/THE BEST OF MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER is a diverse and vibrant city that draws millions of visitors every single year thanks to its jampacked roster of attractions. With scores of amazing museums, galleries, landmarks and cultural hotspots, there is so much to see while in the city.

But there’s also so much to do, too, with a growing number of hands-on and immersive experiences that both visitors and locals can get involved in.

From learning new skills to taking part in an energetic group game, there’s loads on offer that’s not only in the heart of the city, but also a great sociable adventure too.

So, whether you’re a native or a tourist, a solo traveller or part of a group, take a look at some of the great things you can physically do while in Manchester.

Escape into a Virtual Reality experience

In the heart of the city lies Virtual Hideout, a virtual reality gaming centre that offers room-scale VR with over 100 different games and experiences.

The hosts will tailor the sessions to each group and cater for both lone adventurers and teams of up to four.

Genres include horror games, shoot ‘em ups, Sci-Fi, escape rooms and a number of family orientated VR experiences.

Each one-hour booking includes a game host and all the equipment you need - including a headset.

For more information and to book visit virtualhideoutmanchester.com

Try your hand at urban axe throwing

If you’re wandering what exactly makes this axe throwing session ‘urban’, they’ve basically taken the activity out of the woodland and into the city.

It’s hosted in a vibrant venue by experts - and even has a decent soundtrack in the background.

Each session starts with a briefing and demonstration before guests get to have their own turn, with an instructor on hand to get you going slinging your own axe.

After a bit of practice it’s tournament time and each lane has a tournament with players competing against each other to be crowned axe-throwing champion.

Each session is 70 minutes long and each lane can accommodate 10 players. You can even wear fancy dress if you like.

For more information and to book visit whistlepunks.com

Make your own piece of jewellery Design and create your very own bespoke jewellery piece in this crafty session in the contemporary Whitworth Locke hotel.

The workshop is led by CAST, an award-winning jewellery making duo, and provides everything you need to create your own jewellery pieces from scratch - no previous experience required.

Guests will also receive a bottle of house Prosecco (per couple), or a non-alcoholic option from the Whitworth Locke bar.

For more information and to book visit experiencecast.com/categories/ tickets/manchester

Make a Manchester Bee mosaic

A tour and creative experience rolled into one, where participants can make their own version of a Manchester worker bee mosaic.

Meet at Manchester Art Gallery to spot a number of the iconic bees while learning about the significance of the Manchester bees, the Industrial Revolution and Cottonopolis - the former nickname of the city.

The experience will then lead through Manchester taking in some of the city’s famous architecture and landmarks - perfect for those wanting to take photos. The tour will end at Foundation Coffee House in the Northern Quarter where the workshop will take place.

Each participant will receive a bag containing all the materials needed to make their own hexagon bee mosaic.

Full instructions and tips on how to create a mosaic will be provided by artist Amanda, along with drinks.

For more information and to book visit airbnb.co.uk/experiences/258312

Learn how to make Chinese Dumplings

Head to Salford and learn how to make authentic Chinese dumplings.

The class includes all of the ingredients, materials, equipment and instruction you need to create this delicious delicacy.

The class takes place in an open kitchen on the waterfront at Salford Quays, and soft drinks are provided during the two-hour session.

A full recipe sheet is also included to take away so guests can have a go at making the dumplings at home.

For more information and to book visit airbnb.co.uk/ experiences/1207335

Solve a murder mystery

Murder Inc is a completely improvised murder mystery show which the audience helps to solve. Each of the shows are set in a different location every month using suggestions from audience members.

Each two-to-three hour live-action experience is described as a ‘lethally funny’ experience, guests are invited to arrive hungry, as there’s always pizza at half time.

For more information and to book visit murderincimprov. com

Learn how to make latte art Organisers of this class say the workshop will take guests from never touching an espresso machine to being comfortable making an espresso shot and steaming barista quality milk in just a few short hours.

The session covers how to grind your espresso, how to tamp an espresso into the portafilter using the correct