Manchester is a football city, so it’s no surprise the atmosphere in the city reached fever pitch last night. If you’re looking for something to fill the void left by weeks of football build-up, here’s our weekly selection of free things to do in Manchester featuring events from Rochdale’s Touchstones Museum, Manchester Hip Hop Archive and much more…

The Big Dig: Tour of Touchstones' Arts & Heritage Resource Centre | Tue 13 Jul | Multiple dates

Here’s your chance to explore Rochdale’s fantastic archive collections. In conjunction with Rochdale Town Hall’s The Big Dig – the once-in-a-lifetime archaeological dig along the historic Packer Street in Rochdale – YourTrust are holding a series of guided tours around the site, where the borough’s wonderful collections are stored – there’s the opportunity to learn about how the artefacts are conserved too.

The Stockport Collection book launch | Rare Mags | Fri 16 Jul | 6pm – 8pm

Stockport’s Rare Mags return with their first live in-person event, on an event very close to their heart. After some fantastic national press featuring photos of Stockport’s changing market life, photographer Heidi Alexander launches her book The Stockport Collection. Come and see another side to Stockport!

5 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Seyed Ali Jaberi and the Hamdel Ensemble | Manchester Central Library | Sat 17 Jul | 2pm – 4:30pm

This sounds like a fantastic one – as part of the Libraries of Sanctuary showcase, internationally acclaimed musician Seyed Ali Jaberi and his band invite you to get closer to the poetry of Rumi and the Sufi music of Persia.

Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD
Top Secret espionage exhibition | Science and Industry Museum | Ongoing

Top Secret explores a century of communications intelligence in the UK, from Bletchley Park and Enigma, to Soviet spy rings and Turing. Head over to Castlefield to try your hand at their interactive code-cracking zone, and hear insights from staff at Government Communications Headquarters about their work defending the UK against cyber crime. Head here to find out more about Top Secret at the Science and Industry Museum.

Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4FP
Manchester Hip Hop Archive Exhibition | Manchester Central Library | Ongoing

Ever wanted to know where Bugzy Malone and Children of Zeus came from? Here’s your essential guide to all things hip-hop in Manchester, that takes in the art form’s journey from economic depression in the 1980s to the present day. It’s a must-see collection of dance, rapping and DJ-ing – learn more by following the link below.

St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD
Mon 12 Jul - Mon 19 Jul
Words:
Hugh Morris
Published on:
Mon 12 Jul 2021