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. You can visit a famous football club, try indoor skydiving, keep the little ones busy at LEGOLAND or head out on a nature walk, and that is just the start!
In this post you will find plenty of family attractions in Manchester that work as a day out on their own, or that you can combine for a fuller day. I am always looking for new things to do in Manchester with my stepsons. We get out a lot and I keep finding new places for families to visit, so I will keep adding to this list!
I have split this post into areas so you can plan your day easily: Manchester City Centre, the Trafford Centre and Trafford Park, and around Greater Manchester and nearby.
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!
1. Manchester Museum
When it comes to museums in Manchester for children, Manchester Museum is hard to beat, because it is the closest thing Manchester has to a natural history museum. It is rare for a museum to have live animals, but up on the top floor the Vivarium is home to amphibians and reptiles, which younger kids love. If that does not win them over, the skeletons of a sperm whale and dinosaurs certainly will!
We found the queue to get in was very long on a wet school holiday day, but once inside the crowds were manageable. The museum is free to enter and closed on Mondays, so plan around that. There is a museum cafe on site, and you could pair it with the Science and Industry Museum for a full museum day, or with one of the mini golf options below.
For things to do with kids in Manchester City Centre, this has to be near the top of the list!
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays
- Website Link
2. Science & Industry Museum
It is not as big as the Science Museum in London (I actually worked there when I lived in London), but it is still a great family day out in Manchester, especially when its raining!
The museum has been through a huge restoration over the last few years. The Power Hall reopened in summer 2025, so if you have not been for a while there is plenty that will feel new. Plus, they regularly put on new exhibitions and special events in the school holidays, so it is worth checking what is on before you go.
Best of all, it is one of the free things to do in Manchester!
- Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm daily
- Website Link
3. Tree Top Adventure Golf
This is a really fun activity in Manchester for all ages. You will find it at the top of the Printworks, close to the Arndale. I’ve been many times with my stepsons and we always have a good time! There are two jungle themed courses, Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer, and both are interactive, immersive and a good size. Each one took us about an hour.
There is a casual cafe and bar serving pizzas and fun drinks. In the evening the music gets turned up, so it suits younger children less, but during the day it has a lovely family atmosphere. ou can now book ahead online, which is handy in the school holidays, but walk ins are still welcome if you would rather keep your day flexible. They also run seasonal events, like a spooky spider hunt around the courses in October.
- Opening Hours: usually 11am to 10pm
- Website Link
4. John Rylands Library
If you want some Harry Potter vibes in Manchester, take the children to the John Rylands Library! It sits on Deansgate in the city centre and is a great one to pair with the Science and Industry Museum. The building is a stunning example of Victorian Gothic architecture and holds one of the finest collections of rare books and manuscripts in the world.
You walk up a wide stone staircase into the reading room, and between the high vaulted ceiling, the dark wood and all those old books, it feels like a scene from Hogwarts. Keep in mind it is only open Wednesday to Saturday. It is free to enter, you do not need to book, and it is part of the University of Manchester Library.
- Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday only
- Website Link
5. Castlefield Viaduct National Trust
Since opening in 2022, the Castlefield Viaduct has become one of Manchester’s most unusual green spaces. The National Trust has turned this old Victorian railway viaduct into a garden in the sky, with planting, walkways and great views over Castlefield.
The viaduct has now been extended to over 350 metres, more than doubling the space, so even if you visited in the early days it is well worth going back. I will be honest, it is not the most thrilling activity for older kids, but younger children enjoy wandering through the gardens and spotting the flowers. It is not too long either, so little legs will not get tired.
If you have a pushchair, use the lift at the Deansgate end, as there are only steps from underneath the viaduct.
It is right by the Science and Industry Museum, so the two pair perfectly for a family day out in Manchester.
- Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday (check the website for times)
- Website Link
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!
6. Manchester Canal & River Cruise
See the city from the water! Manchester River Cruises takes you along the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Irwell on an hour long round trip. The cruise now departs from Salford Quays only, boarding at Pier 8 by The Lowry, under the blue and white Millennium footbridge. It is a non stop round trip, so you stay on board for the whole journey.
