Outside of London, Manchester is becoming one of the biggest centres for employment in the UK. With more and more people flocking to Manchester to pursue a career, the city now has one of the fastest-growing job rates in the country. 

With more people working, comes more people stressing. Gone are the days of the straight forward 9-5. Instead, our time outside of work is now mainly occupied by our ever-evolving phones constantly bombarding our brains with text, email and calls. Also, that’s not to mention the continuous overbearing pressure that all of our social media addictions bring. 

If you happen to be one of the thousands of people in Manchester feeling depleted, bewildered, and stressed, make sure you remember to take some time to relax. Here are some of our suggestions on the best places to unwind outside of work in Manchester. 

• Take in some creativity in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
• Lose yourself in one of the cities many green spaces
• Channel your inner feline by hanging out with some cats
• Go see a concert
• Visit the Victoria Baths 
• Take a trip to The Lowry
• Make the most of the Manchester Museum
• Absorb some knowledge in the Manchester Central Library
• Grab a bite to eat in Ancoats

Take in some creativity in Manchester’s Northern Quarter 

Often referred to as Manchester’s most ‘happening’ area, the Northern Quarter is jam-packed with premier art galleries like the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Art Gallery. 

Even if you are not an art enthusiast, the tranquil environment of art galleries makes them the perfect go-to places for some well-earned downtime. Take advantage of one of the many trendy cafes, bars, eateries or art galleries in the Northern Quarter. Above all, be sure to take your time and connect with everything that is in front of you. Don’t forget to take time to reflect with everything going on with yourself as well. 

Lose yourself in one of the cities green spaces

Manchester is not exactly renowned for its luscious green spaces, but some of the city’s parks are real gems. One of these gems is Heaton Park. Located on the Northern edge of the city, it is the biggest park in the city and the largest municipal park in Europe. To say you can feel its size when walking around is an understatement. 

When strolling through the broad green fields, expect to find a boating lake, golf course, tram museum, animal sanctuary, and a Grade I listed country house that dates back to the 18th century. This spot is the perfect escape from the stresses of city life. In addition, the park also host’s several concerts each year, as well as Manchester’s famous Parklife Festival. 

Channel your inner feline by hanging out with some cats

Yes, you read that right. No, don’t go out and hang around with the city’s array of random cats. What we are suggesting is much less sinister. It’s called Cat Cafe. 

This magical cafe allows customers to spend one on one time with their extensive clowder of cats. For just £12 an hour, you get unlimited hot and cold drinks, as well as the pleasure of spending time with the adorable, sleepy cats who call this cafe home. The geniuses behind this idea are passionate about Assisted Animal Therapy and its benefits on humans. So pop in, stroke a cat, and let your brain forget about all the stresses of your working week. One warning though, you may never want to leave.

Go see a concert 

There is live music to be seen every single night of the week in Manchester. Venues like the Albert Hall, Manchester Arena, O2 Ritz, Manchester Academy, and Yes Manchester mean you are always spoilt for options. It doesn’t matter if it’s country music or rap that you are into, Manchester has something for everyone.

Manchester is ripe with musical history, from Oasis and the Stone Roses to the famous House scene of the ’90s. This history lives on today in the form of new bands popping up all the time and the street art showcasing the cities famous artists of the past.

Visit the Victoria Baths 

Located in the Chorlton-on-Medlock area of Manchester, the Victoria Baths were opened to the public in 1906. The building is a Grade II listed building. Manchester’s first City Architect Henry Prince designed the building. Prince spared no expense on the design and construction at the time. The structure has multicoloured brickwork and terracotta decoration. The interior boasts glazed tiles and decorative stained glass windows. 

Meanwhile, the building remains remarkably intact with most of the original tiles and stained glass still remaining. The baths are now open from March to November each year for guided tours, public open days and special events. This is a great spot to appreciate architecture, take in some history and forget about the little things that have been bothering you at work.

Take a trip to The Lowry

Once the location for a bustling dockland area, before becoming just another abandoned quay, The Lowry has had its fair share of ups and downs. Today, The Lowry makes for the ideal waterside leisure destination. Located just 10 minutes from the city centre. The Lowry sits nestled between the Imperial War Museum and Old Trafford Stadium.

The area is a hub for renowned theatre productions, ranging from West End classics to productions from across the world. As well as being a place for lovers of theatre, there’s also a cinema, shopping centre, loads of great restaurants and plenty of places to relax after work. Whether you are a sports fan, shopping addict or just lover of all things cultural, The Lowry has something for everyone trying to escape the perils of work.

Make the most of the Manchester Museum

The Manchester Museum boasts a vast array of treasures from both the natural and the cultural world. And with 4 floors of displays and exhibitions in 15 galleries, featuring collections from the world over, rest assured you can get lost in the Manchester Museum for hours on end.

What better way is there unwind after work than to visit a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Stan or taking in some works of art in the Museums Manchester gallery? The museum has a host of permanent exhibits, as well as new special events popping up all the time. There is also a cafe right next door, perfect for when you have had a long day of absorbing history. Enjoy a cup of tea, reflect on what you’ve seen, and most importantly, take your mind off of work.

Absorb some knowledge in the Manchester Central Library

Looking for a quiet place to unwind after a day of meetings, telephone calls and emails? Look no further than Manchester Central Library. Like The Victoria Baths, the library is a Grade II listed building. The iconic venue was first opened in 1934. The year 2010 saw the building receive a £50m refurbishment, taking four years and bringing the building into the 21st century.

The library now combines historic features with cutting-edge modern design. Have a walk around the library and take a look at previously hidden heritage spaces and the grand Wolfson Reading Room. They also have a cafe on-site, so find a book, grab a coffee and let all that unwanted stress disappear.

Grab a bite to eat in Ancoats

Ancoats is located right beside the Northern Quarter, which featured earlier on this list. This, like its neighbouring suburb, is a hip area known for its flourishing food and drink scene. Once a gritty textile district of the city, Ancoats has now become one of the top spots for nightlife in Manchester.

With a wide range of cuisines available from Scandinavian eateries, Japanese tea-houses to Mexican tequila joints – there is something to tickle all taste buds in Ancoats. Alongside all this wonderful food is numerous craft breweries and speakeasy-style bars, for those who are more thirsty than hungry. Ancoats is the perfect place to let off some steam after work, with something for everyone, we challenge you not to have a good time in this quirky neighbourhood.

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