With the summer holidays to fill, Manchester city and surrounding areas are packed with family-friendly festivals, splash pads, farm days out, National Trust trails and free activities for all ages.
This is one of the best times to get outdoors and explore Manchester with kids. Whether you’re planning a full day out or just looking for easy ways to keep the kids entertained for a few hours, this guide covers the best things to do in Manchester during the summer holidays 2026 with a mix of outdoor adventures, water play and budget-friendly ideas you won’t want to miss!
Get the sun cream ready and let’s make the most of the summer holidays!
And don’t worry, there are also plenty of indoor activities in Manchester in this post in case the British weather doesn’t play ball!
🎉 Special Summer Events & Festivals
Let’s start with the one-off events happening in Manchester this summer, perfect for making the most of the school holidays.
1. Manchester Day 2026
📍 Manchester City Centre – 🗓️ Sunday 26th July
Manchester’s biggest day of the year is back, and for 2026 it’s moving to a Sunday for the first time and getting a Catalan twist, with performers from Barcelona joining the festivities. Families can enjoy a colourful parade, street shows, live music and have-a-go activities throughout the city centre, completely free.
The Mini Manchester Day Parade has a bookish theme this year, tying into the national celebration of reading, so it’s a great one for little ones as well as those who just want to watch the floats and costumes go by.
2. Summer Fair at Trafford Centre
📍 Trafford Centre – 🗓️ 18th July to 30th August 12pm–8pm
Trafford Centre’s much-loved summer fair returns with its giant beach, huge splash park and over twenty fairground rides, right outside The Great Hall. Kids can build sandcastles on the beach, cool off under the water jets, and take on rides from gentle teacups to the Star Flyer and Zero Gravity for braver older kids.
Entry costs £2.50 per person in advance (£3.50 on the door), with ride tokens sold separately at £1 each, making it one of the more budget-friendly big days out in Manchester this summer, especially if you bring a picnic and just pay for a handful of rides.
3. Reddish Vale Farm Fest
📍 Stockport – 🗓️ 1st to 31st August
Families looking for a proper full day out near Manchester this summer should head to Reddish Vale Farm for Farm Fest. Alongside the usual animal encounters, tractor rides and adventure play, the festival adds fairground rides, dinosaur encounters, circus workshop, glitter face painting and a 3:30pm foam party daily.
There’s also a beach area with deckchairs and sand toys, so us parents can actually sit down for five minutes while the kids burn off energy. It’s one of the best value big days out for families with younger and older kids alike.
4. In the Night Garden Live at The Lowry
📍 The Lowry, Salford Quays – 🗓️ 5th – 9th August 2026
If you have toddlers or preschoolers, Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka are coming to The Lowry from 5th to 9th August as part of the In the Night Garden Live 2026 UK tour, in a brand-new show called Igglepiggle’s Busy Day. Expect familiar songs, gentle storytelling and a magical, sensory-friendly staging that’s perfect for very young theatre-goers.
This is a strong contender for a rainy-day family treat and if you’ve missed these dates or don’t fancy this show, be sure to check out what else they have on in The Lowry this summer!
🌳 National Trust Trails & Outdoor Days Out
Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors, and the National Trust properties around Manchester always go all-out for the school holidays.
If you aren’t a National Trust member already, I do suggest getting a family membership because once you’ve been 3-4 times in a year, all other visits after that are basically free!
5. Dunham Massey Summer of Play
📍 Altrincham – 🗓️ 10th July to 6th September
Dunham Massey’s Summer of Play programme runs across the entire six-week holiday and this summer, the main theme is Pokémon! Discover Pokémon zones and collect stickers but also enjoy the picnics in the garden, storytelling and craft activities. It’s one of our favourite places to go as a family, with plenty of flat, pram-friendly paths, deer to spot, and space to just let the kids run around.
Standard National Trust admission applies (free for members), but the Summer of Play activities themselves are included, making it a great full day out in Manchester this summer for all ages.
6. Tatton Park Winnie-the-Pooh Trail
📍 Knutsford – 🗓️ 18th July to 6th September
Younger children can follow Winnie-the-Pooh and friends around Tatton Park’s gardens this summer on a trail running the length of the school holidays to celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Combine the trail with a visit to the farm and mansion for a full day out near Manchester, and check ahead for Tatton’s usual programme of ticketed workshops (history, nature and craft sessions for different age groups run throughout the holidays most years).
7. Quarry Bank Pokémon Trail
📍 Styal, Wilmslow – 🗓️ 7th July to 6th September
The National Trust’s in Manchester are all about Pokémon this summer! Quarry Bank’s gardens are hosting a Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution trail running right through the summer, with free trail sheets available on the day and no need to book. Kids search the grounds for hidden Mega Evolution characters as they explore the woodland and mill grounds.