There is a recorded commentary which is interesting for kids who like a bit of Manchester history. You do not get super close, but you can spot Old Trafford and the Coronation Street studios as you cruise along. When I went, a young boy was fascinated by the boat and kept asking the captain questions, and he happily chatted away with him the whole time.
There is indoor and outdoor seating, which makes it one of the good things to do in Manchester when it rains! Prams need to be foldable to come on board.
Since you are already at Salford Quays, make a day of it: IWM North is just across the water, and The Lowry and MediaCity are right by the pier.
Family Things To Do at the Trafford Centre and Trafford Park
7. Dino Falls Adventure Golf
Dinosaur mad kids will love it here! Giant moving dinosaurs plus mini golf makes this one of the most unique family activities in Manchester.
There are two 18 hole courses, The Rapids and The Volcano, which helps spread out the crowds. It is all outdoors, which gives it a real Jurassic Park feel. I love that it opens from 7am, perfect if your little ones are early risers, and the courses are lit up so you can play after dark too. There is no cover, so pack waterproofs if rain is forecast!
There is no need to book, you just turn up and play. Last rounds start 35 minutes before closing. It is part of Trafford City rather than inside the shopping centre itself. It is about a 20 minute walk from the Trafford Centre, so it is easier to park at the Trafford Golf Centre.
- Opening Hours: 7am to 10.30pm daily
- Website Link
8. iFly Indoor Skydiving
If you want something really different to do with kids in Manchester, try indoor skydiving! My husband and I went to iFly first and enjoyed it so much that we took our 9 year old adventure loving son for his birthday, and he loved it too!
The standard package gives you two flights, and each one is just one minute long. That surprised me at first, but the session doesn’t feel really quic, because you watch everyone else take their turn too, and a minute in the tunnel is honestly plenty.
There is a seating area for anyone not flying, plus a small cafe. Both times we have been, the staff were brilliant with the children. At the end, the instructors show off their own moves, which the boys loved watching!
Prices are on the high side, and there are extras like a high fly or an extra minute, so factor those in when you budget.
The minimum age is 4. Personally, I think that is quite young. Once you are in the tunnel area you wear earplugs and cannot hear anything over the noise, which might unsettle little ones, but you know your own child best.
- Opening Hours: 8am to 10pm daily
- Website Link
9. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
LEGOLAND is so much fun for kids, and slightly overwhelming for adults at busy times, because there is so much going on under one roof!
This is not a big outdoor park like LEGOLAND Windsor. It is an indoor attraction at the Trafford Centre, next to Sea Life, but it packs in rides, a 4D cinema, a soft play area, a MINILAND of Manchester landmarks and thousands of LEGO bricks to build with.
I took the boys when they were 6 and 8. They are huge LEGO fans and loved every minute! It is aimed at children aged around 3 to 10. There is a cafe with LEGO themed snack boxes, but on a school holiday afternoon it was too busy to really enjoy, so bring snacks just in case.
You need to buy tickets in advance for a set time. It usually opens from 10am, but closing times change with the season, so check before you go.
10. Indoor Skiing & Snowboarding at The Snow Centre
The Snow Centre in Trafford Park is one of the seriously fun family things to do in Manchester! Whether you have a ski trip coming up, are thinking about booking one, or just fancy trying something new, The Snow Centre offers ski and snowboard lessons for the whole family from age 4.
I recently took my stepsons and younger nephews for a play session and at ages 7 and 8, they loved it! They have lots of offers and often run school holiday specials, so for a fun day out where the weather does not matter, check them out!
11. Inflata Nation
Inflata Nation calls itself the number one inflatable park in Manchester, and this is no ordinary soft play. The whole family can join in! We’ve been many times and always have a good time! Just be prepared to be just as worn out as the kids!
The double decker arena has giant slides, an obstacle course, a gladiator podium and a huge ball pool. They also run Inflata Tots classes for toddlers and have toddler area open, plus disability friendly sessions.
It is in Trafford Park and open seven days a week. It is close to Depot Climbing too, so you could combine both for an action packed family day out.
