Things to Do in Manchester With Kids

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

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

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

Keep it chill, yeah? You won’t have to try at Chill Factore with more real snow than the Alps – well, not quite, but you get the picture. A fabulous place to learn to ski in Manchester with a 180m (591ft) main slope and a 40m (131ft) beginners slope. Classes are available for all ages and abilities making it a great day out for the whole family. If you’re just watching from the sideline, there’s plenty of shops to browse and cafés and restaurants for that all-important après-ski. Recommended by local insider Natalie Hetherington

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

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

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

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