Families

Family things to do in Manchester and the North

Gemma Gibb, Families Editor

Last Updated 29 September 2016

Autumn is drawing in and half term adventures are on the horizon. Here are our top tips for outdoor and indoor hot tickets to book and do now.

Book to play your part in half-term hauntings and nocturnal animal encounters like no other at the first major experience of its kind, The Enchantment of Chester Zoo and head to Contact this weekend for Fun Palaces, its free day of creative fun. Snap up tickets before they all go like hot cakes for The Philosopher’s Scone, Manchester Science Festival’s Harry Potter inspired afternoon tea, film screening and magic masterclass. Be thrilled, inspired and a little bit scared at Z-arts’ Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake and Bad Things experience and book ahead for fun events in Manchester Literature Festival’s Young Readers Programme.

Here are our top 5 picks

1. The Enchantment of Chester Zoo

Wild Rumpus

The Enchantment of Chester Zoo at Chester Zoo, 22 October 2016–31 October 2016, from £16.00 - Book now

A major new outdoor arts spectacular for one week only this autumn is set to reveal the incredible natural super powers of some of the Zoo’s mysterious and endangered nocturnal animals with Wild Rumpus, award-winning producers of the Just So Festival.

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2. The Philosopher’s Scone: magic tricks at Harvey Nicks

Image courtesy of MSI

The Philosopher’s Scone at Harvey Nichols’ Second Floor Brasserie, City Centre, 24 October 2016, from £12.00 - Book now

A Harry Potter themed afternoon tea like no other with an insight into how magic works, chocolate frog rocky road cake, snake eye scones and a film screening of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone.

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3. Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things at Z-arts

Michael Rosen - Image courtesy of Z-Arts

Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things at Z-arts, Manchester, 17 September 2016–17 December 2016, from £7.00 - Book now

Go on a bear hunt and other bookish adventures at this new interactive experience, produced with the unrivalled award-winning storyteller Michael Rosen.

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4. Family Reading Day & Comic Art Masterclass

Jon Parker Lee / Manchester Literature Festival

Family Reading Day & Comic Art Masterclass at Manchester Central Library, Manchester, 22 October 2016, from £4 - Book now

Book now for marvellous masterclasses and the chance to meet top illustrators and authors in Manchester Literature Festival’s Young Readers programme

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5. Snow Queen at Hope Mill Theatre

Drew Baumohl and Little Pixie Productions

Snow Queen at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, 12 December 2016–17 December 2016, from £7.00 - Book now

A magical, musical adaptation of this enchanting winter tale at the most exciting new venue in town.

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Culture Guides

Tim Etchells, Lets Pretend (Large) (2014), installation view, Grundy Art Gallery. Photo: Phill Heywood, courtesy Grundy Art Gallery.

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