The crimson blanket of poppies that once flooded from the Tower of London has a permanent home at the Imperial War Museum North. They can be found cascading down the Air Shard as part of Remembrance events, serving as a striking symbol of the many lives lost in the First World War and encouraging onlookers to reflect on the true impact of the battle. Put on your poppies and visit the sculpture for free this Remembrance Day. 16. Get into the festive spirit at this magical Christmas-themed bar Credit: Miracle on Cross Street

Stunning beer garden hidden among reservoirs, ruins and woodland just outside of Greater Manchester This month, you’ll be able to hear the music of Ed Sheeran in a new way: performed by a string quartet at a Candlelight concert. On November 24, Manchester Cathedral will be transformed into an even more intimate venue, illuminated by hundreds of glowing candles, surrounding the live performers. You can expect to hear hits from the early days, like The A Team, all the way through to more recent songs, like Bad Habits. 7. Head out on an after-dark illuminated trail at Dunham Massey Credit: Dunham Massey Originating in Altrincham, popular pasta kitchen SUD, formerly Sugo Pasta Kitchen, serves a simple menu with some of the best, modern Italian dishes in the city. Their Strascinate is a real highlight, stuffed with incredibly tasty toppings such as Tuscan sausage, beef shin and nduja. The restaurant has a real Italian family feel, with huge portion sizes and heavy hands when it comes to the toppings, while tables are commonly shared with parties as well as your own. SUD, 46 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF | 22 Shaw’s Road, Altrincham, WA14 1QU | 7-8 Stanley Square, Sale, M33 7XZ. 10. Double Zero Credit: Double ZeroDrive from central Manchester: 50 minutes Two Michelin star restaurants Moor Hall, Aughton Credit: Moor Hall Expanding new concept Dokes Pizzeria – which has so far only been available at the Society food hall – the owners of Ancoats restaurant Elnecot introduced their ‘Anglo-Saxon’ pizzas to Prestwich last summer. You can expect nods to the Old English with their Beowulf pizza topped with pepperoni, ‘nduja, chilli, burrata and pesto; and Roll Right topped with smoked bacon, white onion, Rollright cheese, crème fraîche and new potato (trust us, it works). Dokes in Prestwich is the perfect all-day dining destination – not only serving proper stone-baked pizza topped with the finest British produce (think Welsh chorizo, cured pig’s cheek and English cheeses), but an array of brunch and lunch dishes, too. Expect pasta from Yorkshire, seasonal salads and more – all showcasing the best of British and changing with the seasons. Dokes, 449A Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 1AF. 16. The Spärrows Credit: The Sparrows On October 31, Bird & Blend Tea Co in Manchester will remain open after hours for any wizards and witches keen on learning the mastery of potion brewing whilst tea tasting. This is a special one-off Halloween Magic Potions Brewing Workshop that combines the worlds of tea mixology, science and Bird & Blend’s magic autumnal tea elixirs. Headlining this year’s Christmas festivities is a mesmerising festival of light, aptly named ‘Put Big Light On’, taking place across Bolton town centre from November 30 to December 21. Bolton will be transformed for six ‘magical’ winter evenings, where visitors can experience the mysterious Northern Lights over Victoria Square, see the moon up close at Bolton Library and Museum and immerse themselves into a world of colourful and interactive artwork across other key locations. 26. Dig through vinyls at this pop-up record store Credit: Supplied Situated in a former bank building in Didsbury, Hispi provides intimate dining, with each dish as beautifully presented as the next. The restaurant serves posh bistro dishes that are full of flavour, even offering up a sirloin of beef Sunday roast sharer. Think crispy pig’s head croquettes, pan-fried fish, and stuffed pork belly. there are a considerable amount of Sunday lunch choices, which can also be followed by an unreal crumble for the ultimate comfort food experience. Hispi, 1C School Ln, Didsbury, M20 6RD. 14. Colleen’s Credit: Colleen’s