If the weather turns, the top floor play area inside the Mill usually stays open during the school holidays with craft activities, a reading den and soft play, so it’s a good weather-proof backup plan too.
8. RHS Garden Brick Explorers
📍 Salford – 🗓️ 18th July to 31st August
RHS Garden Bridgewater runs family activities across the summer holiday but their man event this year is Brick Explorers, a fun-filled family adventure celebrating the amazing biodiversity found in the gardens. Discover wildlife superhero sculptures made from hundreds of thousands of bricks, pick up an activity booklet packed with fun facts and challenges, follow the wildlife superhero trail and get creative at the interactive brick building station, all included with standard garden admission (free for RHS members, and under-5s go free).
The gardens themselves are also just a lovely, spacious place for kids to run around, with a Wind in the Willows-inspired trail as well, the grounds a hit with younger children.
9. Into the Wild Bushcraft
📍 Hale
One of my favourite places to take the kids is Into the Wild Bushcraft, hidden in the woods on the outskirts of Ashley / Hale, Altrincham. It’s foot access only so you leave the car and walk up a country lane between the fields to reach it, which somehow makes arriving feel like part of the adventure. Once you’re there, kids get proper off-screen, into-nature play: a 50m zip line, tree nets, climbing frames, a mud kitchen, den-building areas and even pedal go-karts and a sand pit.
It’s not one to file under free things to do in Manchester with kids, because you do need to buy a ticket, but the price is kept deliberately low because getting kids outdoors is their whole ethos. There’s a coffee shack for the grown-ups, ice cream, and wood-fired pizza on selected days, plus outdoor seating so you can actually sit and enjoy it while the kids play!
💦 Splash Pads, Pools & Water Play in Manchester
When the sun’s out (or even when it’s not!) these are the best places to cool off with the kids near Manchester. There are actually many splash pads near Manchester, especially Chester way which I’ve noted below!
10. Splash Park at the Trafford Centre
As mentioned above, the giant splash park at Trafford Centre is back this summer and it is one of the easiest ways to get some free-flowing water fun into a summer day out, and it’s included in the £2.50 entry to Bright Lights, Big Fun.
11. Church Walk Paddling Pool, Northwich
This is the Splash pad and kids pool near Manchester I am seeing all over my Instagram page this summer! The Church Walk Paddling Pool in Northwich. It is free to use but you do have to book and they run 2 sessions 7 days a week from 10.00 am to 1.00pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm and it looks really good! Get some friends together and spend some time here this summer!
12. The Ice Cream Farm Sand & Water Play
Honeycomb Canyon at The Ice Cream Farm in Tattenhall, Cheshire is one of the best rainy-day (or sunny-day!) finds near Manchester, home to Europe’s largest indoor sand and water play area. Kids splash through shallow pools, build sandcastles, climb wooden bridges and mess about with water channels and mills, all under cover so it doesn’t matter what the weather’s doing outside.
Entry to the farm itself is free, and Honeycomb Canyon runs on the Play Pass system with 60 minutes of play for one Play Pass credit or £4.50 per child, with under-1s going free. Just bring waterproofs or a spare change of clothes, because everyone comes out soaked!
13. More Outdoor Pools & Lidos Near Manchester
There are several outdoor pools and splash zones dotted around Greater Manchester and into Cheshire and Derbyshire that are worth the drive on a hot day, with free splash zones typically open from around April to October.
Check out a full list here and get them bookmarked for those precious sunny days for things to do in Manchester this summer with kids!
14. Hyde Leisure Pool
For an indoor water park day, Hyde Leisure Pool has water slides, a wave machine, water cannons and river rapids, with gentler features suitable for younger children too. It’s a great option if the weather isn’t cooperating and you want somewhere guaranteed to tire the kids out.
15. Canoe, kayak and paddleboard on the River Mersey
📍 Stockport
You don’t need to go all the way to North Wales or the Lake District to go canoeing or kayaking because Venture Out, a small activity centre based by the River Mersey in Stockport run guided and self guided canoe, kayak and paddleboard trips.
Their most popular option is the Metrolink Paddle, an 11km self-guided river trip from East Didsbury to Sale Water Park, taking in shallow rapids, gentle bends and a fun little waterslide finish with the option to stop off at Jackson’s Boat pub along the way for food hopping the tram back.
With kids as young as 5 welcome as long as an adult stays with them the whole way, it’s genuinely family-friendly day out in Manchester this summer, and a a great active, and slightly-different summer day out for families near Manchester.
🐑 Farms & Animal Days Out
Summer is prime time for farm visits, with most Manchester-area farms adding extra events for the school holidays so for fun things to do in Manchester in summer, check these out!
