Family things to do in the North

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

August is upon us which means we’re nearly half-way through the summer holidays and edging ever closer to Autumn… As always, the north is packed with activities to keep families entertained, rain or shine. Whether you’re a curious type who loves science and bogies, a surrealist who’s interested in anything upside-down, a creative type who loves anything to do with words, or perhaps you love LEGO and / or saving the world, there’s probably something for you.

We’ll start with the nonsense! Awesome creative and slightly surreal summer events include the upside-down, sideways and bizarre Topsy Turvy 25 at Theatre Porto and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Z-arts.

And next up – science… small scientists who love bogies and poo (nice!) will love Science and Industry Museum for the Summer of Senses and Poo, Glorious Poo at Thackray Museum of Medicine, and in September, the British Science Festival is coming to Liverpool. Moving on into Autumn, The Colour of Dinosaurs, exploring exactly what the name suggests, is coming to Leeds Playhouse.

And for the bookworms – the littlest literary geniuses and their grownups will enjoy Baby Book Club in Liverpool, and Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester is also rolling out a brilliant programme of creative workshops for families.

Over in Leeds, environmentalists/builders/LEGO fans will enjoy dreaming up creative, eco-friendly inventions for Leeds Museum using LEGO® bricks. More museum fun throughout August includes The Cat that Slept for a Thousand Years at Manchester Museum.

Bit strapped for cash this summer? Enjoy stories and arts and crafts at the Summer of Stories at Z-arts, or visit Lotherton Hall where a packed programme of holiday activities awaits. See more free family things to do in Manchester here.

Our top picks

Summer Holidays: Poo, Glorious Poo

Summer Holidays: Poo, Glorious Poo at Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds, Until 31 August 2025, From £0.00 - Book now

Science and poo lovers – head to Poo, Glorious Poo, a disgusting deep-dive into the world of digestion, disease and dung…

Poo lovers - get ready for the best kind of summer celebration (the stinky and scientific) at Thackray Museum of Medicine during the six week holidays. Embrace your inner scientist and your inner five-year-old with Poo, Glorious Poo, a disgusting deep-dive into the world of digestion, disease and dung, three of the most fascinating things ever!  animated poo joined by a toilet roll and a toilet with faces. Summer Holidays: Poo, Glorious Poo
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Topsy Turvy 25

Topsy Turvy 25 at Theatre Porto, 7–10 August 2025, From £5.50 - Book now

Topsy Turvy is here! Enjoy a free festival packed with nonsense and brilliance and all things upside down and topsy turvy.

Topsy Turvy

British Science Festival

British Science Festival at Bluecoat, Liverpool (and other venues), 10 September 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

The British Science Festival is coming to Liverpool – get ready for awesome science, art, performance and fun for everyone.

Image of a performer dressed as a creepy moon, wearing a beige suit jacket, grinning in front of a lamp
Charley Williams

LEGO® Build the Change: Rewild our Museum!

LEGO® Build the Change: Rewild our Museum! at Leeds Industrial Museum, Leeds, Until 28 August 2025, From £0.00 - Book now

Reflect on the world and consider the environment as you dream up creative, eco-friendly inventions for Leeds Museum using LEGO® bricks.

A picture of four lego characters holding a lego globe
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Island of Foam: Version #40 at Centenary Square

Island of Foam: Version #40 at City Park, Bradford, 6 August 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Get ready for a tidal wave of technicolour when Island of Foam lands in Bradford. An interactive installation by German artist Stephanie Lüning.

Island of Foam: Version #40 at Centenary Square: Large crowd of people watching the island of foam
Image courtesy Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: Josephine Brueder.

Summer at Aviva Studios

Factory Summer at Aviva Studios, Manchester, Until 31 August 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Get ready for a super packed seriously fun line-up of live music and dance, skateboarding sessions, Pride celebrations and hands-on activities for families.

Summer at Aviva Studios
Image courtesy of Factory International.

The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years at Manchester Museum

The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years at Manchester Museum, Manchester, Until 14 September 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Step inside a dreamlike, light-soaked installation that invites visitors of all ages to do the most radical thing of all – slow down.

bubbles of pale light
manchester museum

Summer at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Summer of Fun at Elizabeth Gaskell's House at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester, 6–28 August 2025, From £0.00 - Book now

Enjoy a fabulous programme of free family workshops throughout the summer holidays, such as scavenger hunts meets storytelling, book-binding, and weaving words.

