A visually stunning art gallery located at the heart of Whitworth Park, with a collection containing around 55,000 items.
Things to do this June
June is a massive month here on Oxford Road with the crescendo of RNCM’s 50th anniversary, lots of summer theatre, festivals and a ton of music.
Lots to do around Oxford Road this June, starting with a busy summer theatre schedule HOME. We’ve picked out three top shows to see at the First Street art centre this month.
For over five decades, the RNCM has been home to outstanding musicians who’ve forged incredible careers in all areas of the industry. In an evening celebrating its past, present and future, they’re pulling out all the stops for this spectacular 50th-anniversary event. The celebrations continue later in the month as they team up with Opera North for a fantastic evening of opera’s greatest hits.
Manchester Classical will see the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, Manchester Collective and a host of stellar artists come together for a breath-taking 48 hours of music, film, food and free foyer entertainment at The Bridgewater Hall.
June, of course, means the return of the Festival of Libraries. Take a look at their five-day multi-venue celebration of Greater Manchester’s libraries and the extraordinary stories of everyday creativity that happen within them.
At the end of the month, Factory International brings us the 2023 edition of Manchester International Festival, which continues until 16 July. Working with partners regionally and globally, the wide-ranging programme of original new work by artists worldwide will take place in venues and spaces throughout the city, with many notable commissions right here on the Oxford Road Corridor.
Top things to do this month
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Everything happening in June
Other things to do in June
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 | 26 January – 26 November 2023
(Un)Defining Queer delves into the Whitworth’s collection to examine how we can use a queer lens to define what the term ‘queer’ means.
HOME | 18 February – 4 June 2023
HOME present Natural Interaction, a solo exhibition by Nick Jordan featuring new films, prints, photographs, painting and sculptural works.
HOME | 18 February – 4 June 2023
Is there anybody there? at HOME uses archive film to create a monumental study of cultural traditions, procession and ceremony.
HOME | 18 February – 4 June 2023
Painting, An Unending is a solo show of new work by artist Parham Ghalamdar, his largest institutional exhibition to date.
The Manchester Museum | 18 February – 31 December 2023
Golden Mummies of Egypt is Manchester Museum’s re-opening exhibition. This one-of-a-kind cultural experience opens in February 2023.
The Manchester Museum | 18 February – 31 July 2023
Dab Hands is an exhibition that celebrates the extraordinary relationship that we have with our hands and the value of the skills that can be acquired
Castlefield Gallery | 26 March – 4 June 2023
Archives at Play 2 is the second in a two-part series of exhibitions inviting an exciting roster of artists to delve into Castlefield Gallery’s archive.
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.
HOME | 7 April – 11 June 2023
CIPHER makes voyeurs of its viewers; cryptic domestic narratives frame subjects in private states of exchange, isolation, and contemplation.
The Whitworth | 7 April 2023 – 7 January 2024
Traces of Displacement uses the Whitworth’s collection to address one of the major humanitarian concerns – forced displacement.
Manchester Central Library | 15 April – 25 June 2023
A fascinating retrospective of photographer Jill Furmanovsky featuring some of the most famous works from 50 years of rock photography
HOME | 31 May – 1 June 2023
The Talent is a new show by Action Hero and Deborah Pearson about the legacy of the human voice in a non-human future.
The Refuge | 1 June – 31 August 2023
Celebrated music photographer Richard Kelly showcases never before seen shots of Amy Winehouse, Florence and the Machine and more.
HOME | 1 – 3 June 2023
Five children dream of reaching the moon from their bedroom…join the ‘Starchitects’ as they plan their daring mission.
The Bridgewater Hall | 2 June 2023
The soundtrack to 50 years of love, hope and celebration, Pride Classical fuses anthemic melodies with irresistible rhythms,
Joshua Brooks | 2 June 2023
A huge name within the Grime scene, Flowdan is coming to Manchester. Catch a British urban music legend live at Joshua Brooks this summer.
YES | 3 June 2023
Expect heavy dub-driven monsters and irresistible synth-pop bangers when audiobooks play Yes this June.
HOME | 3 June 2023
The Hero Next Door at HOME is a celebration of difference, friendship and working together to do the right thing.
HOME | 4 June 2023
Join the award-winning comedian Alasdair Beckett-King on a ramshackle jaunt through a multiverse of wonders.
Manchester Central Library | 7 – 11 June 2023
Festival of Libraries celebrates the role that Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries play in wellbeing, culture, creativity and more.
Manchester Central Library | 7 June 2023
Join Manchester UNESCO City of Literature Multilingual City Poet AnjumMalik for a celebration of South Asian culture.
Part of Festival of Libraries
Manchester Poetry Library | 7 June 2023
A discussion on poetry and text in live performance, Chaired by John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry at the University of Manchester.
Part of Festival of Libraries
The Deaf Institute | 7 June 2023
Jen Cloher’s taut, terse brand of rock is charged with the static tension that comes with being an eternal misfit. Admirers have naturally gravitated towards Cloher’s incisive, generous songwriting.
HOME | 7 – 10 June 2023
we were promised honey! is a hopeful, hopeless prophecy for humankind. A story of us, our future, of paradise and how we get there.
Manchester Central Library | 8 June 2023
Creative work produced by Manchester-based community groups in response to music by artists working with the Greater Manchester Archives.
Part of Festival of Libraries
Manchester Poetry Library | 8 June 2023
Manchester Poetry Library welcomes novelists Laura Barnett and Livi Michael to discuss their work as part of the Love to Read series.