The mighty Depot welcomes RUDIM3NTAL, who will be debuting a brand new show, plus an array of dance music stalwarts including DJ EZ, Hannah Wants, Paul Woolford, Jaguar, and Alex Mills. The unique 360° Concourse stage welcomes awe-inspiring talents with the likes of Sammy Virji, Girls Don’t Sync, La La, Rich Reason, and Ghoulish. Under the arches, the intimate Archive stage welcomes further UK talents including Hammer, Hayley Zalassi, Gina Breeze, as well as WHP residents Krysko and Joe Motion. While this one is also quite well known, it’s not located in the most obvious place and a lot of people miss it. The building in question on Thomas Street used to belong to a wealthy accountant during the Industrial Revolution and that’s why the pineapple is there. 7. Ancoats Peeps Mean-Eyed Cat has given the classic Old Fashioned a spooky makeover, featuring pumpkin spiced syrup, orange zest and pumpkin chocolate. Downstairs in a hidden Caribbean paradise, Tiki Hideaway is serving up a twist on the traditional Pina Colada, with winter spices and pumpkin purée to get you into the Halloween spirit. 28. Celebrate Halloween with your pooch at this spooky pawty at Freight Island Credit: Supplied Drive from central Manchester: 53 minutes Green Michelin star restaurants Where The Light Gets In Credit: Where The Light Gets In

9. The Ivy

If you embark on a walk through Manchester city centre anytime during Halloween week you’ll likely spy a giant inflatable monster or two. The menagerie of oddly-endearing creatures have been invading the city for the past five years and are set to do it once more. Hide-and-seek doesn’t seem to be their strong suit though, as these pop-up Halloween monsters are often spotted hunkering down behind Printworks or peering over Piccadilly Place. 5. Dare to enter a terrifying horror experience in an abandoned asylum near Manchester Credit: Newsham Scream Park Vimto was made with a combination of herbal products and fruit but still to this day, the recipe is secret.

So, this Manchester hidden gem is about this specific album and you can find it at New Islington Marina. Not to be confused with Eagle Bar in the village, the Eagle Inn on Collier Street, is a proper boozer with a great atmosphere, friendly smiles and a ton of booze. Owned by the same folk who run Gulliver’s and the Castle on Oldham Street, the Eagle has a wide range of live music on their books too. It’s proper in the middle of nowhere this one but once you’ve found it and you’re in – there’s not many reasons to leave. Newsham Park Hospital in Liverpool could easily be mistaken for an old hotel left to ruin – its windows boarded up, perimeters overgrown. This Halloween, the haunted building less than an hour’s drive from Manchester will host a spooktacular in the form of Newsham Scream Park, a series of blood-curdling spooky attractions to get you in the gruesome spirit. Each experience will wind through the dark bowels of the building, filled with deepening dread and moments of sheer blood-curdling panic, as guests follow each nightmarish path through Newsham Scream Park. 6. Watch a creepy cabaret performance at the King’s Arms Credit: Supplied

It occupied the entire Grade II*-listed building when it opened in 1806 and now takes up the first floor, accessed via a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it doorway with buzzer entry on Charlotte Street.

Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre, 121 Radcliffe Road, Bolton, BL2 1NU. 10. Tour the filming locations used in the town centre Credit: Invest in Bolton They were so rare that only rich people could afford them and therefore, putting a pineapple on your house or office was a sign of wealth. With January bringing bitterly cold temperatures, comfort food is definitely on the cards this month. One of Manchester’s top spots for comforting pub grub is The Bay Horse Tavern, where this January the Northern Quarter eatery will be offering 50% off your food bill, Monday to Friday. The Bay Horse Tavern, 35-37 Thomas St, M4 1NA. 7. Cane & Grain Credit: Cane & Grain The all-new VR karting attraction in Manchester, Chaos Karts, will be welcoming all the ghouls and boys for an exhilarating spine-tingling experience this Halloween for a thriller-ing night out. Gather the squad and prepare for a hair-raising race through the dark and immersive realm of augmented reality. With each race varying in design, complete with pumping music, fully interactive karts, and usable power-ups, players can battle right up to the finish line at this unique state-of-the-art experience. 24. Brew your own magical potions at this masterclass at Bird & Blend Tea Credit: Supplied/Bird & Blend Tea Right in the middle, you can find the boating lake of Heaton Park and this is such a great spot in summer.Attention all art aficionados, painting pundits and sculpture savants. Manchester Art Fair is returning to Manchester Central between November 17 and 19, and will be the biggest to date, increasing its footprint by 35% on 2022 and with even more new artists and galleries to discover. Since its launch in 2008, Manchester Art Fair has quietly become one of the UK’s largest and most significant art fairs with its aim of making viewing and buying quality art accessible and enjoyable. 18. Party the night away at this year’s Homobloc at Depot Mayfield Credit: Rob Jones