxford Road.
It’s going to be a busy July on Oxford Road with graduations taking place that will see thousands of students seeking out the Corridor’s most Instagrammable spots. If you are here for graduation, then good news, there are plenty of things to do this July.
South Asian Heritage Month begins on 18th July, the date that the Indian Independence Act 1947 gained royal assent from King George VI, and ends on 17th August. There can be few better places to celebrate than at Manchester Museum, only this year, they’ve moved their South Asian Heritage Month Festival to the Whitworth while the £15 million building transformation is completed at the museum.
Despite it being festival season there are still lots of gigs happening in the city this month. Following the release of their collaboration LP Henki, Richard Dawson joins forces with Finnish band Circle to bring the record to the live stage Gorilla. A fixture of the New York City Hip Hop scene, Wiki comes to Yes off the back of a recent collaboration with Emma-Jean Thackray.
Elsewhere there is a fascinating programme of summer theatre at HOME and we’re looking forward to Contact Young Company’s new project, a collaboration with Gobsquad to create an outdoor, immersive experience. Both HOME and Contact have announced their autumn seasons and we’d recommend booking your tickets now.
We’re hoping for a July as sunny as June (mostly) was so get out there and enjoy the green space and plentiful beer gardens of Oxford Road.
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Oxford Road Corridor has a number of historic parks and contemporary green spaces to enjoy.
The food and drink in Manchester is some of the best in the UK with many of the finest offerings found here on the Oxford Road Corridor.
More things to do in July
HOME | 14 June 2008 – 2 August 2022
Both a road movie and a mystery, and featuring a sublime score by Ry Cooder, Wim Wenders’ Cannes winner is the pinnacle of the filmmaker’s career and the summation of his fascination with the American West.
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 Whitworth | 24 September 2021 – 4 September 2022
Still Parents is the first exhibition of its kind, creating a platform to share personal stories open conversations and break the wall of silence that continues to surround baby loss.
The Whitworth | 26 November 2021 – 10 December 2022
Wallpapers began arriving at the Whitworth in 1967, this exhibition delves into the galley’s collection of around 10,000 examples.
Royal Northern College of Music | 20 January – 8 July 2022
RNCM Lunchtime and Spotlight Concerts occur throughout the year and are a great introduction to Manchester’s famous conservatoire.
The Whitworth | 19 February 2022 – 10 February 2023
Exchanges sets art and artist together, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in opposition – always with insight and intention.
Z-arts | 5 April 2022 – 15 April 2023
Fairy Tales is Z-arts latest exhibition, an interactive world of play and storytelling for children up to 8-years old and their grown-ups.
The Whitworth | 20 May – 4 September 2022
Fayre Share Fayre is a group show that brings together over 40 artists with a connection to Greater Manchester.
HOME | 25 May – 22 August 2022
In response to Russia’s invasion of its sovereign neighbour, Collins and Radynski transform Engels into a mouthpiece, amplifying the voices of Ukrainian writers and activists
HOME, Castlefield Gallery & the Whitworth | 26 May – 3 September 2022
British Art Show 9 explores three overarching themes – healing, care and reparative history; tactics for togetherness; and imagining new futures. Each of the four exhibitions will also adapt to local contexts. In Manchester the exhibition will engage with the evolving nature of work and the ongoing struggle to shape a new social contract.
The Whitworth | 26 May – 3 September 2022
Alongside partners across the city, the Whitworth will host the forthcoming British Art Show 9, the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK
Castlefield Gallery | 26 May – 3 September 2022
Hayward Gallery Touring’s landmark exhibition British Art Show 9 is at Castlefield Gallery until 4 September.
HOME | 26 May – 3 September 2022
Heading to HOME, The British Art Show is recognised as the most pertinent recurring exhibition of contemporary art produced in the UK.
HOME | 27 May – 24 July 2022
Presented at HOME and across Manchester City Centre in collaboration with Jack Arts, Short Supply’s annual MADE IT exhibition features work from over 200 new art graduates based in the North West.
Castlefield Gallery | 27 May – 4 September 2022
Castlefield Gallery presents an exhibition of affordable editioned work you can buy and own from five North West-based artists.
Modal Gallery | 24 June – 18 September 2022
Slip.Stream.Slip celebrates game engine culture and how our relationship to images, sounds and interactivity has been transformed by technologies such as the Unity and Unreal engines.
Palace Theatre | 27 June – 9 July 2022
Based on the 1992 American comedy, the Broadway and UK smash-hit musical Sister Act is coming to Manchester’s Palace Theatre this Summer.
