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Family things to do in the North

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

It’s officially holiday season, and Manchester and the North’s arts and cultural calendar is packed with brilliant events and activities for families, from theatre to museum trips and creative crafting!

Winter events coming up include the Light Lab at the Science and Industry Museum, Christmas at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, On My Merry Way to Mersey Way in Stockport, Kids Christmas Crafting at Springwell, and Raver Tots New Year’s Eve Party at Freight Island.

And moving into 2025, we’ve got our eyes on Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians at Palace Theatre, plus outdoor art activities, LEGO experiences, museum visits and more.

Our top picks

Christmas at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Family Fun – Christmas at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester, Until 15 December 2024, from £0.00 - Book now

Step back in time for a Victorian Christmas at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House this festive season.

Find out more
Christmas at Elizabeth Gaskell's House Kids Christmas tree craft with festive decorations
Elizabeth Gaskell's House

On my Merry Way to Merseyway

On my Merry Way to Merseyway, Until 22 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Enjoy festive-themed activities for kids and their grownups, including the returning Giving Tree and Festive Huts as well as the brand-new attraction where little elves can do their training! 

Find out more
Grotto in Stockport
Matthew Nichol Photography

Little Penguin’s First Christmas at The Lowry

Little Penguin's First Christmas at The Lowry, Manchester, 28–31 December 2024, from £15 - Book now

Get ready for a magical, wintry experience with the little ones, as Little Penguin’s First Christmas comes to The Lowry. 

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Little Penguin's First Christmas at The Lowry
Image supplied by Quay Tickets

Light Lab at the Science and Industry Museum

Light Lab at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, 14 December 2024–4 January 2025, free entry - Find Out More

Brighten up your winter with the Light Lab at the Science and Industry Museum, packed with free activities and experiments to explore light, colour and sound.

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Boy watching hands making shadow puppets on a screen The Light Lab at the Science and Industry Museum
science and Industry Museum

Kids Christmas Crafting at Springwell

Kids Christmas Crafting at Springwell, Leeds, 22 December 2024, free entry - Find Out More

Enjoy a free, creative day out at Springwell, packed with fun, festive themed activities.

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A child's hand writing a Christmas Card Kids Christmas Crafting at Springwell
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

The Bear at Waterside Arts

The Bear at Waterside, Manchester, Until 29 December 2024, from £14.50 - Book now

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to get up close to a polar bear? What about sitting on its lap, or riding across snowy deserts on its back? Join Tilly and the Bear in this special, snowy event for families.

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Tilly and the bear
Paul Blakemore

Our Kids Social Xmas Pyjamarama Party

Our Kids Social Xmas Pyjamarama Party at Freight Island, Manchester, 15 December 2024, from £8.50 - Book now

Get ready for the Our Kids Social annual Christmas knees-up at Freight Island, pyjama style!

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Xmas Pyjamarama Party
our kids social

Stick Man at The Lowry

Stick Man at The Lowry, Manchester and online, 10 December 2024–5 January 2025, from £19 - Book now

Everyone’s favourite Stick Man is back in town and heading to The Lowry this festive season, and he is having a TERRIBLE day!

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The Stick Man at The Lowry
Stick Man at The Lowry

Winter Tales at The Stoller Hall

Winter Tales with Orchestra: The Nutcracker, Swan Lake & Sleeping Beauty at The Stoller Hall, Manchester, 19 December 2024, from £27.50 - Book now

Enjoy an atmospheric winter’s evening as the acclaimed Mystery Ensemble plays some of Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces, which include the beautiful, wintry sounds of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. 

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An illustration of a nutcracker and a girl in a pink dress, on a gold background
Red Events

The Snowman at The Bridgewater Hall

The Hallé – The Snowman, 21–22 December 2024, from £18.00 - Book now

Soar across oceans and seas to a magical, mystery, wintery wonderland at this special screening of The Snowman complete with a live orchestra.

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The Snowman at The Bridgewater Hall
Image courtesy of Snowman Enterprises Ltd.

Raver Tots New Year’s Eve Party at Freight Island

Raver Tots New Year's Eve Party at Freight Island, Manchester, 31 December 2024, from £15 - Book now

Welcome in 2025 with Raver Tots New Year’s Eve Party at Freight Island! Kids and adults from age zero to a billion will love this super fun, special family rave.

Find out more
Raver Tots at Escape to Freight Island
Raver Tots

Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians

Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 6 February–11 May 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

Get ready for a hilarious and educational adventure that makes history fun for the whole family – kids, parents, grandparents included!

