For many families, finding activities to do together that will keep everybody entertained without breaking the bank can be a little bit of a challenge. When you have children to entertain, getting them out of the house and enjoying some fresh air or something fun or educational is really important, but you may find that you run out of ideas after a few such outings.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a little roundup of some of the best free things that you can do with children in the Manchester area. Manchester is a vibrant city full of culture and history, and it has its fair share of great free attractions! Read on to find out more.
Museum of Science and Industry
Open: Daily 10am – 5pm
Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4FP
Kids will love a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry, and it is completely free to enter. You can learn about the discoveries and innovations that were born in Manchester and influenced the world, and there are interactive shows and demonstrations that children will love, a soft play area, and even a Treasure Hunters app!
National Football Museum
Open: Daily 10am – 5pm
Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, Manchester M4 3BG
If your little ones are football mad, a trip to the National Football Museum is a must. The museum’s mission is to protect the heritage and culture of football, and you’ll find amazing collections including the FIFA collection, as well as exhibitions which can teach you everything about the sport that you could wish to find out.
Greater Manchester Police Museum
Open: Tuesdays 10.30am – 3.30pm
57A Newton St, Manchester M1 1ET
Children love playing cops and robbers, so a trip to the Greater Manchester Police Museum to discover the real stories of what life was like for the police who worked there over the years is bound to be loads of fun for all the family.
The Manchester Museum
Open: Daily 10am – 5pm
Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL
Let your little ones learn about the natural world and different cultures at the Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester. There are exhibitions and events which are usually also free, and little ones will love the fossils and prehistoric creatures, and the live reptiles!
Heaton Park
Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester M25 2SW
Taking your kids to the park is always lots of fun, so why not bring the family along to the biggest and best park in the North West? Heaton Park boasts over 640 acres of parkland, and there is a children’s play area, an animal centre, a land train, and a lake which you can boat on. There’s also a garden centre, which makes it perfect for a peaceful Sunday afternoon.
Dunham Massy
Open: Daily 10am – 4pm
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ
Head to Altrincham and pay a visit to Dunham Massey, a Georgian house and garden with an ancient deer park. There is a herd of fallow deer that have lived in the park for the past few hundred years, and they are sure to delight children. The house itself is full of treasures, and the gardens are a great place to stretch your legs.
Chorlton Water Park
Open: All the time
Maitland Avenue, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 7WH
This local nature reserve has a lake, woodlands, and grasslands and makes for a lovely day out. There is a children’s play area, which has recently been given a complete makeover, and the park is a lovely place to bring the family for a stroll or a relaxing afternoon.