These are the 11 best things to do in Manchester with kids
Make the most of your visit to Manchester with these kid-friendly experiences.
Looking to fill up your weekends or the school holidays? Manchester is just teeming with activities for families with kids to enjoy.
From indoor experiences like SEALIFE and the Museum of Illusions to grand outdoor adventures like Chester Zoo and Zip World, the city is a hub for kid-friendly activity.
Below, we've made a list of our absolute favourite family days out in and around the city, designed to suit a range of ages and interests.
You'll find hits like the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, the Crystal Maze Experience and even a tour of Manchester United's hallowed stadium.
You can find more of the best days out and experiences on Made For Mums Love to Visit.
Best family days out in Manchester at a glance
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, from £17.50
- Manchester United Museum and Tour, £114
- Museum of Science and Industry, free entry
- Chester Zoo, from £30
- Museum of Illusions, from £19.50
- SEALIFE Manchester, from £17.95
- Zip World Manchester, from £64
- The Crystal Maze Experience Live, from £76
- RHS Garden Bridgwater visit, from £5
- Race Across the World Experience, from £77
- Lake District Tour with Lake Cruise, £69
Best things to do with kids in Manchester 2025
Legoland Discovery Centre
Lego is a perennial favourite and Manchester’s Legoland Discovery Centre has plenty of options to entertain smaller members of the family. Housed within the Trafford Centre, it’s an indoor Lego playground with added attractions like a 4D Cinema, Lego-themed play areas, plus Miniland, an interactive city featuring many landmarks of the North West built from over 1.5 million bricks. The Lego Factory is entertaining and informative and there’s also the immersive Lego VR experience, but it’s not included with your admission ticket and will set you back an additional £6 each (4+ only).
Buy LEGOLAND Discovery Centre tickets from £17.50
Manchester United Museum and Stadium tour
Football-mad kids will be over the moon to get a look behind the scenes at Manchester United, one of England’s all-time greatest sports clubs. Little ones can learn about the club's history and achievements through interactive exhibits in the museum, before walking out through the players' tunnel to visit the dugouts and see the pitch.
- Buy Manchester United Family tour for one adult and one child for £57
- Buy Manchester United Family tour for £114
The Crystal Maze Experience Live
The Crystal Maze is the perfect experience for families. Based on the hit show, the game boasts several strategic, physical and adventurous puzzles that will get you working together as a team.
Buy The Crystal Maze Experience Live tickets from £76
RHS Garden Bridgwater visit
For a unique and tranquil experience, take a stroll around the RHS Garden Bridgwater which is home to hundreds of incredible plant life. You'll find beautiful seasonal blooms, vibrant tropical biomes and so much more across its 154 acres of land.
Book RHS Garden Bridgwater visit from £5
Chester Zoo
Picture: Chester ZooChester Zoo has been a North West family destination for almost a century. With over 21,000 animals and 500 different species, including some of the world’s most endangered, you can easily spend a full day here.
Parent Tester Katie, mum to 3 children (7 years, 3 years, and 11-months-old) says: “We absolutely love Chester Zoo, there is so much to do for children, from animals to play parks. We have membership passes and we often go. The downside is that sometimes the kids want to play in the parks, so we only see a couple animals but the range of animals makes it worth it.”
Race Across the World Experience
Experience the highs and thrills of BBC's Race Across the World in real-life. Now open in Manchester, this experience allows you to race across the city using strategy and teamwork to complete a series of puzzles.
Book Race Across the World Experience from £77
Sea Life Manchester
Little ones will delight in this underwater world, walking through an ocean tunnel to see sharks and turtles, exploring man-made shipwrecks that have been taken over by marine life and maybe even touching some creatures in the rock pools. Despite the name, it’s not just sea life on display here: small children can get hands-on with an array of insects and other life too, such as Giant African land snails, cockroaches, praying mantises and giant grubs.
Buy SEALIFE Manchester tickets from £17.95
Lake District Family Tour with Lake Cruise
Manchester is surrounded by natural beauty with the Peak District, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales just a stone's throw away. One day out we'd recommend is this lake cruise and train ride tour of the Lake District, which will take you directly from Manchester for your day out.
Book Lake District Family Tour with Lake Cruise for £69
Science and Industry Museum
From the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station to exhibits that bring the textile industry to life, The Museum of Science and Industry is a brilliant introduction to Manchester’s Industrial history. If you’re headed there at the weekend, little ones will love the Mini Movers session, learning how our bodies work like machines. For older children there’s a demonstration of a replica of Baby, the first computer to store and run a program, which was developed in Manchester.
Book Museum of Science and Industry tickets for free
Museum of Illusions tickets
The Museum of Illusions is a fascinating experience packed with optical illusions and impossible tricks that are sure to wow your kids. Tickets start at £19.50 for adults or you can book a family ticket for £77.50.
Buy Museum of Illusions tickets from £19.50
Zip World Manchester
Feeling adventurous? Zip World in Manchester is packed with adrenaline fuelled activities, from scaling trees to jumping on nets to riding ziplines. If you have slightly older kids who are full of energy, this is the perfect day out.
- Buy Zip World Full High Ropes Treetop and Nets experience from £64
- Full High Ropes Treetop Zip Trek and Nets Experience for Two from £129.50
- Buy Zip World Treetop Zip Full Trek for Two from £80
- Buy Zip World Treetop Zip Full Trek for Four from £132
Make sure you also check out the best Tesco Days out and best UK zoos.