4 Best Performing Arts Venues in Manchester, Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District

Huge investment culminated in the 2023 opening of the world-class Aviva Studios cultural center. The home of Factory International, the riverside complex hosts a constantly evolving program of arts, dance, theater, film, and multimedia events that has cemented Manchester's status as a leading cultural destination.

In the historic former Mayfield railway station, with a backdrop that showcases the city's industrial past, this vast venue has a lively roster of arts, music, industry, culture, and community events. Its atmospheric spaces include the old concourse and the rooftop, open-air platform, and the place is dotted with street food vendors.

Housed in the city's onetime cotton exchange, this innovative venue for classic and contemporary works includes a glass-and-metal structure cradling a theater-in-the-round, plus a studio space.