Family things to do in Manchester and the North

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

Get ready for a fun-packed April, with a whole host of events and activities for families to enjoy. The weather is never straight-forward up north, so we’ve pulled together our top picks of indoor and outdoor activities in this month’s Families Guide, from children’s theatre to creative and interactive adventures.

Theatre fans won’t be disappointed, with the fin-tabulous Shark in the Park at The Dukes and Grooving with Pirates at Z-arts for the more musically minded, and moving into June, get ready for a seriously roar-some adventure at Jurassic Earth in Halifax, also roaming to venues across the UK.

Events further ahead include 42 Balloons at The Lowry, the Manchester Histories Festival 2024, the 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts, Awful Auntie at the Manchester Opera House, Bluey’s Big Play and Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book at The Lowry, Batteries Not Included at the National Football Museum and TOTFest Cheshire.

Our top picks

42 Balloons at The Lowry

42 Balloons at The Lowry, Manchester, Until 19 May 2024, from £29.50 - Book now

Soar to new heights of inspiration with the uplifting tale of Larry Walters and his skyward adventure at 42 Balloons at The Lowry.

The cast of 42 Balloons at The Lowry
The cast of 42 Balloons. Image courtesy of The Lowry.

Jurassic Earth at Victoria Theatre

Jurassic Earth at The Victoria Theatre, Halifax, West Yorkshire, 16 June 2024, from £20.00 - Book now

Prepare to be roar-truck as you embark on an epic journey through Jurassic Earth and come face to face with the most incredible Dinosaur species to ever roam the planet.

Jurassic Earth at the victoria theatre
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Shaun the Sheep: Find the Flock at Tatton Park

Shaun the Sheep: Find the Flock at Tatton Park at Tatton Park, Until 23 June 2024, from £6.00 - Book now

Enjoy a baa-rilliant family adventure with Shaun the Sheep: Find the Flock at Tatton Park this spring and throughout the Easter holidays.

 

Shaun the Sheep
Tatton Park

Preston: City Event Programme

Preston: City Event Programme, Until 28 September 2024, free entry - Visit now

From Easter egg rolling to the 50th anniversary Caribbean Carnival, there’s all manner of fun happening in Preston this year.

Image of a stage with a band playing and a crowd of audience members stood and sat down.
Michael Porter Photography

Kaleidoscope at Z-Arts

Kaleidoscope at Z-arts, Manchester, 27 April 2024, from £9.50 - Book now

Prepare to be dazzled in this mesmerising event taking you on a journey of discovery through an incredible symphony of the senses. For little ones aged 6-18 months.

Kaleidoscope at Z-arts Image of baby wearing kaleidoscope glasses and the words
Filskit Theatre

Manchester Histories Festival 2024

Manchester Histories Festival 2024, 6–9 June 2024, free entry - Find Out More

Make amazing memories with a weekend of family fun at the Manchester Histories Festival 2024, bringing history, culture and delight to the people of Manchester.

Manchester Histories Festival 2024
Manchester Histories

Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry

Bluey's Big Play at The Lowry, Manchester, 31 July–11 August 2024, from £18.50 - Book now

Get ready for an exciting family adventure with Bluey, Bingo and their dad!

Bluey's Big Play at The Lowry
Darren Thomas

Awful Auntie at the Manchester Opera House

Awful Auntie at Palace Theatre, Manchester, Until 21 April 2024, from £18.00 - Book now

Prepare for a horrifying and heartwarming family adventure at the live-stage adaptation of David Walliam’s hilarious Awful Auntie.

Awful Auntie at the Manchester Opera House
via ATG Tickets

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 20 July 2024, free entry - Visit now

Enjoy fun and creative activities at the Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, an outdoor space designed to encourager little ones to play freely while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.

OUTDOOR ART CLUB AT THE WHITWORTH
Image courtesy of The Whitworth.

Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book at The Lowry

Charlie Cook's Favourite Book at The Lowry, Manchester, 23 July–4 August 2024, from £19.00 - Book now

Explore a magical world of books and tales in this musical production inspired the original book, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Charlie Cook's Favourite Book at The Lowry
Little Angel

The 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts

The 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts, Manchester, Until 31 July 2024, from £9.00 - Book now

Step inside the 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts and meet all sorts of peculiar guests while experiencing an immersive wonderland of play and storytelling.

The 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts
Z-arts

TOTfest Cheshire

TOTfest at Chester Racecourse, Cheshire, 21 July 2024, from £12.00 - Book now

Tiniest festival goers can look forward to TOTfest Cheshire, packed with endless entertainment for kids and their grownups.

TOTFest Cheshire
TOTFest Cheshire

More families events

The cast of 42 Balloons at The Lowry
Until
TheatreMediaCityUK
42 Balloons at The Lowry

A remarkable true-story with a toe-tapping ’80s soundtrack, be lifted to new heights with this eagerly anticipated world premiere.

from £29.50
OUTDOOR ART CLUB AT THE WHITWORTH
Until
ChildrensManchester
Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Enjoy fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely in the fresh air, while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.

free entry
Spotlight on

May Bank Holiday 2024: Things to Do

Plan your May Bank Holiday weekend with our top picks from music, art, theatre, food and drink spots, whatever the weather.

Take me there

Family things to do in Manchester and the North

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Now back open with a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

The Hepworth Wakefield
Wakefield
Gallery
The Hepworth Wakefield

Winner of the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, The Hepworth in Wakefield is easily one of the leading cultural highlights of the North.

Culture Guides

Festival-goers at Green Island
Music in Manchester and the North

Gazing longingly towards the good times that will accompany the surely imminent sun, we take a look at the best music festivals coming up in Manchester and Salford.