The Best Family Days Out in Manchester: 12 Brilliant Things to Do With Kids

Planning a family day out in Manchester? From dinosaurs and LEGO to aeroplanes, steam trains and enormous playgrounds, these are some of the best things to do with kids in Manchester and Greater Manchester.

Manchester is one of those cities that makes family days out surprisingly easy.

There are brilliant museums for rainy Saturdays, huge green spaces when everyone needs to burn off some energy and enough football, LEGO, trains, planes and sea creatures to keep even the hardest-to-please little people entertained.

And plenty of the best family attractions aren't actually in Manchester city centre. Venture a little further into Greater Manchester and you'll find everything from RHS gardens to heritage railways and one seriously impressive indoor play centre.

So whether you're local, visiting Manchester with children or desperately Googling “what can we do with the kids this weekend?”, save this one.

Here are 12 of the best family days out in Manchester, picked by Carol.

Carol tip: We've added all 12 to our interactive map below, so you can easily see what's nearby and plan your day.

1. Science and Industry Museum

Best for: Curious kidsLocation: Castlefield, Manchester

Good for rainy days: Yes Budget: £ Age sweet spot: 3+

If you've got a child who wants to know how absolutely everything works, put the Science and Industry Museum near the top of your list.

Set in the heart of Manchester, the museum explores the city's incredible history of science, technology and industry, with exhibits designed to bring some very big ideas to life for younger visitors.

It's the sort of museum that works particularly well when you want a proper day out without having to rely on the weather.

Some areas of the museum are affected by its ongoing restoration programme, so check what's available before setting off.

Carol says: A brilliant option when the Manchester weather isn't cooperating.

2. Manchester Museum

Best for: Dinosaurs and natural historyLocation: Oxford Road

Good for rainy days: Yes Budget: Free Age sweet spot: All ages

Dinosaurs. Mummies. Animals. Fossils.

Sometimes you really don't need to work very hard to convince the kids that a museum is a good idea.

Manchester Museum is one of our favourite free family days out in the city, particularly if you need somewhere that works across different ages.

Its collections span natural history, archaeology and cultures from around the world, so there's plenty to explore without the day feeling like a traditional museum trip.

Carol says: One to keep bookmarked for a rainy weekend when you want a genuinely good day out without spending a fortune.

3. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester

Best for: LEGO-obsessed little onesLocation: Trafford Palazzo

Good for rainy days: AbsolutelyBudget: ££ Age sweet spot: Preschool and primary-school age

If your house already contains approximately 47,000 tiny LEGO bricks, you probably don't need us to explain the appeal.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester is essentially an indoor LEGO playground, with rides, play areas, MINILAND and DUPLO fun for younger visitors.

It's particularly suited to younger children rather than older thrill-seekers, making it a great option if you've got preschoolers or primary-school-aged children.

And because it's at Trafford Palazzo, you've got plenty nearby if you want to turn it into a bigger day out.

Carol says: Pair it with SEA LIFE next door if you're going all-in on the family day out.

4. SEA LIFE Manchester

Best for: Underwater explorersLocation: Trafford Palazzo

Good for rainy days: Yes Budget: ££ Age sweet spot: Toddlers upwards

Sharks tend to be an easy sell to children.

At SEA LIFE Manchester, families can make their way through aquarium zones filled with sharks, rays, turtles, colourful fish and plenty of other underwater creatures.

There's an Ocean Tunnel and lots for little ones to look at as you make your way around, making this an especially easy option with toddlers and younger children.

Tickets use timed entry, so this is one we'd organise before getting everyone into the car.

Carol says: Dark aquarium tunnels plus enormous fish somehow manage to be completely mesmerising for toddlers.

5. RHS Garden Bridgewater

Best for: A beautiful outdoor family dayLocation: Worsley, Salford

Good for rainy days: We'd save it for a drier one Budget: ££ Age sweet spot: All ages

Don't make the mistake of assuming an RHS garden is just for adults who get excited about dahlias.

RHS Garden Bridgewater can make a lovely family day out.

There are acres to explore and plenty of room for children to move, while adults get the rare treat of going somewhere designed for families that is also genuinely beautiful.

It's particularly lovely when you want a slower day outside rather than another attraction involving flashing lights and gift shops.

Carol says: Take snacks, let the children explore and don't try to rush around the whole garden.

6. Heaton Park

Best for: A low-cost outdoor dayLocation: North Manchester

Good for rainy days: Maybe bring wellies Budget: Free to explore; some activities may cost extra Age sweet spot: Everyone

When everyone has been inside for approximately seven minutes too long, Heaton Park is the answer.

It's one of Manchester's biggest green spaces, with plenty of room for walking, running and generally wearing children out.

You'll find huge areas of parkland and plenty of space for a proper family wander, making it easy to spend anything from an hour to most of the day here.

Pack a picnic when the weather's good and you've got one of the easiest low-cost family days out in Manchester.