Family Days Out Around Greater Manchester and Nearby
12. Manchester United Stadium Tour & Museum
It is surprising how many people do not realise you can take a tour of Old Trafford, even people who live in Manchester and support United!
I booked tickets and took my stepsons during the school holidays. They are not big football fans, but they still really enjoyed it, especially the changing rooms and the dugout! If you live in Manchester it is easy to take the stadium for granted, but if you are visiting from elsewhere, this is a must for football loving families.
The tour includes the museum, which we really enjoyed. Make a full day of it with lunch at the Red Cafe, which is inside the stadium and open to the public 9am to 4pm, seven days a week, except on home matchdays.
Manchester Football Fans.. get your tickets booked here!
13. Manchester City Stadium Tour
Or perhaps you are a City family, in which case the Manchester City Stadium Tour is for you!
You can book tickets and look around the Etihad Stadium on a guided group tour, which works well for adults and children.
The tour takes you behind the scenes at the club’s player facilities, including The Tunnel Club, where fans can watch the players walk out before a match.
Your tour ticket also includes the interactive exhibition and 10% off at the CityStore.
14. Bean & Brush Art Cafe, Sale
Bean & Brush is well located in Stanley Square in the heart of Sale. It is a proper family cafe, so you can just pop in for drinks and lunch, but the real reason to go is the art!
Pottery painting is the main event. You pick from plates, mugs, money boxes, alphabet letters and much more, then paint it at your table. Prices depend on the size of the piece, so smaller items are cheaper. Once you are done, they glaze and fire it, and you collect it one to two weeks later looking shiny and finished.
They also do clay imprints of baby hands and feet, and host children’s parties. It gets busy, so book a table ahead, especially at weekends and in the school holidays.
- Opening Hours: open daily (check the website for times)
- Website Link
15. Zip World Manchester in Heaton Park
This treetop adventure in Heaton Park is now run by Zip World and is great for a family activity in Manchester and Heaton Park is huge with plenty to see and do like woodland walks, play areas, an animal centre and a boating lake so you can make a day out of it.
There are different sections available for different ages and interests. Each activity is booked separately for a set time slot, and Heaton Park parking is paid separately.
- Treetot Nets for ages 1 to 5
- Treetop Nets for ages 3 and up, where you can roam freely without a harness
- Mini Trek for ages 5 and up
- Full Trek for ages 7 and up
- Forest Tubing,
If you are wondering what it is like, think Go Ape. There is no Go Ape in Manchester itself, so this is a brilliant option closer to home.
16. Kenyon Hall Farm
I love Kenyon Hall Farm! Whatever the season, there is always something on for the whole family. Think pumpkin picking in autumn, fruit picking and a sunflower maze in summer, plus Christmas and Easter events and lots in between. Admittedly, Kenyon Hall is in Warrington rather than Manchester, but if you live in South Manchester it is a very easy drive.
There is a cafe, deli and garden centre on site, so it is easy to turn it into a full day out. Most events are ticketed, so check the website before you go.
I recommend signing up to their newsletter so you hear about events early. I always forget when strawberry season starts and then miss it, but this way they remind you!
Heading out this October? See my full guide to pumpkin patches in Manchester for more farms to visit.
17. Alpaca Walk in Cheshire
There are a few places to go alpaca walking near Manchester. The one I can recommend from experience is White Peak Alpaca Farm in Cheshire, an easy drive south of the city.
They have a really good set up, with options to book a petting session or a pet and walk. I called pretty last minute during a hot summer week. They had no Alpaca Walk slots left, but fitted us in for an Alpaca Petting session, and it was still lovely. The shorter, cheaper session is ideal for younger children who might not want to walk an alpaca.
The staff were great and told us loads about the alpacas. Afterwards we wandered round the farm to see their other animals, so our 15 minute slot turned into a really nice family outing.
18. Reddish Vale Farm
For animal petting in Manchester, Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport is a great choice. I’ve been many times and it’s such a great place with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities so it’s good in all weather. When we last visited in spring and saw lots of lambs and baby goats! A highlight is feeding the animals carrots, which you can buy there, and you can also book in to groom a pony.
