Free Things To Do In Manchester

An innovative gallery that invokes out-of-the-box thinking. You’ll see a wide range of exhibitions including visual art displays. With lots of creative events, exhibitions and diverse programmes, you’ll find something of interest here!

If you are looking for interactive exhibits and brilliant exhibitions this is the museum for you!

Have kids who have a fascinating interest in Egyptology? Well, let their minds wander free at the incredible Egyptian exhibition! Discover mummies, the history of Egypt and a collection that will truly amaze you. Not only that, but the museum has an extensive exhibition on local history, wildlife and really quirky and niche collections of donations in the Archive.

They also hold family-friendly events all year round, so there’s something for everyone!

Did you know here they have Greater Manchester’s only FREE public aquarium?! Being home to over 70 varieties from all over the globe, you can gaze at the beautiful and impressive aquatic life – for free!

The University of Manchester Museum is an extraordinary museum that has collections from all over the world. Drawing you into its amazing art exhibitions, displays and events that take place! With family-friendly events and a vast number of activities taking place, you’ll never get bored here. And best of all – it’s free!

When it reopens you’ll be amazed at the new, really cool space, which has cost £15m – so you know it’ll be out of this world!

Make a lovely family day out GREAT with a trip this spectacular museum. Want to see a car suspended in mid-air that you can lift? You got that here! Want to get hands-on with mixing shadows, designing and printing textiles and engage in a free activity trail pack? That’s all here for your kiddies to get involved in and more!

An interactive, creative and exciting museum for a brilliant family day out!

Looking to spark ideas in your young ones? From artwork masterpieces to political issues like gender and climate change, international artwork and regular exhibitions, The Manchester Art Gallery is packed full of exciting projects.

Listen to free talks, get familiar with other cultures and open your mind to the deeper questions in life from women in work to “how hot drinks shape our lives” So yes, the topics are pretty broad!

The Museum hosts regular ‘creative meet-ups’ for kids aged 14 – 19 years old where they can discuss board issues and creativity. There are also Creative Families workshops run regularly where all family members can create art and have fun.

There are even den-building activities where kids can plough through giant colourful cushions! And if you’re done with that then head over to the table tennis activity. You’ll find a peculiar hexagon-shaped table inspired by artists.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery is full of hands-on activities and workshops for families and kids. Whether it’s life drawing or how to make beautiful paper flowers like the local artist, Caroline Coates, there’s plenty to try out. Did you know Salford Museum also does Macrame plant hanging workshops too?! That sounds like the perfect treat for crafty mums and dads.

Aside from the excellent workshops you can explore the 3 exhibitions at the museum. Will you choose the Victorian Gallery first? Or will it be Pilkington’s Ceramic Collection or the By Hand Gallery? There are also lots of temporary exhibitions to explore as well from geology and archaeology to portraits of people from Salford, and more!

Now, the places that are in the Northern Quarter will need money if buying material items or food, but exploring it is completely free. With a diverse range of shops, delicious food eateries and bars there, you’ll find something for everyone or it’s just a great place to explore after a day out in Manchester City Centre!

There’s also a new bakery and cafe opening too (if you fancy splurging on some tasty baked goods)

With a rich history of 600 years, there’s so much to explore here and it’s a must visit for history buffs. This beautiful Grade I listed building is wonderful in its architecture, stone walls that miraculously survived wars and interesting carvings on the roofs. From bees to kangaroos – which such an intriguing and curious exterior and interior, its no wonder it’s one of the best free things to do in Manchester.

It’s a historic monument and a beautiful building in one of the UK’s most cultural cities! With its stunning stained glass windows and free guided tours, you can’t pass up on the opportunity to visit!

Are you ready to visit another iconic building in Manchester? Manchester Town Hall is impressive as it is a definitive building which so much rich history.

From being designed in the 13th century in a Gothic style with an impressive 280ft clock tower built into a 173-step staircase leading to a bell chamber. The clock also has a stunning Polish glass face and 10ft long minute hand – it’s definitely one to see in person!

Bodies of water are peaceful as well as beautiful to see. So, it’s a must to take a leisurely stroll along the canal that sits next to enchanting restored Victorian houses.

Did you know the Bridgewater canal was constructed in 1761 to transport coal from the mines at Worsley to Manchester?

A tranquil and easy free thing to do in Manchester!

Fancy visiting Britain’s oldest public library? It dates back to 1422 and has been in use for all this time and has collected more than 100,000 books! Imagine reading all those?!

It’s housed in a beautiful sandstone building that is now an accredited museum – with many exhibits and events taking place there. It’s also the famous meeting place of the historic Karl Marx when he visited Manchester.

It may be quaint, but it’s an impressive part of British history.

If you’re looking for one of Manchester’s popular parks to visit, I think you’ve found it. With glorious and gorgeous flowers blooming, it’s a literal floral paradise. Perfect for a peaceful picnic and day out with the family.

With an abundance of wildlife and gardens to explore, it makes for an adventurous outdoor activity, especially when you can walk on one of many nature trails! You’ll be accompanied by a huge array of different birds, plants, wildflowers, trees and bats (at dusk).

If you’re looking to really escape the hustle and bustle of everyday city life, then Prestwich Forest Park is the place to be.

