Looking for family things to do in Manchester and ideas for family days out in Manchester?
There is a huge range of indoor and outdoor family activities in Manchester for all ages. Whether you want to visit a famous football club, try something new like indoor skydiving, keep the kids happy at Legoland or go on a nature walk,
In this post, you’ll find plenty of family attractions in Manchester you can do by themselves, or, you can combine a few to giving you plenty of ideas for days out in Manchester for families.
I know I’m always looking for new ideas and things to do in Manchester with my stepsons. We go to a lot of places and I’m always seeing new places for families to visit in Manchester so I’ll keep adding to this list!
For another day when you’re keen to explore a bit further away from Manchester, be sure to read my best family days our NEAR Manchester, and best Manchester Day Trips!
Days Out in Manchester For Families
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🇬🇧MANCHESTER TRAVEL RESOURCES🇬🇧
🏘️Book your accommodation in MCR
Booking.com and Hostelworld will help you to check availability in advance and book!
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in advance to make your trip more convenient. I always use you can use Rentalcars!
🚆Book your train tickets
to & from Manchester using The Trainline including to and from the airport!
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✈️Flying into Manchester
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I’ve broken this post on family days out in Manchester into areas such as family things to do in Manchester City Centre, The Trafford Centre, the outskirts of Manchester and things to do near Manchester for families to help you plan your day.
Some of these family attractions in Manchester will only take a few hours so I recommend combining a few and checking out family-friendly restaurants in Manchester for some great food too!
If you’re looking for Halal food, check out my top Halal Restaurants in Manchester!
The below family activities in Manchester also include inside things to do in Manchester for what to do in Manchester when it rains because yes, it does rain quite a bit in Manchester, although usually, it’s only the parents that usually worry, and not the kids anyway!
Family Things to do in Manchester City Centre
1. Manchester Museum
Manchester Museum has been closed until recently but as of early 2023, it is open again and welcoming families and children in!
When it comes to museums in Manchester, Manchester Museum is one of the best for children because it’s the closest Manchester has to a ‘Natural History’ type museum.
In fact, it’s rare for museums to have live animals but inside the museum, on the top floor, The Vivarium houses a collection of live amphibians and reptiles which are sure to go down a treat with younger kids.
And if that doesn’t, seeing the skeletons of a Sperm Whale and Dinosaurs is bound to!
We did find that the queue to enter was very long on a wet school holiday day and note the museum is closed on Mondays, but once inside the crowds were manageable.
There is a museum cafe next door and you when planning your day out in Manchester you could pair this with the Science Museum for a full museum day, or mini golf from one of the suggestions below!
For things to do with kids in Manchester City Centre, Manchester Museum has to be at the top of the list!
2. Science & Industry Museum
The Science Museum in Manchester isn’t as big as the one in London (I actually worked there when I lived in London), but it’s still a great family day out in Manchester, especially when it’s raining!
You might have taken the kids to the Science and Industry Museum before but the best thing about this museum is that they often have new exhibitions and put on special events in the Manchester school holidays so even if you’ve been before, there should be something new to explore and learn about!
It’s also one of the free things to do in Manchester!
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
3. Tree Top Adventure Golf
This is a really fun activity in Manchester for all ages. It’s located at the top of Printworks near the Arndale Shopping Centre. I went with my husband and 3 stepsons and we had a really great time!
There are 2 courses to choose from, Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer, they are both pretty interactive, immersive and a good size. I think it took us about one hour to complete.
They have a casual restaurant serving pizzas and fun drinks. In the evening it doesn’t exactly turn into a club but they do turn the music up so it might be less appropriate for younger children. During the day Tree Trop Adventure Golf does have a nice family atmosphere making it one of the perfect things to do in Manchester with kids.
They don’t take bookings, which means you might have to queue a bit to get in at busier times but it also means you don’t have to plan your day out in Manchester with the kids too much and can keep it stress-free!
4. John Rylands Library
If you want to experience Harry Potter in Manchester vibes, take the children to John Rylands Library!
The library is located in the City Centre and is great to pair with the Science and Industry Museum. It’s a beautiful neo-Gothic building that houses one of the world’s finest collections of books, manuscripts and archives.
You’ll walk up a big, wide staircase into the library and with its high ceiling, dark vibe and all the books it definitely gives off Harry Potter vibes that you can’t get elsewhere in Manchester!