African American boy with friends in the grass exploring and looking nature with the magnifying glass.Education outdoor concept.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Z-arts

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Z-arts, Manchester, 8–29 August 2025, From £23.10 - Book now

Swap screen time for storybook magic and step into the nonsensical world of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Z-arts, one unmissable unbirthday celebration.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Z-arts A woman dressed as the white rabbit holds up two brightly coloured teapots to the camera.
Z-arts

Baby Book Club at Bluecoat

Baby Book Club at Bluecoat, Liverpool, 18 September–23 October 2025, From £52.00 - Book now

A 6-week book club for parents, carers and their pint-sized book lovers aged 3 to 12 months.

Baby Book Club
Baby Book Club

The Colour of Dinosaurs at Leeds Playhouse

The Colour of Dinosaurs at Leeds Playhouse, Leeds, 7–8 November 2025, From £16.50 - Book now

What colour were the dinosaurs, really? A brilliant and informative family show exploring this fascinating fact and more is coming to Leeds this autumn.

People singing on stage
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Summer of Senses at the Science and Industry Museum

Summer of Senses at the Science and Industry Museum at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 31 August 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Brilliant bogies and snotty science lovers rejoice! This summer sees a packed programme of fascinating yuck and mucuss-y stuff.

Mother and daughter wearing ear defenders in small intestine in Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You Summer of senses at the Science and Industry Museum
Science and Industry Museum

A Squash and a Squeeze at The Lowry

A Squash and A Squeeze at Lowry, Manchester, 5–24 August 2025 - Book now

Enjoy a delightful dose of farmyard chaos as the much-loved tale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler makes its way from page to stage in a fantastic musical adaptation for children and their grown-ups.

A Squash and a Squeeze at The Lowry
Image Credit Suzi Corker

A Lotherton Summer Holiday

A Lotherton Summer Holiday at Lotherton Hall and Estate, Until 31 August 2025, From £0.00 - Book now

Get ready for six weeks of fun, including a whole host of children’s entertainment, crafts, activities, a sandpit, a family trail – and most importantly a cafe with lots of delicious coffee options for parents.

A Lotherton Summer Holiday image of a child reaching for bunting
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

SIX at Palace Theatre

Six at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 9 September 2025–28 March 2026, From £15.00 - Book now

Tudor history gets another glow-up as the internationally acclaimed musical sensation SIX returns to Manchester and its going to be fabulous!

Six at Palace Theatre
Image supplied by ATG Tickets

Summer of Stories at Z-arts

Summer of Stories at Z-arts, Manchester, Until 23 August 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Enjoy four weeks of storytelling and arts and crafts, with a different theme each week, inspired by the Z-arts’ amazing Adventures in Wonderland experience.

Summer of Stories
Z-arts

The Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

The Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Bradford, Until 7 September 2025, From £10.00 - Book now

Steam-powered storytelling at its very best and perfectly staged for Bradford 2025, this much-loved classic is pulling into the station in spectacular style this summer.

The Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Courtesy Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: James Glossop.

Circus School at Leeds Market

Circus School at Leeds Market at Leeds Kirkgate Market, Leeds, Until 31 July 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Enjoy juggling, plate spinning, and even stilt walking at the Leeds Circus School this summer.

Circus School at Leeds Kirkgate Market
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

African & Caribbean Food Fest 2025

African & Caribbean Food Fest 2025 at Leeds Kirkgate Market, Leeds, 23 August 2025, Free entry - Find Out More

Foodies rejoice – Leeds’ favourite African and Caribbean Food Fest is back with Harmony of Colours, a celebration of cuisine, culture, and community.

Africana and Caribbean Food Fest
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Grandad Anansi at Z-Arts

Grandad Anansi at Z-arts, Manchester, 2–4 October 2025, From £5.00 - Book now

Experience an inspiring and heartwarming story of family, love, being brave, and letting go.

Grandad Anansi
Lizzie Henshaw

More families events

Summer at Aviva Studios
Until
ActivityManchester
Summer at Aviva Studios

From global dance and live music to storytelling, skateboarding and football, get ready for a dream summer on the banks of the River Irwell.

Free entry
Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts
FamiliesManchester
Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts

A free day of bizarre behaviour and exciting live performance at Z-arts. Expect the unexpected. Playful, unpredictable, and not easily forgotten.

Free entry
Get Outside with Bradford 2025: An image of a large man made pool with fountains in front of a historic building with a clock tower
Until
FestivalsBradford
Get Outside with Bradford 2025

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
Topsy Turvy
Families
Topsy Turvy 25

Theatre Porto’s joyful outdoor celebration returns to Whitby Park this summer with another wonderfully topsy-turvy weekend of art, performance and playful surprises. Taking over the park from 7–10 August, Topsy

From £5.50
Image by Jonathan Schofield.
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The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
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