With 200 hectares of beautiful woodland and a park to explore, your kids can be let loose to engage in various activities in an open space. Whether it be football, cricket, rounders or just a game of tag. There’s also lots of nature and wildlife to explore, as well as a children’s area. For any cyclists out there, there’s the Philips Park Mountain Bike trail that you can bike on for some much-needed physical activity!

A park that spans 600 acres, but it’s more than just a park. With a boating lake, animal centre, bowling greens, golf course and a range of courses held there! From astronomy class to beekeeping courses! Channel your inner Harry Potter and David Attenborough!

Their animal centre homes animals that everyone will love. From chickens, goats, geese, pigs, and turkeys to ducks, rabbits and alpacas! And best of all, it’s FREE to visit! You might even be lucky enough to see a peacock perched in the tree…

Looking for an open-space exciting area in the heart of Manchester city centre for you and the kids to enjoy? At Piccadilly Gardens, you can relax, explore, and engage in various leisure activities there. With a water feature too, it’s the place to sit back and take in the nature around you during or after a busy day.

It’s also close to the Northern Quarter, Manchester’s shopping centres and historic buildings.

If you need to rest your legs after a day of strolling through the city then you should stop by the Cathedral Gardens! It’s Manchester’s newest public open space, located between Manchester Cathedral, Chetham’s School of Music and the National Football Museum.

The new area is built with new natural stone and granite paving, surrounding newly created lawned areas with mature trees. It’s a beautiful landscape with a leafy green oasis in the heart of the city, making for the perfect escape!

On a sunny day, why not whip out a blanket and sunbathe on the freshly cut lawns? Or grab a picnic with treats from the local shops and eateries.

Neigh way! You can actually visit donkeys for free?! Absolutely!

The Donkey Sanctuary has been working for over 50 years to transform the lives of many donkeys from all over the world. With a purpose to ensure donkeys in the UK remain both happy and healthy!

And with 7 acres of glorious land for the donkeys to thrive in, in the midst of a vibrant city, it has become a peaceful oasis! It’s one of many fun and heart-warming free things to do in Manchester, that the whole family will love!

Have an eye for aiming at the net? Maybe you should test your throw with disc golf at Longford Park! Aim your frisbee at the net and throw! If you score, then well done – you can win this! If not, have another go!

Not only does this park have disc golf but it’s a beauty spot full of wonderful activities that will occupy any family for a whole day! From disc golf, basketball, bowling, football and rugby to a pet corner. Where you can meet chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks and two goats! You can even feed them too!

Did you know you can watch planes take off from the busy runways at Manchester airport for free? If you’ve got some transport-loving kids with a passion for planes then they will love plane-spotting from the raised viewing platform at Manchester Airport.

You’ll even get to see retired aeroplanes too like the spectacular supersonic airliner, Concorde G-BOAC; a former RAF military spy plane, Nimrod, a DC-10, Avro RJX and a retro Trident airliner. And what’s more? You can listen to live airport commentary from the airport’s operations.

And with picnic benches, a coffee house and an Aviation Shop, you’ll be well-catered for at this hidden gem attraction! This attraction is completely free but you will have to pay a £5 parking fee if you are driving to the airport.

Tying together independent shops and artisan makers, performers, and businesses, The Makers Market is a vibrant event that operates across the North West.

This free-entry market aims to promote local businesses and communities, supplying bespoke items and food that you can’t find in the city! Whether it’s firey hot sauces, colourful illustrations, cream-filled pastries, yoga classes, dog collars, spiced rum or a beautiful bunch of flowers, there are lots of unique items and activities to discover.

The markets have showcased an impressive collection of independent businesses and performers like Buzzy Bee Bakery, Trentham Bakehouse, Devil Dog Hot Sauces, The Reindeer Rockettes and so much more.

Make sure to check their website regularly to see where this market is heading next…

There’s nothing better than a free trip to an animal farm! Located just outside the city of Manchester, The Garden House offers idyllic woodland walks, play frames, picnic areas, and of course lots of adorable farm animals.

Make sure you say hi to the chicks, rabbits, geese, pigs, Shetland ponies, goats, alpacas, and ducks on your travels. Although this attraction is free it relies on small donations from the public so if you have a couple of quid spare, why not donate to this excellent community project?

You can also grab a few snacks and drinks from the Riverside Cafe. This charming coffee shop is also run by community members and it is the perfect place to rest up after a day of exploring.

Open to all and free to join, the Poetry Library at Manchester Metropolitan University is a great workshop activity for curious wordsmiths! Bets suited to older teens and young adults, this exciting workshop is completely free, all you have to do is sign up for a free library membership.

If you live outside of Manchester you may be unaware of the magnificent street art dotted around the city. You’ll find lots of beautiful and vibrant artwork splashed across the brickwork of the Northern Quarter which happens to be the leader of the street art scene in the country!

There are plenty of other street art pieces across the whole city too. Keep your eye out for celebrities like Prince and Bowie or discover other large-scale pieces by artist, Christian Guémy. His artworks are the faces of homeless people on Tariff Street and other close-up portraits of elderly couples on Warwick Street.

You can also find a giant blue tit on Port Street which was part of a Wall to Wall project. The illustrator Sarah Yates produced this piece to raise awareness for environmental issues. Birds are her favourite subject and this large-scale blue tit really does blow you away…

If you love contemporary artworks and exploring cities this a great freebie for you. It’s also a great Instagram opportunity as well! #SELFIE

Photo credits: www.blocal-travel.com