When planning your day out in Manchester with kids, do keep in mind that the Library is only open Wednesday to Saturday and closed Sunday to Tuesday.
You don’t need to book tickets and it’s free to enter as it’s part of Manchester Library.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 Wed – Sat only
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
5. Castlefield Viaduct National Trust
A fairly new addition to the list of things to do in Manchester, the Castlefield Viaduct is a really cool urban garden located on an old train track.
The National Trust has given this derelict Viaduct life again and it’s great for all the family to visit!
I admit, it’s not the most thrilling of activities for children in Manchester, especially if you are trying to entertain older children but younger children may enjoy seeing the flowers and walking around the garden.
And, it’s not too big so you don’t need to worry about them getting too tired to walk!
For a guided visit, which takes about 20-30 minutes, you’ll need to book a place, or, you can visit between 1 pm and 3.45 pm without booking.
Note, if you do have a pushchair, you’ll need to access via the Deansgate Metro Station so you can use the lift to get to the train track level. Otherwise, there are steps with no lift from underneath the Viaduct.
Due to its location, this is a great thing to pair with the Science Museum on your family day out in Manchester.
Manchester is full of National Trust sites and I give you more information on these below. Being a National Trust Member creates a big saving for you and encourages you to get outside all year round because you’ve already paid for your day out!
Click here to look into the National Trust Annual Membership and give your family a whole years worth of days out in Manchester!
- Opening Hours: 11:00 – 16:00 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
6. Manchester Canal & River Cruise
See the city in a different way on a boat! Manchester River Cruises takes you up the Manchester Ship Canal and River Irwell to Salford Quays and back again.
You can get off at Salford Quays if you wish, do some of the things to do in Salford like the Salford Museum and Art Gallery and then get back on when it next passes by which is what I’d recommend to get more out of your day out in Manchester.
They offer a cruise commentary which is interesting for kids if they are into the history of Manchester, and although you don’t get super close, you can see Manchester United Stadium and Coronation Street Studio from the boat as you cruise along.
When I went, a young boy was really interested in the boat and asked the captain a lot of questions which he answered and kept chatting with him.
During the school holidays, check out their Kids Takeover fancy dress cruises! And, there is indoor and outdoor seating making it one of the good things to do in Manchester when it rains!
The meeting location in the city centre is opposite the People’s History Museum, which is one of the good things to do in Manchester for kids so pairing these together to get more out of your day out in the city is a great idea!
Family things to do at the Trafford Centre
7. Dino Falls Adventure Golf
Dinosaur-loving kids will love it here! Huge Dinosaurs + mini golf! This is one of the really unique activities for families in Manchester to do.
There are 2 x 18 hole courses to choose from which helps spilt up the crowds – The Rapids Course and The Volcano Course.
It’s outside giving it a Jurassic Park feel and I love that it opens so early from 7:00 am, perfect for young children who get up early! You can play in the dark as they have all the lights on. If it’s raining, you will need to pack waterproof clothing as there is no cover!
You need to book in advance and although I’ve noted this as one of the things to do at The Trafford Centre, it’s within the Trafford Park complex and it is a walk from the shopping centre so you’ll need to park nearby.
- Opening Hours: 7:00 – 22:30 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
8. iFly Indoor Skydiving
Another super unique activity for children in Manchester is indoor Skydiving!
My husband and I went to iFly recently, we enjoyed it so much that we took the 9-year-old adventure-loving son for his birthday and he loved it too!
There are only 4 iFly locations in the UK so we are really lucky to have one here in Manchester!
You need to prebook and choose a package which you can do here.
The package gives 2 flights. Each flight is just one minute long which really surprised me at first, but the whole activity doesn’t go that fast because you watch everyone else have their time too and a minute inside the air tunnel is actually enough.
There’s a seating area for those not participating to watch and a small cafe. Both times I’ve visited the staff have been really great and are really interactive and engaging with children. At the end of your session, the staff show off their moves which the boys really enjoyed seeing!
Prices are quite high and there are a few added extras like a hi-fly and an extra minute so be aware of these potential add-on costs too.
The minimum age for this activity is 4 years old. To be honest, 4 seems really young, mainly because once inside the air tunnel, even when waiting for your turn, you have to have earplugs in and can’t hear anything from the noise of the tunnel and the earplugs so I feel like younger kids might get worried by this lack of communication but you can gauge that.
Here’s my full iFly Manchester Review!