Part of Festival of Libraries
Manchester Central Library | 9 June 2023
Join Simon Armitage for an inspiring one hour poetry writing masterclass to celebrate the Festival of Libraries 2023.
Part of Festival of Libraries
Sandbar | 9 – 10 June 2023
This weekend The Bread Shed and Sandbar team up for Fiesta De Las Artes, a two-day arts festival centred around the Grosvenor Street bars.
Manchester Poetry Library | 9 June 2023
Join poets Kit Fan and Andrew McMillan for an intimate in conversation on the importance of libraries in their work and art.
Part of Festival of Libraries
St Peter’s Square | 9 June 2023
Underscore is a digital experiment that disrupts the silent power structures of public space through live writing and projection of personal statements.
Part of Festival of Libraries
School of Digital Arts (SODA) | 10 – 21 June 2023
Manchester School of Art’s Degree Show is an unmissable event in the summer calendar with a wide array of exhibitions in every art discipline
Manchester Central Library | 10 June 2023
Join in the conversation with award-winning playwright and artist Linda Brogan at Manchester Central Library.
Part of Festival of Libraries
Manchester Central Library | 11 June 2023
A free session for young children and parents at Manchester Central Library as part of the Festival of Libraries 2023.
Part of Festival of Libraries
HOME | 13 – 14 June 2023
Hopefully hopeful, The Rest of Our Lives at HOME is a joyful dose of dance, theatre, circus and games.
Manchester Poetry Library | 15 June 2023
Untold Stories celebrates the contribution of workers from diverse backgrounds, in a range of roles, to the delivery of care and to the wider NHS story.
Part of Festival of Libraries
HOME | 17 June – 13 August 2023
Gherdai Hassell presents a new body of work at HOME in an exhibition that explores the multifaceted nature of identity.
YES | 17 June 2023
Catch Screaming Females at YES this June, one of the most dynamic and devastating touring bands going today.
HOME | 17 June 2023
Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Rhys Nicholson brings a new show to Manchester.
The Whitworth | 18 June 2023
Join Manchester Sacred Harp for an afternoon of uplifting social singing. Their door is open – sit and sing if you want to join in – or pop in to listen.
The Whitworth | 18 June 2023
Students from the Royal Northern College of Music perform in the South Gallery, overlooking Whitworth Park.
Manchester Poetry Library | 20 June 2023
Join Manchester Poetry Library for an evening honouring and celebrating Una Marson, with conversations, readings and Q&As.
Royal Northern College of Music | 22 June 2023
Royal Northern College of Music celebrates its 50th birthday and half a century of forging incredible careers across the music industry.
HOME | 22 June 2023
Neil Brand and Andrew Biswell delve into the world of silent film piano and Anthony Burgess’s understanding of music.
HOME | 22 – 24 June 2023
In a blend of dance, theatre, and an attempt at a sports spectacle, Endurance looks at how we endure, why we endure.
The Bridgewater Hall | 24 – 25 June 2023
Manchester Classical sees the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, Manchester Collective and a host of stellar artists come together.
Castlefield Gallery | 25 June – 24 September 2023
The Poetics of Water asks visitors to look at landscapes, borders and centuries and think deeply about soil and water’s fundamental elements.
Manchester Poetry Library | 26 June 2023
Come along to Manchester Poetry Library and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS with an evening of poetry.
HOME | 27 June – 1 July 2023
I, Daniel Blake is one of the most important stories of a generation. A glimpse behind the headlines and the stark reality of what happens…
Royal Northern College of Music | 28 June 2023
Join RNCM vocal students and the Orchestra of Opera North for a fantastic evening of opera’s greatest hits.
HOME | 28 June – 2 July 2023
The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions at HOME brings together theatre, dance and song for the ultimate anarchic bedtime story.
Various Venues | 28 June – 16 July 2023
Manchester International Festival returns, this year with many of the biggest commissions found at cultural spaces around Oxford Road. Here’s what’s happening here on the Corridor.
Royal Northern College of Music | 29 June 2023
RNCM’s Wind Orchestra returns this summer for a riveting evening of new works, including Luis Serrano Alarcón’s Cello Concerto.
Museums & Galleries
This beautifully restored Grade II listed villa was once home to Elizabeth Gaskell, one of the UK’s most important Victorian writers.
Discover the story of the suffragettes and learn about women’s activism, past and present, at the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst and her family.
Victoria Baths is located just outside of the Oxford Road Corridor, but it’s an iconic treasure that’s well worth a visit.
Manchester’s multi-purpose hub of creativity and discovery, bringing together film, theatre, art, and some of the city’s best social spaces.
Manchester School of Art’s Holden Gallery curates an exhibitions programme that focuses exclusively on recent developments in international contemporary visual art.
Live Music
Green Spaces
All Saints Park is a beautiful green space in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor. Perfect for a quick moment of calm on a busy day.
This 18-acre park opposite the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is an eye-catching green space and home to the Whitworth Art Gallery.
Enjoy views of some of the best architecture in Manchester in this green space which was opened in 2018 by The University of Manchester.
University Green is a modern home for retailers and food and drink outlets as well as a tree-lined green space for the public to enjoy.
Circle Square is home to Symphony Park, a beautifully landscaped green space designed for socialising, entertaining, relaxing and exploring.
The outdoor area directly in front of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons, the University of Manchester’s 24/7 study and learning space, provides green spaces for students to enjoy during breaks from teaching and learning.
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.