The Whitworth | 7 July – 30 September 2022
An exhibition featuring the work of 8 women artists who have been collaborating for the last 4 years through Global Arts Manchester.
Victoria Baths | 7 July 2022
Time & Again take on Shakespeare’s joyous comedy Much Ado About Nothing featuring deck chairs, dancing, and their ever distinctive vintage costumes.
HOME | 7 – 8 July 2022
Here & Now mischievously re-examines the pact between audience and performer and celebrates the beautiful ‘here and now’ of live theatre.
Gorilla | 8 July 2022
Richard Dawson joins forces with Finnish band Circle – described as “the world’s greatest band – in every category” – to bring their collaborative record onto the live stage.
Royal Northern College of Music | 8 July 2022
Young musicians from leading music conservatoires across the world join RNCM students to explore The 21c Global Orchestra.Young musicians from leading music conservatoires across the world join RNCM students to explore The 21c Global Orchestra.
Gorilla | 9 July 2022
Back by popular demand! Get ready for an evening of music and comedy from star of the US version of The Office, Creed Bratton.
HOME | 9 July 2022
A sort of dance show about flab, double chins & the men they are attached to.
Z-arts | 10 July 2022
Alfie’s First Fight is a funny and heart-warming show that packs a punch for children aged 5+ and their grown-ups.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House | 10 July 2022
This book sale is held regularly on the second Sunday of every month at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. Described as ‘Manchester’s best second-hand book sale’ by one visitor it is a popular and favourite destination for book lovers.
Manchester Poetry Library | 11 July – 17 September 2022
Forget Me Not is a free exhibition exploring the relationship between poetry and pictures on greeting cards printed between 1840 and 1920.
Manchester Poetry Library | 12 July 2022
Manchester Metropolitan University presents The Illustrated Woman: the art of tattoo a day of special events to launch Helen Mort’s latest poetry collection.
Blackwell’s Bookshop | 12 July 2022
Manchester launch of Camilla Grudova’s Children of Paradise – a surreal, discomforting debut novel. Camilla will be in conversation with host Naomi Frisby.
HOME | 14 July 2022
Ted Hughes Award winner Hollie McNish is a poet whose live readings are not to be missed.
Gorilla | 16 July 2022
The sparkling synth pop and Motorik Krautrock of Manchester-based three-piece W.H. Lung head to Gorilla this summer.
The Whitworth | 22 July 2022
Manchester Museum is excited to be hosting a private screening of The Singh Twins’ film Jallianwala: Repression & Retribution
The Whitworth | 22 – 23 July 2022
Manchester Museum is celebrating South Asian Heritage Month with an unmissable two-day festival featuring film, music, workshops and more.
The Whitworth | 23 July 2022
Join Our Shared Cultural Heritage for a poetry workshop exploring taboos and untouched topics within South Asian culture and community.
The Whitworth | 23 July 2022
A tribute to, and celebration of Bengali folk music, that has shaped the cultural identity of Bengali communities both in South Asia and the diaspora, including the UK.
The Whitworth | 23 July 2022
Join Anita Sethi and explore themes of place, nature, journeying and how writing can bring a sense of belonging.
The Whitworth | 23 July 2022
Get an insight into Manchester Museum’s ground-breaking South Asia Gallery, its development, vision and goals.
Yes | 24 July 2022
Carrying the torch for NYC’s master MC’s; representing for the freaks, wierdos and underbelly culture.
The Refuge | 28 July – 30 September 2022
British Culture Archive Presents: Together As One – A Celebration of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Community at The Refuge at The Kimpton Clocktower.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House | 28 July – 4 September 2022
‘Every Plant that Peeps up is a Treasure’ wrote Elizabeth Gaskell about her garden in Manchester and this summer we are taking families out into the garden to discover these treasures for themselves.
Manchester Central Library | 28 July 2022
Explore the areas not normally accessible to the general public at Central Library and discover how they tell the story of this iconic building.
Contact | 28 – 30 July 2022
CYC team up with Gobsquad to create an outdoor, immersive experience this summer at Contact.
HOME | 29 July – 24 September 2022
Random Acts of Kindness presents a wide range of mixed media work across a range of artistic focus, from the concrete to the abstract.
Hyatt Regency Manchester | 30 July 2022
Get some nourishment and join the Yoga Brunch with the best views of the city.
Contact | 30 July 2022
Make A Scene invite you to Contact for their latest high camp interactive film showing…Death Becomes Her.
Where to stay
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel offers an unforgettable stay on Oxford Road Corridor in one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings.
Hyatt Regency Manchester is an elegant, modern hotel set in the heart of Oxford Road Corridor.
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.