Things to do with kids in Manchester

Looking for things to do with kids in Manchester? The summer holidays are well underway and we have gathered together some of the best things you can do with the kids this summer in and around Manchester.

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Childrens 21–30 July 2022,

REFRACT Festival 2022 at Waterside

Activity 20 July–12 September 2019,

Summer Holidays at Quarry Bank

Exhibitions 20 July 2019–29 November 2020, FREE

The Sun at the Science and Industry Museum

Families 2 July–31 August 2022, FREE

Playtime: Summer Family Activities at The Whitworth

Families 10 August 2019 11:00 am, FREE

Sadler’s Yard Summer Jam 2019

Festivals 8–9 August 2020, FREE

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester at Alexandra Park (CANCELLED)

Exhibitions 23 March–1 September 2019, Lyme admission prices apply (free for National Trust members) £2.50 for trail

The Lost Words at Lyme

Families 17–18 August 2019, from £11.50

Romeo and Juliet at Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens

Families 21–25 October 2019, from £10.00

The Lost Words: Told in Gold at Dunham Massey

People’s History Museum (PHM)

Exhibitions 25 2018–8 September 2019, FREE

Rocket Returns to the Science and Industry Museum

Education 30 July–1 August 2019, from £18

School Holiday Drama Workshops at The Met

A World Inside A Book courtesy Suzi Corker

Exhibitions 12 February–26 October 2019, from £6

A World Inside a Book: Gruffalo, Dragons and Other Creatures at Z-arts

Exhibitions 19 July–3 November 2019, from £5

Roy of the Rovers – The Exhibition at the National Football Museum

Greater Manchester Police Museum

Culture Guides

Cinema

It only takes a quick glance at the film listings to realise that Christmas is coming, and quick. We’ve rounded up some of our festive highlights alongside standout seasons and festivals.

Exhibitions

Pause in the hustle and bustle of festive prep to take in some inspiration from this month’s top exhibitions.

The Ocean at the End of The Lane at the lowry

Families

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Manchester is bursting with fun, family activities to keep the kids entertained in the run up to Christmas!

Writer Nicholas Royle. Photo by Zoe McLean

Literature

There are spooky stories, Christmas crime thrillers and plenty of books for stocking fillers as December unfolds and Manchester and the wider North region switches on the live literature lights.