October half-term at Quarry Bank

Sarah Gaffney-Lang, Families Editor

Book now

October half-term at Quarry Bank

19 October-1 November 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Young girl turning a wheel at Quarry Bank
Paul Harris
Book now

Autumn is in full swing and there’s no better place to enjoy the beauty of the season than in the picturesque valley and extensive grounds of Quarry Bank. There’s a complete industrial heritage site waiting to be discovered, alongside acres of beautiful gardens and woodland to explore.

Managed by The National Trust, this half term Quarry Bank invites you to discover what life in the mill was really like, through family crafts and science experiments. The whole family will be amazed to see the historic machinery roar into action inside the mill. You’ll also have the opportunity to follow the factory inspector story trail and learn more about life as an apprentice at Quarry Bank.

Visitors at Quarry Bank

At Quarry Bank the focus is well truly on the stories behind the people who worked in the mill. Discover how mill work impacted the human body. How did the apprentices feel after a long day at the mill? What did working 12 hours a day really do to your body? You and your family can get involved in activities that will bring all of the aches, pains and injuries of 18th Century mill work to life.

Alongside the activities in the mill make sure you take time to explore the beautiful gardens and the meadows behind the mill. The site is also surrounded by woods that are great for those of us with canine members of the family to entertain. Dogs must be kept on short leads around the mill and aren’t permitted inside the mill or gardens.

The National Trust have produced a fabulous ‘50 Things to do before your 11 3/4’ pack – make sure you pick one up from the information desk and try out their exciting things to do in the great outdoors. Half-term activities run from 19 October to 1 November (not including weekends). The event is free but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Where to go near October half-term at Quarry Bank

In Focus: Chinese Contemporary Art.
Manchester
Gallery
New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery

New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery opened in 2016, providing a permanent space to showcase the University of Salford Art Collection within the New Adelphi School of Arts and Media.

Cumbria
Restaurant
1863 Restaurant

1863 offers a seven-course Lake District tasting menu that overdelivers at every turn. Cumbrian ingredients, clever ideas and classical cooking techniques.

City Centre
Bar or Pub
Schofield’s Bar

Schofield’s could be Manchester’s most grown-up bar. Very precise drinks in an upmarket city centre venue. It’s not cheap, hey, but true class costs.

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
Sicilian NQ

Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
Maki & Ramen

Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.

Restaurant Orme
Manchester
Restaurant
Restaurant Örme

A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.

The Abbey
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Pigeon Beer Wanderer

Pigeon Beer Wanderer brings wine-level ceremony to Manchester’s new “Beermuda Triangle”, courtesy of Joshua Lightfoot and his crack team of booze experts.

What's on: Families

Red Rodeo
DanceSalford
Make Tracks

Free family day of live music, art and cycling activities on Chapel Street, Saturday 19 September, celebrating Salford’s new walking and cycling route.

Free entry
Encounter Festival in Preston
FestivalsLancashire
Encounter Festival in Preston

Preston comes alive with outdoor theatre, live music and family-friendly creativity in one of the North West’s most joyful festivals.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Exhibitions

Summer isn’t usually a high point in the exhibitions calendar, but Greater Manchester’s small galleries seem to have made a pact to change that this year.

Food and Drink in the North

Squeeze the most out of these final weeks of summer thanks to our mid-August guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Woodhill by LUNG Theatre.
Theatre

Contemporary performance, verbatim theatre, dark comedy and a bold vision of Gaza - an eclectic mix for the start of autumn.

Matt Spratt.
Music

Aphex Twin-endorsed electronica, an eight-hour organ marathon and the most exciting band in Ireland's current folk revival all feature this month.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.