Family Days Out near to Manchester
IMAX Manchester (< 1km)
Manchester
IMAX Manchester Taking film to the max, an IMAX film is a futuristic ride of adventure and spectacular 2D and 3D effects, taking you through the cinema screen and into the heart of the action.
URBIS (< 1km)
Manchester City Centre
URBIS Urbis is an exhibition centre of city life.
With our interactive exhibits you can take a ride through different cities around the world, create your own identity card or go global to discover a 3D satellite view of any city on the planet with our interactive version of Google Earth.
Chinese Arts Centre (< 1km)
Manchester
Chinese Arts Centre Chinese Arts Centre is the international agency for the development and promotion of contemporary Chinese artists.Our work covers many areas including exhibitions.
Opera House and Palace Theatre (1km)
Manchester
Opera House and Palace Theatre Great pantomimes and plays are staged throughout the year aimed specifically at children and families
Greater Manchester Police Museum (1km)
Manchester
Greater Manchester Police Museum Imagine stepping back in time to a Victorian Manchester, not the city of commerce and corporate splendour but a hidden city of gas lamps and narrow alleys, of slums and unruly alehouses.
Huntfun Manchester Treasure Hunt (1km)
Manchester
Huntfun Manchester Treasure Hunt A great fun way to explore in your own town or when visiting somewhere new. Fun for all the family and something a bit different getting everyone out and about in the fresh air for a few hours.
Museum of Science and Industry (2km)
Castlefield
Museum of Science and Industry The whole family has fun at The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Situated in five large buildings packed with exciting galleries, exhibitions and daily events, there is something for everyone to experience and enjoy.
Museum of Transport (2km)
Cheetham Hill
Museum of Transport All sorts of vehicles stretching back 100 years, with numerous photographs exploring the changing scene of transport.
Manchester Aquatics Centre (2km)
Ardwick
Manchester Aquatics Centre The Manchester Aquatics Centre is the fantastic venue purpose built for the Commonwealth Games.
There are special family sessions which have been specifically designed for those with children. These sessions offer a calm and enjoyable environment for young and old alike. The perfect family day out!
Manchester Climbing Centre (3km)
Manchester
Manchester Climbing Centre MCC hosts 75 climbing lines, which are a mixture of top roped and lead lines. Our main lead wall is an impressive 20 marketing picture meters high  one of the biggest lead walls in the UK.
Manchester City FC Experience (3km)
SportCity
Manchester City FC Experience The Manchester City Experience - Museum & Stadium Tour combines the rich sporting history of Manchester City Football Club with a 75 minute tour of the awe inspiring City of Manchester Stadium. Blue Moon I saw you standing alone.
Manchester United Museum and Tour (4km)
Old Trafford
Manchester United Museum and Tour Manchester United Museum and Tour - Come and see for yourself why more than 200,000 people visit the Museum every year! Young or old, United fan or not, it really is something to savour and tell your friends and family about.
Wacky Warehouse - Toy Box (4km)
Moston
Wacky Warehouse - Toy Box - indoor play centre following the good old Wacky Warehouse formula - let the small run themselves ragged, while you chill for a couple of hours... beautiful!!
Wacky Warehouse - Band Stand (5km)
Gorton
Wacky Warehouse - Band Stand has the usual Wacky Warehouse formula of an indoor playcentre attached to a public house - where you can let the kids run riot for a couple of hours while you take a no doubt well earned break - aaah!!!
Karting 2000 (5km)
Gorton
Karting 2000 Karting 2000 is an independant company situated in the heart of North west Manchester with easy access either from the motorways or city center. Karting2000 have new ideas on corporate entertainment and a commitment to customer satisfaction that is second to none.
Debdale Outdoor Centre (5km)
Gorton
Debdale Outdoor Centre Debdale Outdoor Centre is a modern purpose-built outdoor centre owned and operated by Manchester City Council. We provide an exciting range of activities in Greater Manchester and further a field in the Peak District, North Wales and North West England.
Heaton Park (6km)
Prestwich
Heaton Park Great Animal Centre, two dedicated children's play areas providing a range of activities for children aged from 3 years up to 14 years, rowing boats, tram rides, pitch and putt - loads to do - wow!