16. Nixon’s Farm Shop
📍 Cheadle
For a farm to visit with young kids in Manchester, Nixon’s Farm Shop in Cheadle is ideal because it’s more of a play place than farm. They do have a small animal area where you can see rabbits, goats, pigs, ducks etc but it’s all about their inside and outside play area which during summer is a £10.00 entry for kids and no entry for adults.
Outside, they have a nice astroturf area so even after it’s rained, it’s good to visit with lots of slides and ride on bikes and tractors and even a bouncy castle. They have lots of picnic benches so it’s good to meet with a few friends and catch up whilst the kids play. There’a also an inside area but I did find that very warm on a warm day!
17. Tatton Park Farm
📍 Knutsford
Tatton Park’s Home Farm is one of the good farms to visit with kids this summer and as part of a bigger day out to Tatton Park. From 29 – 31 August 2026 they are hosting a Summer Country Fayre with traditional country crafts, food and drink stalls, demonstrations and a full daily programme of activities alongside the usual farm animals.
18. Smithills Open Farm
📍 Bolton
Smithills Open Farm is one of the best farms for kids in Manchester. It iss a lovely dairy farm with donkey rides, petting sessions and seasonal baby animals to meet and they run lots of seasonal activities. Visits need to be pre-booked online, so plan ahead if you want to fit this into your summer holiday itinerary.
19. Cockfields Farm Farmlife Festival
📍Ashton-under-Lyne – 🗓️ 25th July to 31st August
Cockfields Farm Park is going all out this summer with its Farmlife Festival, running from 25th July to 31st August at the farm in Ashton-under-Lyne. Every ticket includes the Big Animal Barn, Cuddle Corner, Party Tractor rides, a traditional carousel, bouncy pillow, adventure play park, a new Reptile Room and a sensory room, plus a proper foam party and a helter skelter, so it’s a genuinely full day out rather than just a quick farm visit.
New for 2026, there are a few premium add-on experiences worth booking alongside your ticket: a giant inflatable slip ‘n’ slide, zorbing, and alpaca walking experiences — great if you want to make a special occasion of it rather than just a regular day out. Tickets are £8.95 per adult and per child (with an early bird all-inclusive rate of £14.95), and it’s one of the better value big summer days out near Manchester, especially for families with a mix of younger and older kids who all want something different to do.
🎭 Shows, Museums & Indoor Fun
Perfect for rainy day activities in Manchester this summer, or simply breaking up an outdoor-heavy holiday with something different and perhaps educational, these are some of the best activities on in Manchester in the summer holidays.
20. Science and Industry Museum Summer Holidays
📍 City Centre – 🗓️ 18th July to 1st September
Space is taking over the Science and Industry Museum this summer, with a free holiday programme running 18th July to 1st September, inspired by the blockbuster Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition. Kids can catch brand-new daily live science demonstrations on rocket travel, follow a Martian-themed treasure hunt trail around the museum, and come face-to-face with Skybolt 2, a real 30-foot space rocket built by Manchester-based Starchaser, which lands in the Upper Yard every Rocket Wednesday throughout the holidays.
Each Rocket Wednesday brings something different. A walkabout performance from “Solar Sister” and her astronaut puppet (22 July & 26 August), a space-themed LEGO day with Bricklands (29 July), a draw-along workshop with author-illustrator Kate Pankhurst (5 August), a solar eclipse celebration (12 August), and a Junk Percussion show built from space waste (19 August).
21. Family Escape Rooms with Z-arts
📍 Hulme
If the kids want to experience an escape room this summer, whether that’s with you or their friends, Z-arts have 2 fun options this summer!
Mission: Mad Hatter is a 75-minute Wonderland adventure for ages 9+ (younger siblings from 7+ can tag along in a family group), where teams of 3–6 use a digital tablet to solve puzzles and clues around Wonderland, racing to rescue the Mad Hatter’s missing tea party guests before time runs out! Library of Enchantment is a 60-minute story-led room for ages 8+ (6+ within a family group), where you help capture a mischievous bookworm called Billi before the Library Inspector turns up, with a trained host on hand for hints if you get stuck.
Both are part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme from 25th June to 1st September, so tickets are the most affordable they’ve ever been!
🌿 Free Things To Do in Manchester Summer Holidays
Not everything needs to cost money this summer, here are the best free things to do in Manchester with a focus on outdoor space, although do note that I have also included many free places to do in Manchester above in this post like the Science and Industry Museum and Church Walk Paddling Pool.
22. Manchester Museum Bugtastic!
📍 Oxford Road – 🗓️ 21st July to 28th August
Manchester Museum is free to enter all year round and runs extra family activities during the summer holidays on top of its usual galleries, making it one of the best budget days out with kids in the city.
