Affordable things to do in Manchester with kids

Once known primarily as one of the UK’s major industrial powerhouses, today Manchester is a thriving urban centre, packed full of cultural and entertainment attractions for all ages and tastes.

From its revitalised dockyards to its bustling centre, Manchester in northwest England has come a long way over the past two-hundred years. Back then, the city was best known for its textile industry, with its 18th-century canal system the conduit for this prosperous trade. Visit Manchester nowadays, however, and you’re more likely to see recreational narrowboats than fabric-laden vessels traversing its waterways. It’s a sign of quite how much things have changed. Little wonder that so many families have chosen to call the city home. And on that very theme, below are 10 affordable things to see and do across the city with kids.

Science and Industry Museum

Visitors can explore 250 years of world-changing innovations and ideas that began life in Manchester at the free-to-enter Science and Industry Museum. Journey through the city’s rich legacy of dynamism and invention in the Revolution Gallery, from the ancestor of modern computing to one of the first Rolls-Royce motorcars; find out how the city’s heritage is interwoven with the cotton industry in the Textiles Gallery; and see science brought to life in Experiment, an interactive gallery designed for the whole family. There are also regular live science shows, talks and demonstrations that take place around the museum.

Liverpool Road / Mon-Sun 10am-5pm

Manchester Museum

Owned by the University of Manchester and situated among the university’s group of neo-Gothic buildings in the heart of the city centre, the Manchester Museum is home to a remarkable assortment of works spanning archaeology, anthropology and natural history. Free to enter, among the museum highlights are a Dinosaur Display where prehistoric skeletons, fossils and other objects such as fragmented rock showing the moment an asteroid hit Earth can be seen; and the first permanent gallery in the UK to celebrate the lived experiences and contributions of the South Asian diaspora.

The University of Manchester, Oxford Road / Tues, Thurs-Fri & Sun 10am-5pm Weds 10am-9pm Sat 8am-5pm Closed Mon

City bus tour

If you’ve travelling with little ones who aren’t up to too much walking, then taking a city bus tour is a great way to see Manchester without tiring out their little legs. There are a number of open-top sightseeing bus tours on offer, during which you can learn about the city’s past courtesy of recorded audio commentary as you pass through its streets. Among the tour options are hop-on, hop-off tickets that let you board and disembark buses at designated stops throughout the city at your leisure. Tickets are normally valid for up to two consecutive days.

The Whitworth Art Gallery

Part of The University of Manchester, The Whitworth has been operating as a convening space between the University and the people of the city since it was founded in 1889. Today, its collection of over 55,000 works of art and textiles has firmly cemented its place at the centre of the national cultural stage. From historic exhibitions to contemporary commissions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And no day out here is complete without paying a visit to the Cafe in the Trees, a unique, light-filled space overlooking the park and the strikingly designed Art Garden, making for the perfect spot to sit and reflect on the highlights of your visit.

Oxford Road / Tues-Sun 10am-5pm Closed Mon

Heaton Park

The ideal antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, Heaton Park can be found on the fringes of Manchester and offers a huge choice of child-friendly activities and attractions. There are play areas, a boating lake, a tram museum, and an animal centre featuring chickens, goats, pigs, guinea pigs, rabbits and alpacas. Older kids can also try their hand at horse riding and there’s a busy programme of outdoor concerts and theatre performances, too. For more adult interests, the 18^th-century Heaton Hall, with its beautifully restored interiors, is well worth a look.

Middleton Road / 8am to dusk

Hard Rock Cafe

Any family will tell you that once your children’s appetites have grown beyond the meagre kids menu offered by restaurants, then you’re looking at a hefty bill to feed everyone to satisfaction. Gratefully, Manchester’s Hard Rock Café offers great-value lunch and dinner deals starting at just £20 per head for a two- or three-course set menu. As well as savouring the affordable prices, diners can also enjoy the restaurant’s dazzling array of rock memorabilia adorning the walls, including several items once owned by music legends past and present.

The Printworks / Weds-Thurs 12pm-10pm Fri 12pm-11pm Sat 11am-11pm Sun-Tues 12pm-10pm

National Football Museum

Footy mad kids will an interest in the sport’s long history will be in their element at the National Football Museum. Spread over four galleries showcasing a huge variety of ephemera relating to the global game, including authentic shirts worn by football legends, trophies, photographs, ticket stubs, and tons more, there’s enough to keep families occupied for hours. Little ones can test their skills with interactive football games and there are also frequent special exhibitions and workshops. Admission is £13 for adults, £7 for children up to 15, and under 5s go free.

Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street / Mon-Sun 10am-5pm

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

It might stretch your perception of ‘affordable’, but given that LEGOLAND is almost guaranteed to keep your little ones entertained all day long, then you could argue that its admission price of around £65 for a family of four still represents pretty good value. Located in Barton Square at The Trafford Centre, the attraction is made up of LEGO-themed interactive areas designed to immerse kids in a world where their imaginations can run wild. Highlights include LEGO models of local landmarks and rides, a 4D cinema, a Virtual Reality experience, and an adventure playground.

Trafford Palazzo / Tues-Thurs 10.30am-2pm  Fri & Mon 10.30am-3pm Sat-Sun 10.30am-6pm

Canal and river cruise

Manchester’s historic ship canal and old docklands have played a pivotal role in the city’s fortunes – and visitors can discover this legacy for themselves on a canal and river cruise. As you make your way gently along the canal and River Irwell, you’ll get to admire some of the city’s most famous landmarks including the iconic home of Manchester United Football Club, Stephenson’s Railway Bridge, and the Imperial War Museum. As you go, live commentary will offer insights into the history of the canal, the industries that made the city one of the powerhouses of Europe, and its exciting future that’s being built as we speak.

SEA LIFE

Get up close to exotic marine life including sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish, and octopus at SEA LIFE. Visitors can take a captivating journey from the coast to the ocean depths via numerous themed zones. Find out how it feels to touch a starfish, cleaner shrimp and other creatures in the interactive rockpool experience, then descend 600 metres below sea level and find the giant Japanese spider crab lurking in the deep. There’s also the chance to take in the jaw-dropping view from the sea bed in the immersive ocean tunnel, as well as watching diving demos, animal feeds, and other special events all year round. For best value prices, midweek tickets are often available for as little as £13 for adults. Kids under five go free.

Trafford Palazzo / Mon-Weds & Fri 10am-5pm Sat 10am-7pm Sun 10am-6pm

By Paul Joseph