Alongside the animal pens there is a big outdoor play area and tractor rides, and they put on themed events in the school holidays, including a Halloween pumpkin festival in October and Farmfest all summer long!
The farm is seasonal, reopening each February, and outside the school holidays it is usually weekends only. Book online in advance for the best prices.
19. Apple Jacks Adventure Park
A brilliant outdoor day out for kids near Warrington. Apple Jacks is seasonal, opening in the school holidays from spring to autumn and at weekends in between, so check dates online before you go. There’s loads to keep children busy outside, including zip wires, jumping pillows, tractor rides, mazes and quad karts, plus entertainment shows.
If the British weather behaves, this is a really fun family day out near Manchester. Activities are aimed at ages 4 to 12, and although it is a farm, there is no animal petting here.
20. National Trust Sites in Manchester
We are so lucky to have so much green space around Manchester, including some brilliant National Trust sites. In South Manchester you can visit Quarry Bank, Dunham Massey, Alderley Edge and Tatton Park, with Lyme Park a little further out.
Wild walks are great with kids, but I like National Trust sites because they have all the facilities: toilets, good parking and a cafe, which makes the day so much easier. Most also have indoor areas to explore, like the house at Dunham Massey and the historic mill at Quarry Bank, so they double up as rainy day options and are educational too.
Dunham Massey and Tatton Park are especially popular for their deer. Children love being able to get so close to them!
For more ideas, read my guide to the 7 best National Trust sites in Manchester and nearby. Be ready for any weather, pack a picnic and comfy shoes, and plan a full day out in nature!
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!
Looking for more ideas?? See my post FAMILY DAYS OUT NEAR MANCHESTER for even more activities and places to visit!
Family Days Out in Manchester FAQ
What are the best free family days out in Manchester?
Manchester Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, the John Rylands Library and the Castlefield Viaduct are all free. Heaton Park is free to explore too (although the main car park is pay and display), and many National Trust parks can be accessed for free.
What can you do with kids in Manchester when it rains?
For rainy days, try Manchester Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, Treetop Adventure Golf, LEGOLAND, Sea Life, Chill Factore, iFly or Inflata Nation. See my post on things to do in Manchester when it rains for even more ideas.
What is there to do in Manchester City Centre for kids?
The city centre has Manchester Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, the John Rylands Library, Castlefield Viaduct and Treetop Adventure Golf at the Printworks. The river cruise leaves from nearby Salford Quays. In summer, check out the free sandpit outside The Northerners.
What is there for kids at the Trafford Centre?
Inside the Trafford Centre you will find LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and Sea Life Manchester. Nearby in Trafford Park and Trafford City there is Chill Factore, iFly, Inflata Nation, Depot Climbing and Dino Falls Adventure Golf. There’s also an I Max Cinema, a mini golf course (although it’s not that great), and skating at Archies Atomic in Trafford Palazzo.
What are the best days out in Manchester for toddlers?
Head Over Heels, Sea Life, Reddish Vale Farm, Minikin Paint a Pot and the Treetot Nets at Zip World Manchester in Heaton Park are all great for little ones. There are also many miniature railways around Manchester as well as soft plays and play cafes.
Which Manchester attractions are closed on Mondays?
Manchester Museum is closed on Mondays, and the John Rylands Library and Castlefield Viaduct are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Plan those for later in the week!
Do I need to book family attractions in Manchester in advance?
For LEGOLAND, Sea Life, iFly and Zip World Manchester, yes, as they use timed slots. Dino Falls, the museums and Castlefield Viaduct are walk in, and Treetop Adventure Golf takes both.
Thank you for reading! I hope this post has given you plenty of ideas for family days out in Manchester.
- For more of my related posts see:
- 9+ BEST Soft Play & Play Cafes in Manchester
- 18 Best Pumpkin Patches Manchester: Where to Go Pumpkin Picking In & Around the City
- BEST 10 Spots for Cherry Blossom in Manchester to Visit in Spring!
- 10 Things To Do Near Manchester Airport! 10 Minutes from the Airport!
- 7 MUST-VISIT National Trust Sites in Manchester and nearby!