- Opening Hours: 8:00 – 22:00 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
Side Activity – Whilst you’re at your activity in Trafford Park or the Trafford Centre, be sure to stop off at the Krispy Kreme factory! Location here!
It’s a Krispy Kreme cafe but you can see them getting made which is really cool to see, and it’s so good when you get to try them when there’re still hot. Or, you can do the Drive Thru which is pretty fun and unique too!
9. Sea Life Manchester
A family-friendly classic, especially with young children. Sea Life Manchester is located within The Trafford Centre shopping complex close to the shops and main shopping area.
The Ocean Tunnel is a huge hit with kids and as well as having creatures to see, they also run events and have guests like Peppa Pig to show you around the Aquarium!
To visit here on your family day out in Manchester, be sure to book tickets in advance which also need a specific time slot. Under 3’s go free!
To get more out of your day out in the Trafford Centre, you can get a combo ticket for Sea Life and Legoland which is next door.
10. Legoland Discovery Centre
Legoland is a lot of fun for kids.. and slightly overwhelming for adults if you go at a busy time as I experienced because there’s going on under this roof!
This is not a huge outside park like Legoland in Windsor. It’s instead within The Trafford Centre next to Sea Life Manchester but there’s a lot inside like rides, a 4D Cinema, VR Experience, Soft Play and thousands of Lego pieces to play with.
I took the boys when they were 6 and 8. They are big Lego fans and they loved it! It’s aimed at children between 2 and 10 years old.
There’s even a cafe with Lego-themed snack boxes, although when I went on a school holiday afternoon, the cafe was too busy to really enjoy so come prepared!
You need to buy tickets in advance at a specific time, and when planning your day out in Manchester, keep in mind that they close fairly early at 14:00 or 15:00 most days.
11. Indoor Skiing & Snowboarding at the Chill Factore
The Chill Factore in Trafford Park is one of the seriously fun family things to do in Manchester!
Whether you have a snow holiday coming up or are thinking of booking one, or you want to try something new, the Chill Factore offer Ski and Snowboarding lessons for the whole family from the age of 4.
They offer many different offers and often have school holiday specials on, so for fun days out in Manchester, where you don’t need to worry about the weather, check them out!
12. Inflata Nation
Inflata Nation is the Number 1 inflatable park in Manchester and this is no soft play, this is good for all the family to take part in!
I went with my stepsons and husband a while back and although busy as we went on a school holiday, it was a lot of fun!
Bigger and bouncer than ever, the park offers a double-decker area with lots of activities! They even have Inflata Tots classes if you’re looking for things to do with toddlers in Manchester and disability-friendly sessions.
Inflata Nation is within the Trafford Park complex, it’s close to Depot Climbing too so if you want an activity-filled family day out in Manchester, you could combine the both!
Family things to do in Manchester
13. Kenyon Hall Farm
I love Kenyon Hall Farm and all that they offer! No matter what the season they always have some type of activity for all the family to get involved in!
Pumpkin Picking in Autumn, Fruit Picking & Sunflower Maze in Summer, Christmas and Easter activities and lots more in between!
Admittedly, Kenyon Hall Farm is in Warrington rather than Manchester but if you live in South Manchester, it’s very close by!
They also have a cafe, deli and garden centre onsite so you can really make a full family day out in Manchester by visiting here. If you want to go to a specific event, be sure to look on their website and most things are ticketed.
I recommend signing up to their newsletter so you can get notified about their upcoming events. I know I always forget when Strawberry picking season is and then it’s over by the time I remember, but this way, they’ll keep you updated!
14. Manchester United Stadium Tour & Museum
It’s surprising how many people don’t realise you can take a tour of Old Trafford Stadium! Even people who live in Manchester, and support United!
I booked tickets and took my stepson’s during the school holidays and although they aren’t big football fans, they still really enjoyed it, especially the changing rooms and dugout!
Here’s my full review on visiting Manchester United Museum & the Stadium Tour!
I think people who live in Manchester get used to Manchester United Stadium being in the city but if you are looking for family days out in Manchester because you live elsewhere, booking tickets and visiting the stadium is a must for football-loving families!
The tour includes a look inside the museum which we really enjoyed and you can make a full family day out in Manchester here by visiting Red Cafe at Old Trafford located inside the stadium complex for some lunch which is a pretty cool thing to do!
Manchester Football Fans.. get your tickets booked here!
