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Things to do with babies in Manchester

Creative Tourist

Bottle, bottle warmer, food, nappies, nappy cream, nappy bags, toys, change of clothes… got everything? Schlepping a baby, a buggy and all the accompanying gear around the city centre can sometimes feel like mounting an expedition into the rainforests of Borneo; add another child and the chaos multiplies by ten. With this in mind, we know how important it is to know of safe and welcoming baby-friendly havens to visit, which not only keep the older kids and adults entertained, but also make Mum’s life much easier.

Here is our guide of things to do with babies in Manchester.

If you want more things to do with the kids, check out our regularly updated families guide which picks out the best cultural adventures for families in Manchester and the North.

Our top picks

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 16 December 2023, free entry - Visit now

Visit the Outdoor Art Club at the Whitworth Art Gallery, jam-packed with fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.

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OUTDOOR ART CLUB AT THE WHITWORTH
Image courtesy of The Whitworth.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

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

Great for the kids big and little, LEGOLAND is a great day out for families. Children under 5 can enjoy the  DUPLO Farm, and then have a tumble and play in the soft play area, no big kids allowed!

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LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Heaton Park

Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M25 2SW - Visit now

No grumpy babies here! Head to Heaton Park and Farm with your littlest one in full ‘sling’ and enjoy an Animal Centre for cuddling and petting plus a really lovely stroll around the stunning green grounds. Granted, baby will probably sleep the whole way through, but parents can enjoy the animals while sleepy one catches up on much needed kip!

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RHS Garden Bridgewater

RHS Garden Bridgewater, Occupation Road (Off Leigh Road), Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester, M28 2GU - Visit now

A great day out for kids and adults of all ages. Stroll through the grounds of the spectacular 154-acre RHS Bridgewater Garden, with play areas, plant factories and butterfly gardens for the bigger-little kids, and lots of fresh air, green spaces and top facilities for the babies too.

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RHS GARDEN BRIDGEWATER
Image: Harris Bugg Studio

The East Lancashire Railway

The East Lancashire Railway, Bury Bolton Street Station,, Bury,, Lancashire, BL9 0EY - Visit now

Babies will love a trip on the steam train at East Lancashire Railway. Choo Choo!

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East Lancashire Railway

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Manchester Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak St, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 5JD - Visit now

Completing your hop around NQ, Manchester Craft & Design Centre offers a little respite from the hustle and bustle of city (and precious baby-changing).

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Manchester Craft and Design Centre by Joel C Fildes.
Manchester Craft and Design Centre by Joel C Fildes.

Manchester Arndale

Manchester Arndale, Market Street , Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 3AQ - Visit now

The Arndale is a bit of a godsend for families, as you can go shopping while also knowing its relatively easy with your little one. Featuring up-to-date facilities for parents: separate baby changing and feeding rooms, parent and child stalls in the women’s rooms, and parent and child toilets. If you’re on your own with a pram, attendants will open an accessible toilet for you. On site cafes such as Starbucks, Costa Coffee (in Waterstones) and Cafe Nero, are handy places for a feed and all come with highchairs as standard. Watch out for (very) long lift queues at busy times, though.

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Where to go in Manchester

Manchester
Shop
House of Books & Friends

Playing a powerful role in the community, this venue functions as a bookshop, café and place to meet and chat with likeminded individuals.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Sett

Sett is an art café in West Didsbury, one of the areas many thriving independent businesses.

Stretford Foodhall
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Stretford Foodhall

A one-stop-shop, Stretford Foodhall is a place for those who like to eat, drink and shop with a guilt-free conscience. Whether you fancy visiting to sample some delicious street food or to top up your refillable containers, Stretford Foodhall is well worth a visit.

Haunt MCR
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Haunt MCR

Haunt MCR is a speciality coffee shop and wine bar located on Manchester’s bustling Peter Street.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

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

Hatch
Manchester
Event venue
Hatch

We check out the new festive changes to Hatch, Manchester’s favourite collection of small independents.

Popup Bikes
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Popup Bikes

Independently-run coffee shop and bike repair shop on the edge of the Green Quarter in Manchester.

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Manchester Visitor Guides

UNITOM bookshop
Bookshops in Manchester

Manchester is a UNESCO City of Literature, so of course there are a few go-tos for books. Read our guide to discover the best places to pick them up.

Photo of the Halle orchestra at Bridgewater
Music Venues in Manchester

Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.

Private Dining Rooms in Manchester

The best private dining spaces in Manchester's leading restaurants. This is where you and your guests can be fed by professional chefs in a private room.

Sunday Roasts in Manchester

Looking for the finest roast dinners in Manchester? Look no further. We've picked out the very best Sunday dinners in the city.

Blossom on trees in Manchester
Parks and Gardens in Manchester

There are more green spaces in Manchester than you might think. We've picked out some of the best parks and gardens in and around the city.

Aubergine dish at Bistro 1847
Vegetarian Food in Manchester

We’ve gathered together a handpicked list of some of our favourite vegetarian places in Manchester – meaning you need never suffer a stuffed pepper ever again.

Manchester District Guides

The Quays, Greater Manchester

The Quays is home to MediaCityUK (the largest media hub in Europe) and studios purpose-built for the BBC’s move up North in 2011.
chinatown, manchester in sun by ben williams
Chinatown, Manchester

Chinatown is a network of back streets dotted with Chinese restaurants – go to Ho’s Bakery for perfect honey buns, Hunan for spice and Middle Kingdom for a very affordable menu.
Ancoats, Manchester
Ancoats & New Islington

Ancoats, just off the Northern Quarter in Manchester, is one of the city’s most increasingly desirable neighbourhoods. Find out why.
Canal Street, Manchester

Manchester’s picturesque Canal Street and its surroundings constitute what is reputedly the oldest gay village in the country.
Chapel Street, Salford

Chapel Street has the different counter-cultural feel of another city: still industrial, more casual, temporal. Here’s what the area has to offer.
A coffee stand at Levenshulme Market
Levenshulme, Manchester

From cultural points of interest to unique watering holes, explore what Levenshulme has to offer in our guide.

Tib Street, Manchester

It’s not often that you find a street you could while away a whole day on: from beautifully made coffee in the morning, through to shopping, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner…
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Destination Guides

Culture Guides

Music in Manchester and the North

Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.