Things To Do In Manchester With Kids

A sprawling, cultural and action-packed metropolis, there’s no shortage of things to do in Manchester with kids. Our local insiders have explored the city from top to bottom to find you the best options. You’ll thank us, and your kids will thank you.

1. Tatton Park

Park

Let the little ones run wild and free across the 1,000 acres (405ha) of Tatton Park, filled with walkways and wildlife, it will most definitely tire them out. You can spend hours wandering amid the lush greenery, which is home to herds of red and fallow deer, along with an abundance of wildlife. The Farm at Tatton Park is open to visitors so you can get close to the pigs, horses, goats and cows. The stately mansion is also open to the public, with a children’s trail to discover the secrets of the grand home. Recommended by local insider Natalie Hetherington

2. Regent Cinema

Cinema

Say goodbye to the cinema giants and take it back old-school style at the Regent Cinema. This theatre harks back to a simpler time, with the added bonus of all the new releases. Enjoy a cosy atmosphere and comfortable seats and an old-fashioned interval mid-film, complete with ice cream. Pass us the popcorn. Recommended by local insider Natalie Hetherington

3. Bury Arcade Club

Amusement Park

Born from a passion for all things gaming, the Arcade Club started out as a small collection of games and has grown to three floors of classic, traditional and modern entertainment. Gather your friends and family and challenge them to one of the hundreds of games on offer – a lot are refurbished to original specifications to guarantee an authentic experience. Enjoy the classic Mario Kart or swing into the future with a VR headset – there is something here for everyone. Recommended by local insider Natalie Hetherington

5. Runway Visitor Park – Manchester Airport

Park

Get up close and personal with one of the five retired aircraft on display at the Runway Visitor Park. Take a tour of the famous Concorde and experience the unique opportunity of sitting in the pilot’s seat and imagining you’re whizzing through the skies. There are plenty of grassy spots and benches scattered throughout the park, perfect for a picnic and afternoon spent plane spotting. Recommended by local insider Alexandra Jones

6. Science and Industry Museum

Museum

Discover Manchester’s place in the history of science and industry. Interactive exhibitions and daily demonstrations bring to life the men and women who worked in Manchester as it became the world’s first industrial city. The museum boasts Europe’s largest collection of working steam engines and the oldest surviving passenger railway. Learn about the innovation and work that took place to bring about the Industrial Revolution. Recommended by local insider Alexandra Jones

7. Chester Zoo

Zoo

From the aardvark and lemur to the jaguar and Komodo dragon, the whole of the animal kingdom is represented at Chester Zoo. The team here is committed to preventing extinction through its conservation and education charity. By visiting you are supporting its efforts across the world. The zoo offers experience days for an extra cost so you can live the life of a zookeeper for a day and feed giraffes and muck out the monkeys. Recommended by local insider Alexandra Jones

8. Sealife

Aquarium

Sealife at the Trafford centre doing their annual stock take, diver Will Payne

Here you can witness the Manchester mermaids swim underwater with the turtle and sharks. The aquarium is split into designated worlds to make navigating with kids simple. Explore Turtle Beach, find the Rocky Hideout filled with weird and wonderful species, and discover Shark Shipwreck. Feeding demonstrations and interactive exhibits throughout make this a fun-filled day out. Recommended by local insider Alexandra Jones

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.