• Weekend in Manchester from £62 •
• Upgrade to 4* from £72 •
• Flights plus 2 nights accommodation from £97 •

Manchester

There are some cities in the world that seem to capture the imagination of the traveller: Barcelona, Rio, New York and our very own Manchester - there's nowt as queer as folk!

Manchester is home to one of the most vibrant gay scenes in Europe and the gay village can be found primarily around Canal Street, right in the heart of the city. Also, make sure you wander over to the Christmas markets outside the Town Hall and pick up a nice fat, juicy sausage!

Clubbing
Seeing as the whole clubbing scene was born in Manchester, with the infamous Hacienda in the early 90s, the city is buzzing when it comes to live music venues and clubbing. There’s too many good clubs to mention, but some of the better brands include Essential in the Gay Village and Sankey’s in the Northern Quarter – or if you fancy a bit campness, check out The Birdcage in the Printworks

Theatre
If theatre is more your thing, Dirty Dancing is on right now, for only 7 weeks at the Palace Theatre – so grab your tickets as soon as you can. www.manchestertheatres.com

Shopping
If shopping is your thing we recommend a trip to Selfridges or the gorgeous Harvey Nicks!

HERE'S THE GAYDARRADIO WHAT'S ON LIST, IN ASSOCIATION WITH EBOOKERS.COM.

The Great British Bear Bash, May 2012
Every year over the first May bank holiday weekend Manbears, Cubs, Chasers and Daddies gather together for a weekend of fun and frolics. The Great British Bear Bash has been taking place since 1998 and the weekend includes a wealth of events and activities. Each Great British Bear Bash has a theme where fancy dress costumes are encouraged. www.manbears.co.uk

Pride Games, June 2012 
An annual week long LGBT multi-sports and leisure festival hosted by a number of venues across Greater Manchester. The Games are all about the taking part, with something to suit most tastes. Aiming to challenge stereotype, the Games provide varied opportunities for participation. Those taking part can choose from athletics, mountain biking, squash, five-a-side football, 5km and 10km runs, ballroom and Latin dance master classes. www.pridegames.org

Sparkle, 13-15 July 2012
A celebration of transgender lifestyles, Sparkle is the largest event of its kind in the UK. This will be the eighth year that the two day festival has taken place. It offers an opportunity to make new friends, celebrate and get support and information about gender issues. Sparkle is also a weekend packed full of entertainment, with the majority of activity and events taking place in Sackville Gardens, located within Manchester’s gay village. www.sparkle.org.uk

Manchester Pride, 17-27 August 2012
Manchester Pride is Manchester's annual LGBT festival and is one of the largest events of its type in the UK. The festival peaks during the August Bank Holiday when a variety of acts perform at Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend. However, the event also delivers ten days of art, films, exhibitions, community get-togethers and the ever popular Pride Parade, which winds its way through the city’s main streets. www.manchesterpride.com

World AIDS Day, 1 December 2012
Over 90,000 people are living with HIV in the UK and new infections continue every year. World Aids Day aims to raise awareness to tackle HIV prejudice and help stop the spread of HIV.  Every year, Manchester participates with a number of fundraising initiatives and candlelit vigils. There is also an annual commemorative vigil at The Beacon of Hope HIV memorial in Sackville Gardens (the only HIV memorial in the UK). www.worldaidsday.org

Manchester is definitely one of the coolest destinations in Gay UK and whether it’s 40 minutes away on the bus or you'll need to travel across the globe make sure you book yourself a couple of nights to explore the land of the Mancunians! Our friends at ebookers.com have got some very exclusive offers available right now.

Check the search box and see what deals you can pick up from ebookers.com.

EXCLUSIVE EBOOKERS OFFERS

• Weekend in Manchester from £62, Click here.

• Or, how about upgrading to 4*?  Click here for travel deals from an amazingly low £72!

• If you're a bit further away, then take advantage of flights plus 2 nights accommodation from £97. Click here for more details.

For more information on Manchester, take a peek at www.visitmanchester.com.