Heaton Park Golf Centre (6km)
Prestwich
Heaton Park Golf Centre Voted "Best Municipal Golf Course of the Year" in both GolfPunk (Jan/Feb 06) and Esquire (Aug 06) Magazines. 18-hole Championship Golf Course - 18-hole par-3 pitch and putt course - Junior Golf Development Academy
Imperial War Museum North (6km)
Trafford Park
Imperial War Museum North The award-winning Imperial War Museum North is located at The Quays a waterfront destination 2 miles from Manchester city centre - and offers dynamic display techniques, audio-visual shows and family interactives to reflect on how people's lives are shaped by war.
Paradise Island Adventure Golf (6km)
Manchester
Paradise Island Adventure Golf Prepare to experience something pretty unique, two eighteen hole indoor mini-golf courses set amidst a tropical paradise inside the Trafford Centre, Manchester. Forget Crazy Golf - this is Adventure Golf.
Head Over Heels Indoor Play Centre (6km)
Chorlton
Head Over Heels Indoor Play Centre Three levels of soft play fun reaching a mind blowing 6.5m height. The fastest way to get down is on the fiery 3-lane astro slide if you can make it past the Dragon.
Pottery Corner (6km)
Chorlton
Pottery Corner Have you been painting for years and fancy a go at a new medium? Maybe you've never lifted a brush but would love a personalised mug for work. Those of you who say you have no artistic ability - come along and let us prove you wrong
Tenpin (7km)
East Didsbury
Tenpin 26 Bowling Lanes of fun - a great indoor activity for the kids and even if they can hold a bowling ball, kids can use the bowling ramps. Great idea for family days out in Manchester.
Wacky Warehouse - The Bell House (7km)
East Didsbury
Wacky Warehouse - The Bell House An indoor play building with a large number of games and play structure children under 4ft 9ins tall. We also hold Parent and Toddler sessions during the week. An excellent place to go for a good night out as the complex also has bowling, a cinema, health club, bingo and a Travel Lodge.
Laser Quest (7km)
Manchester
Laser Quest Laser Quest is the world's best known and most exciting brand of Laser Tag game.
Pony Parties - Glen Jakes Riding School (7km)
Stockport
Pony Parties - Glen Jakes Riding School Celebrate your special day at Glen Jakes Riding School, a unique and unforgettable experience that all the family can enjoy.
Abbotsfield Park Miniature Railway (10km)
Urmston
Abbotsfield Park Miniature Railway Abbotsfield Park Miniature Railway runs most Sundays throughout the year from noon until 5pm and on last check was only 20 pence for a ride - bargain!!
Chill Factore (10km)
Manchester
Chill Factore Chill Factore brings the complete Alpine ski village experience to the UK for the first time. It's fun for all the family, whether skiing, snowboarding, or enjoying the other snow activities available. Off the slopes, you can browse the shops or grab a bite to eat in the Alpine village.
Air Raid Shelters (10km)
Stockport
Air Raid Shelters First-hand experience of daily life in 1940s, war-torn Britain. A labyrinth of tunnels under part of the town centre provided shelter - and a way of life - for Stockport and Manchester families through the dark days of the Blitz.
KK5 Indoor Playcentre (11km)
Stockport
KK5 Indoor Playcentre KK5 Indoor Playcentre is a large playcentre suitable for children up to 12 years old. There are great slides for the older ones and a lovely soft play area for the younger kids.
Wythenshawe Park (11km)
Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe Park A great park offering a massive range of things to do: crazy golf, pitch and putt, community farm, outdoor play area, woodland walks, 16th century hall, 16 football pitches
Funizuz Play Centre (11km)
Cheadle
Funizuz Play Centre a great big indoor play centre with an astro slide, a tilting tunnel, mirror maze and aerial runway,
Rumble in the Jungle Indoor Play Centre (12km)
Stockport
Rumble in the Jungle Indoor Play Centre A fun soft play challenge on two levels with different activities to promote motor skills, coordination, increase activity levels whilst promoting social development.
Wacky Warehouse - Red Lion (12km)
Worsley
Wacky Warehouse - Red Lion has a purpose built indoor play structure which keeps children amused for hours and whacks them out - leaving the adults to do whatever they want for a few minutes!!
Wacky Warehouse - Mottram Woods (12km)
Mottram
Wacky Warehouse - Mottram Woods A nice big kids play structure, overlooked by tables and chairs for the parents to sit on and take a break while the kids run round.
