Things to do with kids in Manchester

Family events coming up in Manchester

• Manchester Christmas MarketsTue, 10 Nov 2026 · Albert Square & city centre · Free
• Skate Manchester ice rinkTue, 10 Nov 2026 · Cathedral Gardens · From £5 (community slots)
• Weekend Sounds: free live music at the Fountain Stage, Trafford PalazzoSat, 14 Nov 2026 · Trafford Palazzo · Free
• Northern Lights Manchester: Christmas light trail at Heaton ParkThu, 19 Nov 2026 · Heaton Park · Peak and off-peak ticket tiers - see booking page
• Candlelight Concert at Trafford Palazzo: Christmas MoviesThu, 19 Nov 2026 · Trafford Palazzo · £10 per person (all proceeds to Destination Florida)
• HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto at the Trafford CentreFri, 20 Nov 2026 · The Trafford Centre · Child £20 off-peak / £25 standard; adult £8 / £10
• Candlelight Concert at Trafford Palazzo: Christmas ClassicsFri, 20 Nov 2026 · Trafford Palazzo · £10 per person (all proceeds to Destination Florida)
• The Magic of Christmas at Freight IslandSat, 21 Nov 2026 · Freight Island (Depot Mayfield) · Adults from £14.50, children from £29 (includes a gift) + booking fee
• RHS Glow at RHS Garden BridgewaterThu, 26 Nov 2026 · RHS Garden Bridgewater · From £9.25 (super off-peak); all tickets under £20; under-5s free but need a ticket
• Billy Elliot the MusicalWed, 2 Dec 2026 · Palace Theatre Manchester · Paid tickets — see the booking page
• The Jolly Christmas Postman at The LowryFri, 4 Dec 2026 · The Lowry · From £17
• Stan's Secret Santa Saturday!Sat, 5 Dec 2026 · Manchester Museum · Free

All events in Manchester →

Comes to you in Manchester

Entertainers, mobile services and organisers who cover Manchester — no venue to visit, they come to you or run events near you.

• Tmalgerimagic (The Goblin King)
• Go BouncyBased in OL12
• The Flower Stop coffee van (Dolly)Based in M28
• The Station WagonBased in WA14 · travels up to 30 miles · £200 for 1 hour
• Bounce A Lot NorthwestBased in WN2 · From £50 (carnival games)
• Music & MayhemFrom £165
• Billy's Partytime EntertainmentsBased in PR5
• Taz Entertainments
• Shez Whippy
• Enchanted Entertainment BuryBased in BL8
• KidsDJBased in BL4
• Born 2 BounceBased in OL6 · Castles from £79, soft play from £69

Libraries in Manchester

• Central LibraryM2 5PD · Free
• Abraham Moss LibraryM8 5UF · Free
• Arcadia Library and Leisure CentreM19 3PH · Free
• Avenue Library and Learning CentreM9 6HW · Free
• Barlow Moor Community LibraryM21 7NT · Free
• Beswick LibraryM11 3DS · Free

All 58 libraries in Manchester →

Leisure centres in Manchester

• Abraham Moss Library & Leisure CentreM8 5UF · Pay & Play | Membership | Mixed (some free sessions)
• Arcadia Library & Leisure CentreM19 3PH · Pay & Play | Membership
• Ardwick Sports HallM12 4DY · Pay & Play
• Belle Vue Sports VillageM12 4TF · Pay & Play | Membership
• Debdale Outdoor CentreM18 7LJ · Pay & Play
• Denmark Road Sports CentreM15 6FG · Pay & Play

All 40 leisure centres in Manchester →

Parks and playgrounds in Manchester

• Heaton ParkM25 2SW · Free
• Alexandra Park ManchesterM16 7JL · Free
• Queens Park ManchesterM9 5SH · Free
• Debdale ParkM18 7LJ · Free
• Plant Hill ParkM9 6NP · Free
• Hollyhedge ParkM22 4GP · Free

All 31 parks and playgrounds in Manchester →

Family hubs in Manchester

• Radcliffe Children's CentreM26 3RD · Free
• Whitefield Children's CentreM45 8TD · Free
• Crossacres Family HubM22 9TA · Free
• Gorton Sacred Heart Family HubM18 7NE · Free
• Woodville Family HubM8 0NE · Free
• Longsight Family HubM13 0QX · Free

All 21 family hubs in Manchester →

Museums and galleries in Manchester

• Manchester MuseumM13 9PL · Free
• Science and Industry MuseumM3 4FP · Free
• National Football MuseumM4 3BG · Adult £14 online (£15.75 walk-up); child 5–15 £8.75 (£10.50); under 5s free; family £38.50 (£43); Manchester residents free; tickets valid for unlimited visits for a year
• Museum of Illusions ManchesterM1 1PW · See moimanchester.com for current adult/child/family prices
• IWM NorthM17 1TZ
• People's History MuseumM3 3ER

All 18 museums and galleries in Manchester →

Family attractions in Manchester

• Splatter Art Studio ManchesterM12 6HR
• Z-artsM15 5ZA
• LEGO Discovery Centre ManchesterM17 8AS
• SEA LIFE ManchesterM17 8AS
• Chill FactoreM41 7JA
• iFLY ManchesterM41 7JA

All 15 family attractions in Manchester →

Soft play centres in Manchester

• Head Over Heels Play CentreM21 0AZ
• Adventure Forest Play CentreM17 1WA
• The Funhouse SwintonM27 6HA
• Play FactoreM41 7JA
• Inflata Nation ManchesterM17 1WA
• Cheeky Cherubs Soft PlayM41 9BP

All 12 soft play centres in Manchester →

Cake shops and home bakers in Manchester

• Abbie's KitchenM30
• Alex's BakeryM3 3EL
• Cake That Manchester
• Elaine's Creative CakesM41 7AB
• Vanilla Ice CakesM21 8AD
• Milly B's Kitchen

All 7 cake shops and home bakers in Manchester →

Trampoline parks in Manchester

• KickairM3 1RR
• Bounce Central SalfordM27 8SE
• Flip Out ManchesterM11 4TA
• Oxygen Activeplay – MediaCityM50 3AH · 60 min: £15.95. 90 min: £20.45. 120 min: £24.95. Toddler Ventures: £13.95.

Bowling alleys in Manchester

• King Pins Manchester ArndaleM4 3AQ
• King Pins Trafford PalazzoM17 8AS
• Tenpin Manchester PrintworksM4 2BS
• Tenpin Manchester HarpurheyM9 4DH

Farms and farm parks in Manchester

• Heaton Park Animal CentreM25 2SW
• Wythenshawe Community FarmM23 0AB
• Longford Park Pets' CornerM32 8PX

Markets, fairs and shows in Manchester

• Bowlee Car Boot Sale and MarketM24 4SB · Free
• The Manchester Model Railway Show (Christmas show)M1 7HL · Adult £14 advance / £15 on the day; under-16s free with a paying adult
• Levy Artisan MarketM19 · Free

Swimming pools in Manchester

• Manchester Aquatics Centre — Splash PadM13 9SS · Included with Swim for All session booking

Skate parks in Manchester

• Wythenshawe Park Pump TrackM23 0AB · Free

Ice cream and treat stops in Manchester

• The Airport PubM22 5WH · Free