15. Manchester City Stadium Tour
Or, you may be a City fan and in that case, an Manchester City Stadium Tour is for you!
You can book tickets and look around the Etihad Stadium on a group tour which is great for adults and children to take part in.
A guided tour will take you to look at the state-of-the-art new player facilities of the revamped stadium and club. There are plenty of new areas, including the introduction of The Tunnel Club – the first of its kind in world football.
With your tour ticket, you can also enjoy the interactive exhibition and get 10% off at the CityStore.
16. Tree Tops Trek
Another one of the fun family things to do in Manchester! Treetops Manchester is located in Heaton Park.
Heaton Park itself is great for family days out in Manchester as the park is pretty big with a variety of walks, play areas, an animal centre, and a boating lake so you could spend the whole day here.
All 5 of us went to Treetop Trek and Nets in the winter and we all loved it! They have a net area which is great for younger children (3 years +) as you walk freely around this area without being harnessed in.
The actual harnessed trek is split into 2, the mini trek and the full trek. Everyone starts on the mini trek and then those that booked the full trek move on to this. This means if you have a child between 5-7 they can do the mini trek and then get off with an adult as the older kids carry on or you can all get off.
The full trek is for 7 years + only. We went just as my stepson turned 7, he was a bit scared but he loved it in the end, and there was another 7-year-old who was completely not phased by any of it!
If you’re not sure what it’s like, it’s very much like Go Ape but there is no Go Ape in Manchester, Delamere is the closest, so this Treetop Trek is great!
For a full review check out this post, this family happened to be there at the same time as me!
- Opening Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
17. Alpaca Walk
There are a few places to go Alpaca Walking in Manchester. The one I recently went to and can recommend is White Peak Alpaca Farm near Alderley Edge in South Manchester.
They have a really good set-up and options to visit for a pet only or a pet and walk.
I called up pretty last minute on a hot summer week, they didn’t have any availability for an Alpaca Walk but they did fit me in for an Alpaca Petting session and it was actually still a really enjoyable time. This shorter and cheaper session would be good for younger children who might not want to walk the Alpaca.
The staff were great, they explained a lot about the Alpacas and afterwards, we were able to walk around the farm seeing some of their other animals so although we had a 15-minute slot only, it turned into a nice family activity in Manchester.
18. Bean & Brush Art Cafe
When looking for things to do in Manchester with kids, Bean and Brush in Sale is a great option!
They are a functioning cafe so you can go in for a drink and lunch only but what you really go for is to do some art!
Pottery painting is the most popular and common thing to do. You’ll find a range of pottery items such as plates, cups, money banks, Alphabet letters, and so much more for you to choose from and paint.
Each item is a different cost, of course, the smaller they are, the less expensive, and after painting them you hand them in to be cooked and pick them up 1-2 weeks later looking all shiny and ready to take home!
They also offer clay imprints for you to do with your baby’s hands or feet, and they offer space for children’s parties!
They do get busy so it’s best to book a table ahead, especially on weekends and school holidays.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
19. Minikin Paint a Pot
Minikin Paint a Pot is very similar to Bean and Brush except they are less like a cafe I found. They do have a few things to drink and buy but the focus is more on the art.
They too have a range of pottery items to choose from that you can paint sitting at your own table with their paints and afterwards they’ll cook them for 1-2 weeks at which point you can go back and pick them up.
From my experience, I think Minikin is better if you have younger children as it feels a bit less busy than Bean and Brush.
20. Head Over Heels
I know a lot of the things on this list of family days out in Manchester are better for older children, but for young ones, Head Over Heels is a great place for Indoor Play and family fun!
This is not your usual small soft play area, Head Over Heels offers many different areas like a sensory room, toddler playground, sports court, music zone, LED Disco and lots more which is why it’s great for things to do with young children in Manchester!
There are 2 locations for Head Over Heels, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy closer to the city centre and one in Handforth in South Manchester.
- Opening Hours: 9:30 – 18:30 Mon to Sat
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
21. National Trust Sites in Manchester
We are so lucky in Manchester to have so much greenery and nature around us and this includes National Trust Sites!
In South Manchester, you can visit Quarry Bank, Dunham Massey, Alderley Edge, Tatton Park and a bit further out is Lyme Park.
Although wild walks are good with kids too, I find National Trust sites good because they have all the facilities like bathrooms, good parking and a cafe to help make the trip smoother and easier with kids.