Find out more
Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians
Image supplied by ATG Tickets

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS - Visit now

The ultimate indoor playground! LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is an immersive indoor attraction where iconic sites from Manchester’s skyline and other famous UK buildings can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

Find out more
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 September 2025 - Book now

Whether you’ve half an hour or a full day, you’ll always find something new to discover at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.

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Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum
State of Mind installation at the Science and Industry Museum. Image courtesy of Orbie Pullen Photography.

Wicked at Palace Theatre Manchester

Wicked at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, Until 12 January 2025, from £32.00 - Book now

Have you ever considered that the Wicked Witch of the West might not be so… wicked?

Find out more
Wicked at Palace Theatre Manchester
via ATG Tickets

Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza

Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza Cinema, Stockport, Until 5 January 2025, from £19.80 - Book now

Experience the magic of Christmas with Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza.

Find out more
Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza
iStock/Radist

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 21 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Get your wellies on and enjoy fun and creative outdoor activities.

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Toddler standing on grass with a paintbrush in hand turning to the right to look at the camera. He is wearing a navy blue rainsuit with a burgundy and navy blue long sleeved tiop underneath. He is standing in front of large cream coloured sheets that have been strung up on a washing line. The sheets have mud marks making on.
Image courtesy of The Whitworth.

Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Power UP at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 March 2025, from £8.00 - Book now

From Mario to Sonic and Pong to Fortnite, play your way through five decades of the best video games. Fun and educational. Win-win.

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Boy playing retro arcade games in Power Up.
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum.

PHM’s Playful Protest Space

PHM's Playful Protest Space at People’s History Museum (PHM), Manchester, Until 30 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Explore activism through fun crafts and activities, including games and films, all inspired by the museum’s collection.

Find out more
Children sat at a table and colouring
People's History Museum

More families events

Sleeping beauty at Storyhouse
Until
FamiliesChester
Sleeping Beauty at Storyhouse

Chester’s cultural hub has pulled out all of the festive stops this year – with a spectacular performance of Sleeping Beauty topping the bill.

from £15.00
Manchester Christmas Markets 2021
Until
FamiliesCity Centre
Manchester Christmas Markets

The Manchester Christmas Markets are back for 2024, with many dozens of stalls in front of the town hall, and hundreds of traders spread across city-centre squares.

free entry
saltaire living advent calendar
Until
FestivalsSaltaire
Saltaire Living Advent Calendar

The Saltaire Living Advent Calendar has been a staple of the village since 2006, with community buildings and houses lighting up their windows with intricate illuminations.

free entry
See all families events
Spotlight on

Things to do in Blackpool

Fancy a festive day trip? Explore our guide to Blackpool and build yourself an itinerary featuring attractions, galleries, restaurants and more.

Take me there

Family things to do in the North

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

The Hepworth Wakefield
Wakefield
Gallery
The Hepworth Wakefield

Winner of the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, The Hepworth in Wakefield is easily one of the leading cultural highlights of the North.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade West Kirby

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

See all places

Destination Guides

Things to do in Blackpool

Fancy a festive day trip? Explore our guide to Blackpool and build yourself an itinerary featuring attractions, galleries, restaurants and more.
Things to do in Bradford: Kala Sangam
Things to do in Bradford

Our guide to the dark horse of Bradford, full of eye-opening exhibitions, independent shops and authentic curry houses.
YSP
Summer of Sculpture and Performance Art in Wakefield

Wakefield is the place to be this summer, with fantastic family activities, ambitious street performances and amazing art on display.
York Castle Museum
Things to do in York

We take a closer look at York, one of the UK’s most beautiful heritage cities with a wealth of contemporary culture.
Burnley's Singing Ringing Tree
Things to do in Lancashire

Our guide to the culturally rich coastal county of Lancashire, encompassing Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackpool and Blackburn.
Chester
Things to Do in Cheshire

Our guide to the best things to in Cheshire, including culture, shopping and food and drink in Chester, Crewe and Macclesfield.
Things to Do in Cumbria

Our guide to the best things to do in the Cumbria and the Lake District, including Penrith, Kendal, Carlisle, Keswick and Cockermouth.

Culture Guides

Music in the North

From Afrobeat to psychedelia, alternative rock to glistening pop, we take a look at some of the best gigs happening in early 2025.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

From contemporary dance to ballet classics, and cult rock ‘n’ roll musicals to new writing, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.

Walker & Bromwich, Love Cannon, 2006, lambda print Photo:
Exhibitions in the North

Before the festive season completely takes over, we've rounded up some of the best exhibitions to see right now.

A man is dressed as an Elf in a decorated department store.
Cinema in the North

Get ready for animated classics, Muppet mayhem and a whole host of New York movies -- it's Christmas time in the cinema.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.