Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Seasonal Guides
As the autumn season arrives and live entertainment returns to Manchester and the North, there are so many activities to do with kids of all ages. Here’s our round-up of some of the best family activities and fun days out taking place across the region in the coming weeks.
Are you and your family interested in learning about Manchester’s fascinating medieval history? Chetham’s, Manchester’s oldest buildings, are celebrating their 600th anniversary with a two-day family-friendly festival, jam-packed with medieval-style activities, delicious food and drink, live music, dancing and entertainment.
For book-lovers and budding readers, prepare to be entertained and inspired at the Children’s Bookshow interactive workshop at HOME, presented by picture book author and illustrator Jo Empson. You can also head to The Lowry to see the stage adaptation of What the Ladybird Heard, which will leave you in stitches!
Get creative and build new, colourful worlds with your pre-schooler. Come along to the interactive Little Play Squad Sessions at Legoland Discovery Centre, designed for parents and their little ones.
Everyone’s favourite blue steam train is on his way to Lancashire for a visit! Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fat Controller are coming all the way from the magical island of Sodor to see you and your family for a special day out in October.
Here’s one for the football fanatics and a rainy weekend in Manchester. Prepare for a day of football discovery, penalty shoot-outs, interactive play and much, much more, with family activities at the National Football Museum.
Here are our picks
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1. The Children’s Bookshow at HOME
HOME The Children’s Bookshow at HOME at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 14 October 2021, from £6 - Book now
Join children’s picture book author and illustrator Jo Empson at HOME for a morning of creativity and inspiration.
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2. What the Ladybird Heard at The Lowry
Theatre Royal Concert Hall What the Ladybird Heard at The Lowry, Manchester, 16–17 October 2021, from £17.50 - Book now
What the Ladybird Heard is coming to The Lowry! Based on the bestselling picture book by Julia Donaldson (author of The Gruffalo) and Lydia Monks, this delightful stage adaptation of What the Ladybird Heard will take you and your family on an exciting and hilarious farmyard adventure with our favourite Ladybird.
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3. Little Play Squad at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Little Play Squad at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester, Until 17 December 2021, from £15 - Book now
Are you ready to get creative and build new, colourful worlds with your pre-schooler? Come along to the interactive parent-child Little Play Squad Sessions at Legoland Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, designed for parents and children aged 2-5.
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4. Day Out with Thomas at East Lancashire Railway
Day Out with Thomas Day Out with Thomas at The East Lancashire Railway, Lancashire, 2–3 October 2021, from £35 - Book now
Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fat Controller have come all the way from the magical island of Sodor to Bury Bolton Street Station, to see you and your family for a special day out.
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5. Families at the National Football Museum
National Football Museum Families at the National Football Museum at National Football Museum, Cathedral Quarter, Until 1 January 2022 - Book now
The National Football Museum in Manchester boasts a variety of football-themed activities for people of all ages. Prepare for a day of football discovery, penalty shoot-outs, interactive play and much, much more.
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6. The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid at Waterside Arts, Manchester, 30 September 2021, from £13 - Book now
Head to Waterside Arts to experience Chantry Dance’s breathtakingly beautiful adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
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7. Doodle Den: Playful Protests Online
Doodle Den: Playful Protests at People's History Museum at People’s History Museum, City Centre and online, Until 31 December 2021, free entry
Hunker down with blankets, cushions and whatever takes your fancy to create a Doodle Den and use the People’s History Museum’s online resources to creatively explore important topics including climate change, LGBT+ Pride and migrant rights.
More in Families
Science Learning at Home with Jodrell Bank
Science Learning at Home with Jodrell Bank is a perfect way to keep children (and their adults) busy while learning from home.
Counter-flow exhibition & ‘Identity Feet’ family-friendly creative workshops at People’s History Museum
Explore themes of identity and migration, and partake in a series of family-friendly creative workshops taking place throughout this summer.
British Textile Biennial 2021 – across Pennine Lancashire
British Textiles Biennial 2021 has an impressive list of headliners, including Maxine Peake, Lubaina Himid and fashion designer Patrick Grant.
Professor Brian Cox: Horizons
Using state of the art LED screen technology, Horizons will fill the M&S Bank Arena with images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and a time before the Big Bang.
Horizons is a celebration of our civilisation, of our music, art, philosophy and science; an optimistic vision of our future if we continue to explore Nature with humility and to value ourselves and our fellow human beings.
Lightpool Festival
Taking place during Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display, Lightpool is a celebration of spectacular art works and live, illuminated performance across the iconic town.
The Winter Droving in Penrith
An incredible wonderland of outdoor arts, masquerade and pint carrying competitions in Penrith.
Light Up Lancaster
Festival of light and art Light Up Lancaster returns to the city with installations, projections, performance and fireworks illuminating the city’s historic buildings, charming streets and hidden squares.
The Lanterns at Chester Zoo
Adventure around nine new magical, illuminated worlds after dark including an Ice Kingdom and meet Father Christmas.
Lumiere Festival
For the past 11 years, Lumiere Festival has been lighting up Durham’s public spaces with mesmerising installations and interactive light-based artworks.
Culture Guides
Cinema in Manchester and the North
Black History Month, spooky screenings and the return of film festivals all feature in this month’s cinema guide.
Exhibitions
Race, beauty, education and early childhood memories are all explored in this month’s top pick of exhibitions from across the north.
Literature
Events for readers meet events for writers, with plenty of book launches, open mics, literature festivals, writing conferences and poetry showcases to pop into your diary for the remainder of September pushing into October, both online and in person.
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
A guide to Food and Drink in Manchester and the North, including plenty of new bars and restaurants and exciting new menus from old favourites.
Tours and Activities
Summer is here and we’re so excited to be out in the world touring, making, playing and doing all the things Manchester and the North has to offer.
Destination Guides
Related Guides
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
A guide to Food and Drink in Manchester and the North, including plenty of new bars and restaurants and exciting new menus from old favourites.
Exhibitions
Race, beauty, education and early childhood memories are all explored in this month’s top pick of exhibitions from across the north.
Theatre
Dark comedies, dance world premieres and celebratory reopening seasons feature in this month’s eclectic pick of live theatre happening across the North.
Half Term
Half term fun here we come! Read through our specially selected family event line up and pick your personal favourites for some quality time together.
Things to Do in Manchester
There’s plenty of things to do in Manchester, from award-winning theatre and exhibitions to exciting food and drink offer and thriving literature and music scenes. Our guide to the best things to with your time in Manchester.
Music
We’re now well into gig season and it’s proving to be a special one, with artists and audiences giving it their all. From atmospheric electronica to taut post-punk, there’s a whole lot to dig into in our new music guide.
Things to do right now
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