Family Days Out in Manchester

Manchester has plenty for children, and the biggest draws are free. Prices below are in pounds sterling (GBP). Book timed slots where they are offered, especially on weekends and in school holidays.

Science and Industry Museum

Entry is free and it opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00, with free timed tickets recommended. The Power Hall has working steam engines, and the Experiment gallery on the first level is hands-on and aimed at children under 12. Another gallery called Power Up opens at weekends and in holidays and has its own ticket. Parts of the historic railway buildings are under conservation work, so check the museum’s visit page before you travel.

Manchester Museum

Also free, with Stan the T. rex in the ground floor Fossils and Dinosaurs galleries. The Vivarium is closed until May 2027, so there are no live reptiles or amphibians at present. It is closed on Mondays and open to 21:00 on Wednesdays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND

At the Trafford Centre, SEA LIFE Manchester has sharks, turtles and rays, including a stingray bay and a shark shipwreck. Adult tickets start from about GBP 16 when booked online. A combined ticket with the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre starts from about GBP 34 and is valid for 90 days. Adults can only enter LEGOLAND with a child, and both venues take cards only. The Snow Centre Manchester nearby has an indoor snow slope.

Salford Quays

The Lowry and the Imperial War Museum North both stand at Salford Quays, a short tram ride from the centre. Entry to the war museum is free. The Salford Watersports Centre runs canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding sessions. Keep children away from other canal and river edges in the city.

Quarry Bank and Heaton Park

For older children, Quarry Bank offers a working cotton mill and the Apprentice House, which is by guided tour only. A family ticket is GBP 60.00 from 1 March 2026. Heaton Park is a large public park north of the centre. The heritage tramway there has had a long closure, so check its website before you go.

Tips

  • An adult bus single is GBP 2 and a child single GBP 1 on the Bee Network.
  • Mornings are quieter at the football and science museums.

Read more: animal activities in Manchester and group activities in Manchester .

Official pages: SEA LIFE Manchester , Manchester Museum , Salford Watersports Centre . Compare guided options on Viator .