Curated · updated weekly
What's on
The markets, craft events, exhibitions and small, lovely things worth your time — hand-picked, never the tourist-trap stuff. If it's here, we'd go ourselves.
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This month in the North West
ExhibitionUntil 17 Oct · Liverpool
Vivienne Westwood: Designer in Focus
Rare pieces from Vivienne Westwood's five-decade career, including her early work with Malcolm McLaren, free to see at the Walker.
Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8ELFree admission
ExhibitionUntil 15 Nov · Manchester
Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige
The Whitworth's first Japanese print exhibition in over a century, built around Hokusai's Great Wave — free entry.
The Whitworth, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ERFree
ExhibitionUntil 18 Oct · Manchester
Michaela Yearwood-Dan: The Practice of Liberation
A major free UK debut installation of painting, ceramics and sound at Manchester's much-loved university gallery.
Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ERFree entry
Exhibition👋 Meet peopleUntil 3 Oct · Manchester
ADORN: Sculptural Jewellery / Wearable Art
A free jewellery exhibition of 12 contemporary makers working in metal and glass, staged for Manchester's first-ever Jewellery Week.
Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester M33 7ZFFree
Outdoors👋 Meet peopleMon 14 – Sun 20 Sept · Cumbria
Sedbergh Walking & Wellbeing Festival
A week of guided fell walks, sunrise starts and wellbeing sessions in England's official Book Town, on the Lakes/Dales border.
Sedbergh, Cumbria, centred around The Black Bull, Main Street, Sedbergh LA10 5BLFree walks; ticketed wellbeing sessions
ExhibitionUntil 14 Feb · Liverpool
Rae-Yen Song at FACT Liverpool
A free, immersive exhibition of new sculpture, textiles and sound inspired by diasporic mythology and family lore, opening at FACT Liverpool.
FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L1 4DQFree entry
Food & drink👋 Meet peopleFri 18 – Sun 20 Sept · Manchester
Wing Fest Manchester
Three days of 100,000 chicken wings, live music and DJs inside Manchester's Edwardian Victoria Baths.
Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 0FEFrom £21.45
Food & drinkThu 24 Sept · Manchester
Cheese and Wine Evening at Reserve Wines, Didsbury
A relaxed tasting of three matched wines and three artisan cheeses from Chorlton Cheesemongers, opening with a glass of Crémant.
Reserve Wines, 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 1LH£50
Food & drink👋 Meet peopleFri 25 – Sun 27 Sept · Cumbria
AmbleFest
Ambleside's craft beer and live music weekend turns five — three venues, local breweries and street food in the heart of the Lake District.
The Flying Fleece, Rydal Road, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9ANFrom £8 (2025 early-bird price) — see amblefest.co.uk for confirmed 2026 tickets
MarketFri 25 Sept · Cumbria
Kendal Farmers' Market
Cumbria's award-winning farmers' market — produce picked that morning, artisan cheeses and fresh bread, an easy stop before or after a fell walk.
Market Place, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4TNFree entry
Craft & making👋 Meet peopleSat 26 – Sun 27 Sept · Middlewich
Raku Experience at Cheshire Clay Studios
A hands-on afternoon glazing and firing your own pot in an outdoor raku kiln — drama, colour and fire included.
Cheshire Clay Studios, Lowe's Farm, Moss Lane, Middlewich CW10 9NG£90 per person, pot and materials included
Craft & making👋 Meet peopleSat 26 Sept · Liverpool
Introduction to Woodcut Printing
A one-day printmaking workshop in Bluecoat's print studio, from design transfer through to a finished small edition of prints.
Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX£75 (materials included)
Outdoors👋 Meet peopleSun 27 Sept · Liverpool
Paws Along the Prom
A 3km dog walk along Liverpool's waterfront from Pier Head, raising funds for disability charity Options Empowers.
Starting at Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, MerseysideFree to take part (donations welcome)
Music👋 Meet peopleWed 7 Oct · Manchester
Sober Sunrise Silent Disco at Manchester Cathedral
Dance through decade-spanning hits on wireless headphones as dawn light floods Manchester Cathedral — no alcohol required.
Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1SXTicketed — see event page for current price
Music👋 Meet peopleThu 8 – Sun 11 Oct · Lancaster
Lancaster Music Festival
A grassroots, almost entirely free music takeover of an entire city — four days of gigs in pubs, churches, cafés and squares.
Citywide, over 50 venues across Lancaster city centre LA1Free (almost all shows; some ticketed extras)
Culture👋 Meet peopleUntil 25 Oct · Manchester
Manchester Literature Festival
Two and a half weeks of major authors and new voices across Manchester's venues, opening with Maggie O'Farrell.
Various venues, opening event at Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RDFrom around £22 per event (varies by event)
Market👋 Meet peopleSat 10 Oct · Preston
Preston Makers Market
Around 75 independent makers fill Preston's historic Flag Market for the day — handmade crafts, artwork, homeware and street food, free to browse.
Flag Market, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2NRFree entry
FamilySun 11 Oct · Liverpool
Planetarium: Relaxed Session
A sensory-adapted planetarium show at World Museum Liverpool — lights kept low but on, sound turned down, and freedom to move or step out any time.
World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8ENFree museum entry; small planetarium charge (around £3-4pp)
MusicThu 15 Oct · Manchester
Candlelight: Queen and ABBA
A string quartet performs Queen and ABBA's biggest hits by candlelight inside Manchester Cathedral's soaring Gothic nave.
Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1SXFrom £21
Craft & making👋 Meet peopleThu 15 – Sun 18 Oct · Manchester
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
200+ UK designer-makers show and sell ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glass and furniture inside Manchester's historic Victoria Baths.
Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FEFrom around £8 in advance (2025 pricing) — check greatnorthernevents.co.uk for confirmed 2026 tickets
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