On the second Sunday of every month at Stevenson Square, mixing independent makers and designers with food and drink stalls.
Discover Authentic Manchester: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Manchester, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as Manchester Art Gallery, the National Football Museum and the Northern Quarter's record shops, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Manchester
Mackie Mayor
A former Smithfield meat market turned food hall in the Northern Quarter, with bars, coffee stalls and a rotating line-up of vendors covering everything from tacos to fried chicken under one restored Victorian roof. It's the kind of place to bring a group with wildly different food moods.
Northern Quarter Makers Market
Taking over Stevenson Square on the second Sunday of every month, this market mixes independent designers and upcyclers with food and drink stalls, doughnuts from Manchester Doughnut Co and biltong from Gavin's Biltong among the regulars. It's a relaxed, unhurried way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
Set on Church Street Market, this spot has built a cult following on cheese toasties made with sourdough and a secret three-cheese blend, with combinations like the Cuban Pete, pork, ham, swiss cheese, mustard and pickle. Not fancy, but exactly what you want after a night out.
Manchester Arndale
One of the UK's largest city-centre shopping centres, a short walk from the hotel and useful as much for its food court and central location as for the shopping itself. It's a reliable fallback if the weather turns.
The Manchester Egg
A local specialty worth tracking down: a pickled egg wrapped in seasoned sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Several Northern Quarter delis and pubs serve their own version, so it's worth comparing a couple.
Explore Manchester's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Manchester
We've mapped local spots in Manchester, from free art galleries to the home of football history.
Art, music & football
Manchester Art Gallery
More than 2,500 works in a 200-year-old building on the corner of Mosley Street and Princess Street. Free and open to all, with exhibitions that connect art to everyday life in the city.
City centre · Art gallery, free entry · Perfect for art lovers
National Football Museum
Home to the Football Heritage Collection: more than 40,000 objects and archives, with around 2,500 on display at any time, from vintage shirts to goal-scoring legends. In a city of two world-famous clubs, where else?
City centre · Museum · Made for football fans
Independent record shops
Manchester's music history lives on in independent record shops like Vinyl Exchange, Eastern Bloc and Piccadilly Records, many of them in the Northern Quarter. Start digging.
Northern Quarter · Record shops · Great for music lovers
New Manchester Walks with Ed Glinert
Author Ed Glinert, the city's most prolific guide, leads walking tours through Manchester's historic neighbourhoods and architecture. Some walks are free, others ask a small donation; check the meeting point when booking.
Various meeting points · Walking tours · Ideal for history
Shopping & design
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
In a former Northern Quarter market building, around 30 independent artists and designers under one roof: textiles, jewellery, ceramics, glass, prints and homeware. Take home something made here.
Northern Quarter · Craft and design studios · Perfect for local souvenirs
Trafford Centre
Manchester's big shopping destination: major brands, restaurants and leisure under one spectacular roof – including Laser Quest for a round of laser tag.
Trafford · Shopping centre · Great for shopping and family fun
Food & drink
DieCast
One of Manchester's biggest immersive food, drink and party spaces, on a former factory floor on Ducie Street.
Ducie Street · Food and events venue · Made for a night out
Gooey
Doughnuts, cookies, cakes and sandwiches, where creativity beats tradition every time.
Bakery-café · Perfect for sweet treats
Bundobust
Inventive Indian street food with craft beer, at two Manchester locations – including the St James Building, with its own brewery.
Piccadilly · Indian street food · Ideal for casual dining
FAQ
About a 10 to 15-minute walk, making it an easy add-on to an evening rather than a trip you need to plan around.
It operates daily with a changing roster of vendors, though exact opening hours and the specific traders on duty can shift, so it's worth checking ahead if you have a particular stall in mind.
Yes, Manchester Art Gallery is free and open to all. It holds more than 2,500 works in a 200-year-old building on Mosley Street.
The National Football Museum holds the world's largest public collection of football objects and archives, with around 2,500 items on display.
Head to the Manchester Craft and Design Centre in the Northern Quarter, where around 30 independent makers sell jewellery, ceramics, prints and homeware.
Where to Sleep in Manchester
These Mercure hotels appear on our map:
- Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel
- Mercure Manchester Norton Grange Hotel & Spa