Run Of The Mill Indoor Play Centre (13km)
Stockport
Run Of The Mill Indoor Play Centre In our 10,000 square foot Stockport Indoor Play Centre, you will find: Up and over climbs - Leapfrog trampettes - 2 twin wavy slides - An enclosed sports pitch - Sky gliders - A giant ball zone - A junior traverse wall
Awesome Walls Climbing Centre (13km)
Stockport
Awesome Walls Climbing Centre This new indoor climbing facility is without doubt the largest climbing centre in Cheshire. There is a colossal amount of leading, top-roping and bouldering to keep you happy for many, many visits!
East Lancashire Railway (13km)
Bury
East Lancashire Railway The service operates historic steam trains from Rawtenstall to Heywood passing over viaducts and through tunnels.There are special events throughout the year, such as Santa Specials and Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Manchester Airport Tour Centre (14km)
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport Tour Centre Trained guides show the airport's facilities to over 20,000 visitors each year with superb audio visual and lecture facilities contained in the Tour Centre
Little Monsters Mayhem (14km)
Irlam
Little Monsters Mayhem Little Monsters Mayhem is an indoor play centre; we cater for children from a few weeks old to 11 years. Our Rainforest themed play frame has 3 lanes, waterfall themed slide, sports court, separate toddler frame and padded baby area.
Antz in your Pantz (14km)
Timperley
Antz in your Pantz is a fantastic new and unique adventure playcentre and art room in Timperley, Altrincham.
Giddie Kippers (14km)
Walkden
Giddie Kippers The play area is the first of its kind with 4 tubular slides. The play area has 2 themed party rooms along with a Toddler Section, Sports Court and Car Track Area.
Burrs Activity Centre (15km)
Bury
Burrs Activity Centre Canoeing - Archery -Kayaking - -Rafting - Climbing on the indoor climbing wall - -Abseiling - Team building and problem solving - Orienteering
Brookside Miniature Railway (17km)
Poynton
Brookside Miniature Railway Superb train ride for families and enthusiasts. Authentic detail in near half-mile circuit through the beautiful gardens of a large garden centre. Authentic GWR station, full-size signal box and museum of railway relics. Great place to go with the children if you are looking for family days out in Cheshire.
Lyme Park (17km)
Disley
Lyme Park Adventure playground and lots of children's events throughout the year. Vast medieval deer park, moorland and woodland estate to explore
Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive (19km)
Bolton
Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive If you're looking for a free fun family outing, Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive is the place for you. There?s a special children?s activity corner, and an exciting programme of family friendly events all year round, as well as plenty of themed activities during the holidays.
Tatton Park (22km)
Knutsford
Tatton Park is an impressive historic estate with four major attractions. Children can feed the goats at the Farm, get lost in the Garden maze, complete the Mansion quiz and discover the Tudor Old Hall. A fun adventure playground and 1,000 acre parkland provide space to run around! Great idea if you're looking for family days out in Cheshire.
Go Ape! (24km)
Horwich
Go Ape! Think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Are you wild enough to climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges?
Haigh Country Park (24km)
Wigan
Haigh Country Park Once the home of Earls and Lords, Haigh Hall is surrounded by 250 acres of park and woodland, with magnificent views across the Douglas Valley to the Welsh Hills. Haigh Hall and Country Park is an enjoyable day out with something for everyone. Explore and enjoy the stunning parkland, woodland and plantations. There is no entrance fee to get into the park.
Thanks for all the great places to go when visiting Greater Manchester you keep sending in. Now the christmas holidays are upon us, we're trying to find as many things to do with kids as possible, especially cheap and free family friendly places to visit this year - theme parks, waterparks and swimming pools, museums, indoor soft playcentres, petting farms, wildlife parks and zoos, castles, railways, pottery making and ceramic cafes, roller and ice skating rinks, dry and indoor ski slopes, climbing walls, ten pin bowling alleys and other attractions as possible.
Also teachers may find the site useful for ideas for places to take their classes on school journeys.
So, if you've been for great days out with the kids, or a school trip, which isn't listed above, just send in an email and we'll add it on so people on holidays and all the other children in Greater Manchester can enjoy the day out as well.
If you're looking for fun places for kids when visiting america on vacation, go to our new site familydaysoutusa.com
Kids fun in Lancashire | Places to visit in Merseyside | Things to do in Cheshire
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