This summer, you’ll find the drop in session Bugtastic! from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm everyday. Each week they will explore a different artform, from animation and comic creation to printing, through family-friendly activities inspired by the fascinating world of bugs!
23. Heaton Park
Heaton Park is the largest municipal park in Europe, with two playgrounds, a boating lake (small charge for boat hire), a small community farm and plenty of green space for picnics. It’s completely free to enter, including the farm and easily reached by tram, making it one of our go-to free days out in Manchester. (Note, there is a charge for parking)
24. Wythenshawe Park & Farm
Wythenshawe Park is one of my favourite free places to take the kids in Manchester, with bike trails, a play area, a cafe and a free community farm open roughly 11:30am to 3:30pm each day it’s a great low-cost day out. It’s also good for prams, has a cafe and bathrooms and you can try to spot the ponies from the riding stables!
25. Manchester Library
Don’t dismiss Manchester Library as a free rainy-day option. Downstairs there’s soft, comfortable seating for young kids in a chilled-out environment, plus an onsite cafe, a good option for a quieter couple of hours in between busier activities in the city.
🎪 More Family Friendly Things To Do in Manchester This Summer
Here are a few more great year-round ideas that are especially good for burning off summer holiday energy and creating memories in and around Manchester:
26. Gulliver’s World Theme Park
📍 Warrington
I know this is more Chester way than Manchester, but for one of the fun things to do in Manchester in the summer holidays, head to Gulliver’s World theme park in Warrington! We went here a few months ago and had a great time! Don’t have too high expectations because it is quite old but I loved that the queues were not that long and the large amount of rides they had for young children.. even toddlers aged 2-4 can go on about 12 rides. They also have a few bigger rides for the big kids and lots of ‘in-between rides’.
Tickets have been reduced thanks to the VAT saving this summer, and for an even better offer, Gulliver’s offer an afternoon ticket for access from 2:00-5:00pm for £13.75 pp.
27. Rock Up Manchester
📍 Trafford Park (inside The Snow Centre)
Rock Up has 25 diverse climbing walls with a dedicated toddler area, making it suitable for all ages. A great pick for older kids who want a physical challenge on a summer’s day.
28. Total Ninja
📍 Trafford Park
Total Ninja is the UK’s largest indoor ninja obstacle course and it’s a brilliant way to let the kids burn off energy, with a small soft play area for toddlers too. We’ve been here on the hottest days of the year in summer and although it is still hot inside, they do have good aircon too to keep cool and it’s a good way to stay out of the daytime sun and heat!
29. Bounce Central
📍 Salford & Oldham
Bounce Central has 2 Manchester locations in Salford and Oldham is one of the go-to spots in Manchester for burning off serious energy, with over 90 interconnected trampolines forming giant arenas, plus basketball lanes, an air bag and roller blocks for the braver kids. There’s also Jurassic Jungle, a dedicated soft play and toddler area with padded spaces for climbing, crawling and sliding, so it works well even if you’ve got a mix of ages to entertain.
30. Epicland Play Cafe
📍 Partington
This is Manchesters newest play cafe and it is indeed epic! I went with my toddler this week and it’s brand new, sparkling clean and a great time! It is only for children up to 9 years old but if you have a toddler and a child around 8-9 years old, its a great way to keep both of them entertained and keep an eye on both of them.
With 4 fun slides and different aged soft play areas, it is a great way to spend a few hours in one of the newest Manchester attractions for young kids this summer!
FAQ:
What is on in Manchester for the summer holidays 2026?
There’s a packed programme this summer, from Manchester Day on 26th July to the Summer Fair at the Trafford Centre, plus summer trails at Dunham Massey, Tatton Park and Quarry Bank, and Farm Fest at Reddish Vale Farm and Cockfields Farm.
Are there free things to do in Manchester in summer?
Yes — Manchester Museum, The Whitworth, Manchester Day, Heaton Park and Wythenshawe Park are all completely free, and several splash pads around Greater Manchester don’t charge for entry either.
Where are the best splash pads near Manchester?
The best splash pads and water play near Manchester are at Trafford Centre (as part of the Summer Fair). Many of the others are just outside Manchester like Church walk paddling pool in Northwich, Congleton outdoor paddling pool and Thompson Park in Burnley
For more of my Manchester posts see:
- 36 Best Things To Do in Manchester Easter Holidays with Kids
- 30 TOP Things To Do in Manchester May Half Term
- 22+ TOP Indoor Activities in Manchester For Everyone to Enjoy!
- 25 Family Days Out NEAR Manchester TRIED & TESTED!
- 22 FUN & Unique Day Trips From Manchester!
- PERFECT One Day in Manchester Itinerary!