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Summer Holidays in Manchester and the North are nearly here! Come July, school will be out for six heady weeks of adventuring. Indoor, outdoor, free, ticketed…whatever you fancy. Look no further for your ultimate guide for cultural and just outright fun things to do together to make long-lasting memories (and also achieve precious hours of relative sanity during the hols).
Now the big holiday still a little way off, and we’ll be adding plenty of events here in the meantime, but here are a bunch of ideas to help you get that planning off the ground, including adventure activities and lots of outdoorsy fun.
Giddy kippers can run off some energy and enjoy adventures of the highest order at Quarry Bank, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Little Moreton Hall. There are also Victorian pastimes, games and a family garden trail happening at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House throughout the summer.
And to make that budget go further these summer holidays, take a look also at our round up of the best free things to do with kids in Manchester. Also don’t miss our guides to parks and our families guide for other longer-term capers.
Here are our picks
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1. Treetop Trek Heaton Park
Treetop Trek -
2. BeWILDerwood
Courtesy of BeWILDerwood -
3. Mayfield Park
Mayfield Partnership Mayfield Park, Mayfield Park, Manchester, M1 2PY - Visit now
A big draw of Mayfield Park is its massive 1400 square foot children’s playground. Its unique design is formed around six dramatic towers reaching 10-metres high and shaped like chimneys in a nod to the area’s industrial heritage. For kids, though, the first thing to catch the eye will be the enclosed 18m-long slide that crosses the newly-restored River Medlock!
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4. Little Moreton Hall
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5. Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary
Courtesy of Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary, Turbary Woods, 92 Chain House Lane, Whitestake, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 4LB - Visit now
Kids will love the thrill of having a bird of prey swoop to land on their arm. With over 90 birds of prey resident here, Turbay Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary offers the chance to do just this.
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6. Chill Factore
Chill Factore, 7 Trafford Way, Manchester, M41 7JA - Visit now
The winner of Manchester Tourism’s ‘Access for All’ Award and home to the UK’s largest indoor ski slope, Chill Factore is a welcoming environment where you can get your pulse up as you speed down real snow slopes. A great option for those inevitable wet days!
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7. Festa Italiana at Cathedral Gardens
Festa Italia Festa Italiana, 25–27 August 2023, free entry - Find Out More
Festa Italiana Manchester is the country’s biggest festival designed to celebrate Italian food, drink and culture. Transforming Manchester city centre’s Cathedral Gardens into Little Italy once again from the 26th to 28th August.
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8. Yorkshire Sculpture Park
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9. Quarry Bank
Quarry Bank Mill / National Trust
Related Guides
Open Air Theatre in Manchester and the North
Open air theatre shows are happening across the north over the next few months – we’ve collated our top picks into a neat guide for you.
Exhibitions
The spring season in museums and galleries continues, with an abundance of new exhibitions all over the North.
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.
Festivals
Here’s our guide to the best summer festivals with experiences taking place in a field or on the streets near you.
Wild Swimming in the North of England
The definitive guide to wild swimming in the North, taking in lakes, rivers and reservoirs across the region.
Families
The sun has finally got his hat on! Enjoy our top picks of family-friendly events and activities, both indoors and outdoors.
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