Manchester is one of my favourite cities as there is so much to do whether you are on your own, with friends, on a romantic break, or spending time with children. As it’s only 40 minutes away from us we are often able to just pop over for the day but if you are coming from further a field then there is so much choice in regards to accommodation too that you can easily stay for a few days, either in serviced apartments Manchester, hotels or B and B’s. However long you plan to stay here is a list of some of our favourite things to do in Manchester with kids, I hope it helps you plan your trip.
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Things to do with kids in Manchester city centre
Tree Top Adventure Golf
Hidden away on the top floor of the Print works is a brilliant Adventure Golf place. You can choose from two different courses, or play both, and also enjoy food and drink between games, the perfect way to break up a day of shopping in Manchester with kids.
Museums
If culture is more your thing then Manchester has some fabulous museums, some free and some that charge a small fee for entry. One that is definitely worth a visit if you have football mad kids is The National Football Museum , where you learn about the history of football, get to see some brilliant memorabilia and even have the chance for some hands on interactive fun.
M.E.N
Another one of our favourite places in the city centre is the M.E.N, it is always worth checking what is going on here when planning your visits. We have seen some fabulous shows at the M.E.N over the years including, Pink, The X factor and the Monster truck tour, and as it is in walking distance to the print works you can always combine it with a nice meal or a few drinks too.
Things to do in Manchester with kids at the Trafford centre
The Sealife Centre
The Sealife centre is perfect for families with children under 9 or older if they have a particular interest in or love for all things under water. Here you will be able to get up close with lots of varieties of fish and sea creatures, including sharks. There is also the opportunity to handle some of the creatures including star fish, which is a lovely experience. As well as exploring all the different tanks there is also a play area where the children can let off some steam and the parents can sit down and take a much needed break.
LegoLand
Legoland discovery centre is right next door to the sea life centre and if you want to do both then make sure you book the combined ticket and save yourself some money. Lego land is suitable for children aged 3 and over although some attractions do have height restrictions. You get a lot for your money here and can easily stay a few hours, especially if you go mid week when it is a little bit quieter. Here your children will be able to view some incredible lego models as well as build your own, watch a 4D movie, go on some rides, challenge yourself on the climbing wall and play in the play area. There is also a well stocked cafe and plenty of seating for the adults.
Event City
If you go to the Trafford Centre in December then you must visit Winter Funland at Event city. This is one of our favourite festive activities which is suitable for the whole family and is bound to leave you feeling nice and festive. For one inclusive price you can go ice skating, meet santa, watch a show, a circus or both and have unlimited goes on numerous rides.
Regardless of what time of year you visit it is always worth seeing what, if anything, is on at Event City as they often have great events where tickets can be bought right up until the day.
And keep your eye out for the traveling circus that sets up in the Event city car park. This is one of the best circus’s we have ever seen and is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
Things to do just outside Manchester city centre
If you are visiting Manchester and have a car then there are even more great places that you can visit just out side of the city centre, here our some of our favourites.
Tree Top Trek
For those of you that love to be out doors and thrive on adrenaline then check out Tree top trek where there are a couple of different activities that will be keep you busy including zip wires, tree top adventures and a giant ball park above the ground.
Or you can Catch a show in Salford, we recently watching the Wallace and Gromit live orchestra there and the venue was perfect, there was even a pop up market on just outside where we managed to treat ourselves to some goodies too.
There are also some more educational activities on offer to including the Salford Museum and Art Gallery where you can go back in time and wander the cobbles of a real Manchester street and get hands on with the “locals” as they show you what life was like back then.
Or visit Ordsall Hall a beautiful building steeped in history with plenty to learn and lots of hands on interactive opportunities for children and adults alike. They also have a lovely tea room where you can sit back, relax and enjoy a hot drink and a slice of cake whilst you take in the beauty of your surroundings.
Whatever you and your family enjoy doing you are sure to find plenty of fun things to do in Manchester with kids.
(This post was written in collaboration with Hotels.com who gifted us the spending money. All views are my own).