Carol says: One of our favourites when you want to get everyone outside without paying admission for the whole family.

7. National Football Museum

Best for: Football-mad kids Location: Cathedral Gardens Good for rainy days: Yes Budget: ££Age sweet spot: 4+

If football dominates conversation in your house, this one almost plans itself.

The National Football Museum sits right in Manchester city centre and brings together the history and culture of the game with interactive experiences.

There's plenty for young football fans to explore, while a Discovery Zone provides something specifically for younger visitors too.

Its central location also makes this an easy one to combine with lunch and a wander around Manchester.

Carol says: A particularly good choice if you've got a child who would happily talk about football from breakfast until bedtime.

8. Play Factore

Best for: Burning off serious amounts of energy Location: TraffordCity Good for rainy days: Very Budget: ££ Age sweet spot: Toddlers to teens

This isn't your local soft play.

Play Factore is a huge indoor family entertainment space with an enormous play frame, slides and a dedicated toddler area, alongside additional activities aimed at older children.

It's particularly useful when you've got siblings at different stages and need somewhere that isn't going to leave one child completely bored.

And on those spectacularly wet Manchester days when everyone is bouncing off the walls? Even better.

Carol says: One to keep in your back pocket for school holidays and rainy weekends.

9. Runway Visitor Park

Best for: Plane-mad children Location: Manchester Airport Good for rainy days: Better when dry Budget: £–££ depending on activities Age sweet spot: All ages

There is something about standing ridiculously close to an enormous aeroplane taking off that never really stops being exciting.

Manchester Airport's Runway Visitor Park gives families fantastic views of aircraft arriving and departing, alongside retired aircraft, a children's play area and additional aviation experiences.

You can also book extra experiences, including tours, if you've got a particularly committed little aviation fan in the family.

Even children who aren't especially obsessed with planes tend to be impressed when an enormous aircraft suddenly appears in front of them.

Carol says: Take layers. Plane spotting is considerably more enjoyable when nobody is repeatedly telling you they're freezing.

10. East Lancashire Railway

Best for: Train-loving children Location: Bury Good for rainy days: Mostly Budget: ££ Age sweet spot: Toddlers upwards

For little train enthusiasts, heading north to Bury is worth the trip.

The East Lancashire Railway offers heritage train journeys through Greater Manchester and Lancashire, giving children the novelty of travelling somewhere where the train itself is the main event.

It's also the sort of family day out that works brilliantly with grandparents, and there are special events throughout the year.

Timetables and operating days vary, so this is definitely one to plan in advance.

Carol says: If you've got a toddler currently going through a train phase, prepare for this to be talked about for approximately six months afterwards.

11. IWM North

Best for: Older children and curious minds Location: The Quays Good for rainy days: Yes Budget: Free general admission Age sweet spot: School age+

For families with slightly older children, IWM North offers a very different kind of museum day.

The museum explores how conflict has shaped people's lives, with objects, exhibitions and personal stories bringing history to life.

Because of the subject matter, we'd consider your individual child's age and sensitivity, but for older primary-school children and teenagers it can provide plenty to talk about afterwards.

It's also at The Quays, so you can easily combine your visit with a walk around MediaCity.

Carol says: A thought-provoking option for older children rather than somewhere we'd choose specifically for toddlers.

12. The Whitworth

Best for: Creative families Location: Oxford Road Good for rainy days: Yes Budget: Free Age sweet spot: All ages

An art gallery might not be the first suggestion when somebody asks where to take a toddler, but the Whitworth deserves a place on your family list.

The gallery has a strong focus on families discovering, creating and playing together, with family activities and additional programming during school holidays.

It's also right beside Whitworth Park, so if the weather behaves you can combine gallery time with a run around outside.

And we particularly appreciate the little things that make somewhere genuinely family-friendly, with facilities designed to make visiting with babies and young children easier.

Carol says: Proof that a genuinely nice day out for adults and a child-friendly day out don't have to be two different things.

Which Manchester family day out should you choose?

If you've got toddlers, we'd start with SEA LIFE, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester Museum or Play Factore.

For a free or lower-cost day out, try Manchester Museum, Heaton Park, the Whitworth or IWM North.

When it's pouring with rain, Science and Industry Museum, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, SEA LIFE and Play Factore are all worth knowing about.

For football fans, the National Football Museum is the obvious city-centre choice.

And when everyone needs some fresh air, we'd head for RHS Garden Bridgewater, Heaton Park or the Runway Visitor Park.

Manchester really does have a brilliant mix of family attractions — and the good news is you don't need to cram everything into one weekend.

Save this guide and work your way through the list.

More family days out from Carol

Planning your next adventure? Explore our Top Family Days Out series for more family-friendly ideas across the UK, including our guides to York and Leeds.

We'll keep adding more cities too, so the next time you find yourself wondering what on earth you're going to do with the kids this weekend, Carol has you covered.

Opening times, prices, activities and booking requirements can change. Always check directly with the attraction before travelling.