With the new year underway in earnest, now feels the perfect time to forgive the unfulfilled resolutions of 2025 and finally nurture a hobby, master a craft, foster our neglected passions and develop new skills with an open mind.
Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to all the adult learning courses and workshops you can get involved with around Manchester in January and beyond.
From learning a language and Indian cooking classes to painting workshops and the art of wine, there is an abundance of courses and one-off sessions to get stuck into across the region. Take a look through a few of our favourites below…
If becoming bilingual is on your list, head to Cactus where you can learn a variety of languages from any level of starting experience. In the ten-week courses, you will get 20 hours’ worth of lessons in small groups of five, led by qualified teachers – an ideal, hassle-free structured option for those with long-term learning goals or simply wish to prepare for a trip abroad.
Choose from twenty-five languages, whether it’s Russian, Cantonese, French, Arabic, Spanish, Hebrew, Hindi or others.
Fancy a foray into acting in the new year? The Performers’ playground has you covered with a 4-week course on gesture and movement as a pathway to creative freedom, led by renowned teacher Mark Winstanley (RADA, East 15).
Taking place on Zoom every Tuesday night in February, these playful and practical workshops will explore the language of subtle physicality and its boundless potential to uncover authenticity, spontaneity and connection in performance.
Find out more below.
Looking to expand your culinary repertoire in 2026? These bespoke Indian Home Cooking classes will guide you through the vibrant, storied cuisine from aromatic spices to mouthwatering curries. You’ll gain hands-on experience in preparing traditional dishes that capture the essence of Indian cooking. Led by experienced chef Farzana Ullah, guests can spend three or six hours learning the basics of eight or nine dishes, with all ingredients provided, at home or in the chef’s kitchen.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a complete novice, click below to see the full class breakdown – including large group and private event bookings – and keep an eye on their Eventbrite page for exclusive upcoming events.
Do you play an instrument and want to experience playing alongside other musicians? Whether you’re a guitarist, bassist, drummer, pianist or singer, this course provides an opportunity to come together and get a feel for playing as a band. Sessions are on a drop-in basis and you will be split up into groups based on age and skill level.
On weekdays, the school hosts a diverse selection of classes including Riot Women for over-55s, acoustic chill sessions and more.
Formed in 2014, the Northern Wine School has quickly established itself as the region’s pre-eminent scholastic institute for wines and spirits. From beginner courses to advanced programmes on grape-growing, the school offers a comprehensive trajectory for enthusiasts to become experts, while also offering accredited courses on spirits and sake (From £100).
See their full course and qualification list below.
Welcoming all levels from beginner to professional, Bee Creative hosts captivating life drawing classes – featuring models of all shapes and ethnicities – at various times throughout the week at Gorilla. With the promise to make life drawing a fun experience, Bee Creative invites guests to experiment with styles, techniques and form at any pace they wish.
The next life drawing class is on Wed 28 Jan, and will draw inspiration from the monumental, heroic figures of Michelangelo, while the upcoming Bee Creative schedule features portrait masterclasses, lessons in proportion and foundation watercolour sessions throughout February.
Alongside renowned classes on every cuisine and festive occasion imaginable, Food Sorcery’s Cooking Together programme offers beginners and seasoned cooks alike the chance to create menu favourites with mates and an expert chef, in an atmosphere which is ‘as much about chatting and relaxing as it is about learning and eating’. Featuring sessions on Korean, Japanese, Mexican, American, Sri Lankan, steak and more, as well as Parent and Teen classes, Food Sorcery is South Manchester’s gastronomic haven for every ability and appetite.
Classes sell out quickly, so check the calendar and secure your spot below.
Perfect for both complete novices and regular attendees, Merseyway Workshop’s 4-Week Throwing Course promises a welcoming yet comprehensive introduction to the potter’s wheel, with intimate and insightful tutelage from a group of experts in the cosy Stockport studio. At the end of the month-long class, participants can walk away with their own set of glazed mugs and bowls.
Book onto the February course below.
Operating out of Hope Mill, Creative Art Courses offer a two-day weekend course which caters to ‘absolute beginners’ in a comprehensive, welcoming step-by-step introduction to drawing and painting. Using different tools and styles, participants will learn to ‘banish their worries and confusion’ and discover their ability to create fine art with joy and confidence.
Click the link below to check out the full course structure and book your place.
On Tue 27 Jan, intimate Burton Road bar The Drawing Room hosts an experienced Literary Specialist for a fascinating, playful and all-embracing writing workshop featuring games, creative exercises and narrative world-building.
Join other fiction writers in a three-hour session spent developing your word craft with a glass of expertly selected wine.
No writing experience is required, and notepads and pens are provided.
If your New Year’s resolutions include a focus on wellbeing, movement and mental restoration, The Life Centre North at the Great Northern has the perfect entry point. Known for its city-leading yoga schedule across hot, vinyasa, yin and restorative styles, the centre is welcoming to all levels, from first-timers to those seeking to deepen their practice.
To help newcomers start their wellness journey without commitment, The Life Centre offers £5 taster sessions that can be used on any class of your choice. For those ready to dive in further, there’s also a 15-session pass for £45, valid for use within 30 days of purchase.
See the class schedule below.
Whether you’ve just got a home machine for Christmas or are simply intrigued by the craft behind great coffee, 200 Degrees’ Beginner Barista Course offers a hands-on way to learn key espresso-making skills. Over a three-hour session, instructors will guide you from the basics of coffee origins and flavour influences through practical skills like dialling in your grinder, steaming milk to the right texture and understanding the essentials of latte art.
This class is suitable for complete beginners, and each participant can expect small-group attention (maximum eight people), a free bag of beans to take home and access to exclusive discounts after the course.
- Words:
- Wire Editor
- Published on:
- Thu 22 Jan 2026
Alongside its world-class schedule of live, intimate gigs, Band on the Wall offers a wide range of workshops and groups for all ages and abilities, from yoga to choirs to early years sessions. Sign up for weekly choir classes, ten-week foundation jazz courses, over-50s golden voice clubs and morning newborn sessions.
Find out more below.