Plus, most have indoor areas to explore like the house at Dunham Massey and the old factory at Quarry Bank which make them great indoor things to do with kids in Manchester, as well as educational.
Dunham Massey and Tatton Park are also popular because of the deer. It’s so amazing for children to be able to get so close to the Deer in both parks.
For family days out in Manchester, check out the many National Trust sites in Manchester here, be prepared for all weather, pack a picnic and comfy shoes and plan a full day out in nature with the family!
Manchester is full of National Trust sites!
Being a National Trust Member creates a big saving for you and encourages you to get outside all year round because you’ve already paid for your day out!
Click here to look into the National Trust Annual Membership and give your family a whole years worth of days out in Manchester!
Family Days Out Near Manchester
22. Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a family favourite of ours! It’s not in Manchester which is why it’s in the section of family days out near Manchester, but if you live in South Manchester as I do, it’s easier to get here than North Manchester.
Chester Zoo is one of the things to do near Manchester with kids because it’s great for kids of all ages and adults too!
It can be expensive to go here, especially with a bigger family so I recommend looking into their annual membership if you think you’ll go multiple times within a year to save you money in the long run.
Both times I’ve been with my younger stepsons we’ve only managed half of the zoo in one visit. In summer, it’s a bit easier as you can take a picnic and rest but when we went on wet school holiday days, we were go go go and got tired after a few hours and half the zoo.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 am – 17:30 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
23. Trentham Monkey Forest
Who needs Bali to visit a Monkey Forest when you can go to Trentham Monkey Forest in Stoke on Trent!?
Trentham Monkey Forest is the only place in the UK where you can walk amongst 140 free-roaming Barbary macaque monkeys!
You might have had bad past experiences with Monkies and cars but here, you walk with them, no driving is needed!
For family days out near Manchester that don’t cost too much, I really like that tickets for Trentham Monkey Forest are priced much lower than other activities at £10.00 for an adult & £8.00 for a child when booked online. They also have a good value annual membership.
Feeding time is great for kids to see and gathers a crowd so be sure to plan this into your day there.
- Opening Hours: 10:00 – 16:00 Daily
- Website Link
- Google Maps Location
24. Apple Jacks Adventure Park
A brilliant fun day out with Kids near Warrington. Apple Jacks Adventure Park is seasonal and opens only on certain days so be sure to check their timings online before arriving.
They offer lots to keep children and adults entertained outside such as Tractor Rides around the farm, Jumping Pillows, Zip Wires, and Mazes (which are seasonal), and kids’ entertainment shows.
They have plenty of places to sit if you want to take lunch, or you can eat in their cafe.
If the British Weather holds out, this is such a nice family day out near Manchester. They do aim their activities at ages 4 to 12 and it’s worth noting that although they are a farm, there is no animal petting here.
25. Peak District Caves
Finally, we are so lucky in Manchester to have the Peak District so close to us and whilst there are many great family Peak District walks, I think visiting the Caves & Caverns is the best way to keep kids entertained.
You can visit Caves which require a ticket and tour such as Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern, these add to the ‘family day out’ vibe, or if you want one of the free family days out near Manchester, I suggest Thor’s Cave which anyone can walk to and walk up into.
Here’s my post on How To Do Thor’s Cave Walk! An Easy Walk In The Peak District.
See my post FAMILY DAYS OUT NEAR MANCHESTER for even more ideas!
Family Days Out in Manchester FAQ
Here are FAQs for family days out in Manchester and things to do in Manchester with kids:
What is there to do in Manchester City Centre for kids?
There are many things to do in Manchester City Centre with kids such as the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester Museum, Crazy Golf, Bowling, John Rylands Library.
What do kids do at Trafford Shopping Centre?
There are a few things to do at the Trafford Centre for kids such as Legoland and Sealife Centre. Within Trafford Park there is inside Skiing and Snowboarding, Climbing and Crazy Golf.
Thank you for reading, I hope this post has helped with ideas for things to do in Manchester with kids and family days out in Manchester!
- For more of my related posts see:
- BEST Halal Restaurants in Manchester!
- Review | Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour! How Good is it?
- 48 Places To Visit in Wales To See Beautiful Places in Wales!
- How To Do Dovestone Reservoir Walk, Easy Circular Walk in Peak District.
- 10 Things To Do Near Manchester Airport! 10 Minutes from the Airport!
- 7 MUST-VISIT National Trust Sites in Manchester and nearby!