10 things you’ve got to do in Manchester before graduation

You’ve survived three years of lectures, scraped through exams and possibly even attended your 9ams. But before you bid farewell to sunny Manchester, there are a few things you might want to add to your bucket list, and here is our list.

From going on day trips to iconic areas to must-do activities in the city centre, there’s plenty to do. So grab a pint (or 12) and read our comprehensive guide to the things to do before leaving Manchester for good. 

1. Go for a day out in Withington

Exploring Withington is a quintessential part of the Manchester student experience. It is such a great area for having a day out, with seven charity shops, eight pubs/bars and some great shops including Mockingbirds and Beg, Steal & Borrow. If you’re a charity shop fiend and want the day to continue, continue the delights by getting the 143 to Didsbury where there are a further eight charity shops to spend a few more hours in.

Withington used to be home to staple bar Café Blah, a fantastic little coffee shop on the corner of Davenport Avenue but was forced to close after the landlord allegedly changed the locks without reasonable notice. You can read more about the bar’s closure here, but here’s to hoping we will see its return elsewhere before the momentous day of graduation.

2. Try out volunteering

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Volunteering is a great way to spend your spare time, by helping make a difference to your community. Whether it’s short-term or long-term, there are tons of opportunities in your local student volunteering hubs. Opportunities are posted weekly and can include food bank sorting and packing, writing letters to lonely adults, helping make arts and crafts with vulnerable adults and litter picking at a park.

Volunteering looks great on your CV and can contribute towards achieving the Stellify Award for UoM students, in addition to 2x Blackboard challenges and 2x Step up and Lead roles. 

UoM students see here.

MMU students see here.

Salford students see here.

3. Feed the squirrels in Whitworth Park

Whether you walk to uni or get the bus, you may have looked to your left and glanced over Whitworth Park. It is absolutely chock-a-block full of squirrels, which are delightful to watch when you’re already late to your lecture.

Arm yourself with a bag of peanuts or walnuts from Lidl, and prepare yourself for befriending a small army of squirrels. Just don’t be surprised if you begin being commandeered around uni by a squirrel on your head. Ratatouille who?

4. Return (or introduce yourself) to 256

256 is a staple of Fallowfield culture, and no visit to the area is complete without calling in. It might have been a while since you last visited, or perhaps you’ve never had the chance to step into this gem as student life can be busy. Maybe you’ve moved away from Fallowfield and are longing to return to a regular haunt. But can any patron resist the allure of deals like two pints for a fiver and cocktails from £3?

Whatever your explanation, 256 is a must-visit before you leave forever and long for the comforts of thirsty Thursday. Read here for our guide to Fallowfield’s ultimate pub crawl. 

Other honourable mentions of recommended bars: Big Hands, Fuel, and Haus.

5. Visit the Manchester Museum (and the Vivarium)

Established in 1867, Manchester Museum is home to over 4,500,000 exhibits. It’s free to enter and you can easily spend an afternoon there. The museum is also home to a vivarium, where there is a collection of live reptiles and amphibians. It is the only place outside Panama where you can see the critically endangered harlequin toad!

Plus, the museum is home to Stan, one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils discovered to date. The museum is a must-visit either after a long day in the library or simply because you fancy learning more about their collections.

6. Join a society if you haven’t already and go to a ball

Joining a society is a rite of university passage, but so is attending a ball. An excuse to dress up, attend a lovely venue, eat a three-course meal and dance to your heart’s content is a must before leaving university. Plus it’s a great way to celebrate the post-exam season. Whether it’s with an academic society or an interests-based society, it’s obligatory before graduation day arrives. 

7. Go walking in the Peak District

One of the benefits of living in Manchester is its proximity to the Peak District where there are tonnes of amazing walks. Edale, Hayfield and Hathersage are just some of the great places with fantastic walks and varying routes and lengths to accommodate your needs. Most are accessible via train, or if you’re lucky enough to have a housemate with a car, in driving distance.

Don’t fancy walking? There are lots of lovely places in proximity to Manchester that are great for a day out. Read our article here for the best day trips within an hour of Manchester. 

8. Embark on the Didsbury Dozen

Got a free day to drink twelve pints? Look no further than one of Manchester’s most famous pub crawls: The Didsbury Dozen. Starting at the Didsbury and finishing at The Railway, this pub crawl is a must-complete before graduation, much like the infamous Otley Run. Start early, and dress-up is compulsory. Risk of injury, caution advised. See our top tips for the crawl here.

9. Go for a meal on the Curry Mile

via Instagram @carinabeeating

Thought to be the longest strip of Asian restaurants in the UK, the Curry Mile is an iconic area of Manchester. Originally developed in the 50s and 60s to serve South Asian migrants working in the surrounding textile industry, the area now feeds families, students and tourists all year long. From kebabs to curries to grilled chicken, the Curry Mile is a food haven and deserves a visit. 

10. Attend a whip-round at the Deaf Institute

Just off Oxford Road, the Deaf Institute is a renowned venue that dates back to 1878 when it served as a sanctuary for deaf and mute people. After decades of inactivity, the landmark building now resides as a bar and club and remains one of Manchester’s most consistent night-outs since 2008.

The bar is most well-known for its three floors of alternating music genres, ranging from indie to post-punk, rock, new wave, and pop classics. If you’re not a fan of the song on the floor you’re on, you can simply move up or down. The institute is a must-visit before you leave, with the iconic “Whip Round” night happening on Thursday each week.