Manchester and the wider North are packed with family days out right now – snowy adventures at Z-arts, festive fun at The Octagon, hands-on engines at the Science & Industry Museum, and big-stage magic at the Liverpool Empire. Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.
Families who love Banksy, gather round. Spring 2026 sees The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind take over Depot Mayfield.
The Power Hall has reopened. Experience the sights, smells and sounds of the engine-driven ideas and industry that started in Manchester and went on to change the world.
Adapted from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning bedtime book, this production from Tall Stories offers songs, laughs, snow, the occasional fright.
Wake up, look outside and… snow everywhere! This winter, families are invited into a world blanketed in wonder and discovery with the production of The Snowy Day.
Are you ready to help save Christmas? Mrs Claus needs your help with a festive Bake-Off like no other at The Octagon Theatre in Bolton this Christmas season.
Britain’s most successful dance troupe, Diversity, is back! Their brand-new concept tour, SOUL, explores AI through dance, and what makes us human.
The world’s most famous nanny (sorry, Nanny McPhee) is visiting Liverpool and she’s bringing her magic, music and that smug, delightful perfection that we all know and love.
Horrible Histories is coming live-on-stage to Liverpool! It’s loud, hilarious and yes, a little bit horrible.
Do you ever get bored with how things always look so ordinary? If you feel like distorting your reality a little, you are in luck. Bring your family, your friends and get lost in the amazing world of the Museum of Illusions.
Tudor history gets another glow-up as the internationally acclaimed musical sensation SIX returns to Manchester and its going to be fabulous!
Everything is connected but we rarely get a chance to really see it – YOU:MATTER is a spectacular audio-visual experience that playfully explores our place in the universe.
Enjoy a family-friendly journey through the history of activism at the People’s History Museum’s year-long Banner Exhibition.
Tumble down the rabbit hole and experience the most curious adventure, where the surreal and bizarre awaits!
Mrs Claus needs your help with a festive Bake-Off like no other in this interactive children’s theatre show at The Octagon.
From £11.00
Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism.
Free entry
This winter, families with little ones are invited into a shimmering world of snow and discovery with the new production of The Snowy Day.
From £10.00
Experience the sights, smells and sounds of the engine-driven ideas and industry that started in Manchester and went on to change the world.
Free entry
Get priority booking on the best seats, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and much more. Are you in?
From £45.00
For families who refuse to settle for beige buffets and early bedtimes, Raver Tots brings proper club energy to Freight Island this New Year’s Eve.
From £15
Explore art in the moorlands, soundscapes through the glen and appreciate how the city has become totally transformed when you get outside with Bradford 2025.
Free entry
From the urban hum of Manchester to the serene embrace of the...
Take a storybook journey from Manchester into Brontë country and the limestone...
A tour through idyllic Derbyshire and the Peak District, where rolling hills,...
From Manchester to Mr Darcy’s drawing room. Swap the city for sweeping...
The world's at your fingertips with free history, art, science and creative capers for all ages in Manchester.
Looking for things to with kids in Blackpool? Look no further. We round up the town's very best family-friendly experiences.
Our guide to the best things to do with kids this Christmas to keep little and big giddy-kippers out of trouble (and the selection box).
Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.
To make life easy when it comes to booking your stay, here’s our guide to Manchester's best hotels.
There’s no shortage of hotels in Liverpool, but you don’t have to go far to find something a bit more stylish than a Travelodge. Here’s our guide.
Leeds has plenty of new types of accommodation, from sleek, modern luxury to affordable art hostels and grand accommodation in green space.
For a weekend break in a private apartment or an overnight stay in high luxury, we've rounded up the best places to stay in Bradford, Ilkley and Saltaire.
High-end British dishes courtesy of head chef Andre Chef at this stunning Liverpool venue.
Chorlton’s magnificent Horse and Jockey has had an almighty do-over, transforming it into one of South Manchester’s top must-visit drinking and dining destinations.
Modern high-end British cuisine, set in a beautifully-lit venue on the edge of Spinningfields.
18th-century village pub serving up a superb range of wines and high-quality food.
Grand food hall with a superb outdoor space and a smart selection of in-house indie food traders
A new alternative Manchester Christmas market from the well-seasoned team behind our street food faves Grub.
Hawksmoor Manchester launches a new daytime menu full of fan favourites.
The Lawn Club is Manchester’s answer to an alfresco oasis in the heart of the city.
Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
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