Beyond the 9-5: The Best Things to Do in Manchester this April

From runs and foodie events to art exhibitions, there’s plenty of ways to spend your days in England’s industrial city this April.

Naomi Chadderton

An experienced editor and journalist specialising in news and lifestyle.

Introducing Beyond the 9-5, our round-up of all the best things to do in Manchester each month. You Feta believe it! There is lots to see and do In April, including a cheese walking tour, or grab your friends for a morning run or see if you’ll meet the love of your life at an inclusive singles event.

1Enjoy an Easter Sunday Lunch That You Didn’t Have to Cook

Don’t fancy cooking an Easter dinner at home? We don’t blame you. Thankfully there are plenty of good options for eating out in Manchester this year, from traditional lamb roasts to more eclectic, contemporary options. Our top picks would be The Woodside in Worsley for roasts and toasts, The Old Hall in Altrincham for bigger groups and Miller & Carter in the city centre for one of the best steaks that Manchester has to offer. Hopefully that’s enough to get you started.

Sunday April 27

2Bag a Date at Single Mingle

We all know that dating can be a minefield, but thankfully Single Mingle is back this month, a social event tailored for singles in their 50s and 60s, offering an evening of music, dancing and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. The last five events have completely sold out while, if you’re nervous about coming alone, they open a WhatsApp group four weeks in advance, one for ladies, one for gents, so you can chat with other attendees beforehand and walk in feeling like you already know someone.

Saturday April 26 at Barça; from £22.73; last entry 9pm

3Cheer On Family and Friends at the Manchester Marathon

Or perhaps you’re running it yourself. Either way, the adidas Manchester Marathon is taking place this month, with a new route that will see runners complete the course at The University of Manchester on Oxford Road. In what is expected to be the largest edition of the run, 36,000 people will be lining up at the start line on Sunday 27th April and, if you’re not one of them, there will be plenty of places to take in the action from the sidelines – the race starts under the Trafford Arch before making its way through beloved Greater Manchester towns like Sale, Altrincham and Stretford.

Sunday 27th April

4Join Parkrun

If you fancy a more leisurely Saturday morning stroll, Parkrun is one of Manchester’s most popular running clubs, with the series of 5k routes held across some of the city’s most beautiful spaces. Some of our favourite include Pennington Flash in Wigan, Longford Park in Stretford, Heaton Park in central and Bramhall Park in Stockport, but there’s plenty more where that came from. The best bit? Parkrun is open to all, free, safe and easy to take part in. Check out findarace.com for your local.

Every Saturday morning

5.Take a Cheese Walking Tour

Forget the usual sightseeing tours - if you want a truly unique way to explore Manchester, why not do it through the magic of cheese? The Manchester Cheese Crawl lets you indulge in an array of delicious dairy delights while learning all about the cheese-making process - you’ll even have the chance to put your knowledge to the test in a fun cheese-themed quiz while discovering some of the city’s cheesiest hidden gems. Sounds like a pretty great day out to us.

Every Saturday and Sunday; feverup.com

Manchester cheese tour northern soul toastie

6Explore the Special 'In Light and Shade' J.M.W Turner Exhibition at the Whitworth

With this spring seeing the 250th birthday of Britain’s favourite painter (Joseph Mallord William Turner was born on 23 April 1775 among the rakes, beggars and other Georgian caricatures of London’s Covent Garden), Whitworth Art Gallery is putting on a must-see exhibition that combines prints culled from Turner’s studio with watercolours from its own collection. Less flamboyant than other recent shows, it reveals what a thoughtful, patient looker at the world Turner was through his works on paper, with engravings and watercolours taking centre stage. It’s truly inspirational.

Until 2 November 2025; free entry

J.M.W Turner exhibition at the Whitworth

7Treat Yourself to a Night at the Newly Opened Treehouse Hotel Manchester

After almost two years of delays, Treehouse Hotel Manchester opened its doors on the corner of Blackfriars Street and Deansgate last month, boasting 224 guest rooms, including nine suites and three accessible rooms, an expansive screening room, a state-of-the art gym plus plenty of F&B options including Pip by Mary-Ellen McTague, who hails from Bury. There are set to be plenty of great opening deals, with rooms starting at £199 per night, so why not make a weekend of it?

Exterior of Treehouse Hotel Manchester at night

8Take a Stroll Around RHS Garden Bridgewater

A relatively new addition to Worsley, RHS Garden Bridgewater is a breathtaking oasis that offers the perfect escape in nature. With a variety of gorgeous landscapes to wander through, its standout feature is the impressive 11-acre Weston Walled Garden, often considered the crown jewel of the site. Enjoy lush greenery, vibrant blooms, tranquil ponds and a serene lake, all changing beautifully with the seasons – it’s especially stunning in spring, when everything comes to life.