Our family will be in Manchester for two weeks in July. My husband will be working and I will be exploring with my three kids ages 11, 9, and 5. Any suggestions on local kid friendly things to do or see?
Posted by
Gateshead, UK
223 posts
If your kids are interested in soccer you can always take a tour of Old Trafford stadium. There's also the National Football Museum in the town itself, which I've heard is very good.
Posted by
2432 posts
It would probably be worth you getting a Friends & Family Railcard when you arrive as this will give you about 30% off train fares.http://www.railcard.co.uk/?gclid=CJ3smYmU-csCFVIYGwodyVoIHg
Using www.nationalrail.co.uk - you can plan several day trips by train. Places you could reach from Manchester include:>
York, Chester, Liverpool, Leeds, Buxton, Windermere (Lake District), Conwy (which has a massive castle) & could be combined with nearby Llandudno. If you want a tacky place - try Blackpool! You could even go for a day out in London. (For this longer journey - you will get cheaper fares by pre booking at www.virgintrains.co.uk)
Chatsworth House is another possibility but it is a round about route by train & bus so you might like to hire a car.http://www.chatsworth.org
www.traveline.info
www.visitchester.com
http://www.visitllandudno.org.uk
http://www.visityork.org
http://www.visitliverpool.com
http://www.visitbuxton.co.uk
http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/windermere-lake
/http://www.visitlancashire.com/explore/blackpool
http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/#
Bad weather option > take them to the huge edge of Manchester shopping centre called The Trafford Centre.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafford_Centre
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4051 posts
I've just returned, having accidentally picked the school spring break for my Manchester visit. It was like visiting Munchkin land, as kids swarmed the museums. The city museum at Manchester University seemed really popular and the Museum of Science and Technology, preserving industrial history such as train engines and old planes, was like a playground. Most of the institutions, including the art gallery, seem eager to promote activities involving children. You can find links here: http://www.visitmanchester.com/
PS: The city streets are clogged with double-decker buses which may be novel for your kids although they don't look as intriguing as the venerable red vehicles in London. There is also a circuit of free buses in the centre. The streets are just plain clogged at rush hour, aggravated by street repairs. Sometimes I found it quicker to just hoof it on foot. Make that decision and it will rain within five minutes. Manchester's character is born of flexing the collective muscles.