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Things To Do With Teenagers In Manchester

illuminated quote on the wall of the wash house Manchester bar
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Struggling to find suitable attractions for teenagers? If you need a little help finding family adventures to suit your older children, then we’ve got a great selection to share with you! From interactive games to football stadium tours, famous parks, museums, unique bars & more. There are plenty of epic things to do with teenagers in Manchester, just follow along for the details…

Immersive Gamebox Manchester

immersive gamebox
Teens will go wild for Immersive Gamebox Manchester! Play games like Squid Game, Angry Birds, Psychodelic Mansion and more in an immersive environment.

With motion tracking, touch screens, surround sound and drinks delivered during your game, Immersive Gamebox is like nothing you have experienced!

This new and unique attraction is suitable for kids aged 5+ and you can book a room for up to 6 people. Immersive Gamebox Manchester is located in the Arndale Shopping Centre, so teens can also browse the shops after their visit. Immersive Gamebox is perfect for a bit of family fun!

It really is the ultimate active gaming experience!

Shape Location Get directions

Manchester Arndale, Unit R3 Halle Place, Market St,
Manchester,
Greater Manchester,
M4 3AQ,
England

Opening Times

Monday to Thursday 11:00 - 19:00
Friday 11:00 - 20:00
Saturday 10:00 - 20:00
Sunday 11:00 - 18:00

Pricing

General Admission
Kids from £5.00
Adults from £10.00

Find out more

Go Thrift Shopping In Manchester

people thrift shopping in a colourful vintage shop
Manchester is the hipster capital of the UK without a doubt, so if you want to make a day of all things arty and ethical head over to Manchester! Thrift shopping is one of many great activities for teenagers and you’ll have lots of fun hunting for deals and unique items.

ALSO, one of the most exciting parts of being a teenager is having the opportunity to explore who you are especially through your style. Are you a Y2K lover? Maybe 90’s grunge is your thing or 80’s shell suit jackets. Whether you are after rare trainers or cheap Doc Martins, you are sure to find all of these things in Manchester.

Here are some vintage shops and markets you should check out with your teen…

If you are looking for things to do with teenagers in Manchester that encompasses a flair for fashion and originality, then this is a top-notch idea for you.

Play A Round Of Crazy Golf

two young adults playing crazy golf and junk yard gold next to the iconic only fools and horses yellow wagon
Looking for a fun activity in Manchester’s city centre is never a hard job as there are so many epic attractions and quirky bars. Enjoy a fusion of funfair-esque amusements like crazy golf and cocktails at cool family attractions like Mr Mulligans, Treetop Adventure Golf at Printworks, Ubran Playground and Junk Yard Golf.

After an hour or two of fun & games you can load up on tasty snacks and refreshing drinks because, after all, no champion should leave with a rumbling tummy!

Go On A Football Tour

dad and his sons in the media area on the man city tour activity
All football fans from across the UK will love a trip around Manchester’s iconic football stadiums regardless of which team you support! Get down in the dugouts, sit in the press area or head to the changing rooms and sit where your favourite players are stationed pre and post-match. 

Pick from either the Manchester City Stadium Tours or the Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour. Follow in the footsteps of all your icons and learn about the beautiful game as you go.

The Manchester City Stadium Tour will be at the Etihad Stadium and the Manchester United Tour will be at Trafford Park.

Chaos Karts Manchester

Chaos Karts
Chaos Karts is returning in September 2023!!! This immersive racetrack is returning to Manchester later this year with all the same thrills it packed in before.

Channel Mario & Luigi and jump into your go-kart. Race against your friends on a luminous track and feel as if you are inside a video game…

Race through cities, beaches or outer space! You’ll love all the twists and turns throughout the course. Chaos Karts is the perfect attraction for teens as it mixes action with the digital world and provides plenty of opportunities for laughter. It’s also the perfect way to conjure up a bit of family competition!

Shape Location Get directions

Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4FP

Opening Times

Opening 1st September 2023

Pricing

General Admission:
Tickets from £22.00

Find out more

Graffiti Tour / Street Art Tour

Manchester street art
This is a great outdoor activity (led by you) and it’s free of course!

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 are looking for free things to do with teenagers in Manchester this is a great idea and it’s the perfect Instagram opportunity with your teens! #SELFIE. Just try not to cringe them out too much of course …

 

Photo credits: www.blocal-travel.com

Northern Quarter

two bakers laughing behind kitchen counter holding sweet pastries and bread at Super Happy Bakery in Manchester
HOLD THE PHONE – We’ve just found an area FLOODED with Things to do with teenagers in Manchester…

Enhance your family days out with a trip to the most colourful segment of the city, the Northern Quarter. Admire all of the magnificent street art, get a psychic reading, read a book on photography at UNITOM or purchase some luscious new plants from Nice Things.

There are quite a few vintage shops dotted around the Northern Quarter too, and quirky cafes and street food. If you have some vegans in the family then make sure to drop by Herbivorous – we talk all about it in our Vegan Food Near Me article! We love the look of the restaurant Super Happy you can enjoy all your favourite meals and snacks like big hoagie-style sandwiches, freshly baked babka, gourmet hot dogs (make sure to try the Kimchi hotdog), and grilled cheese sandwiches! For dessert? Try their daily baked goods.

Grab a drink during happy hour at Arlo’s or get to the city just in time for Tequila Thursday or Taco Tuesday & Wednesday at El Capo! After a brisk sip of something sweet and sour, why not check out if there are any live performances? We recommend checking out Comedy For Hot People, it runs every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month!

Whether you want to shop, eat, dance, laugh or experiment with cocktails, the Northern Quarter is a great place to visit 

Find out more

Visit A Manchester Museum

teens watching a talk being given about protests and artwork at people's museum manchester
Manchester is a vibrant city and a melting pot for history and culture. So, where better to learn about Britain’s past than in some of the city’s best museums? Here are some cracking museums we think you should visit…

People’s History Museum – Discover 19th-century secret societies that graced the alleyways and hidden nooks and crannies of Manchester.

Imperial War Museum North – Discover how war shapes lives through revealing powerful stories, such as a soldier’s last letter home, to unique objects like the twisted steel of the World Trade Centre.

National Football Museum – learn all about the history of English football through interactive objects, games and displays. Psst, there’s even a football simulator too!

Salford Museum and Art Gallery – Walk down Victorian streets and explore a fascinating collection of permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Shop Til’ You Drop At The Trafford Centre!

Trafford Centre food court
Although the Trafford Centre is about 20-30 minutes away from Manchester City Centre (via car) it’s a must-visit with your teens!

This world-renowned shopping and leisure destination showcases must-have brands, high street favourites, delicious food and exciting leisure all under one spectacular roof. And don’t get us started on the grandeur of the food hall… You’ll feel as if you’ve entered a new world!

Shape Location Get directions

The Trafford Centre, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 8AA

Opening Times

Monday - Friday 10:00 - 22:00
Saturday 10:00 - 21:00
Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Pricing

Free

Find out more

Have A Picnic At Manchester’s Most Famous Parks

people enjoying themselves at heaton park
If the sun is shining and your legs are getting tired from being such fabulous city explorers, take a trip to a nearby park! Here are. few suggestions in and near Manchester’s City Centre…

You can even find things to do with teenagers in Manchester’s parks depending on the season as there are lots of cool events. Heaton Park for example is the host of the annual festival, Parklife.

Escape To Freight Island

People standing inside freight island by the burger street food shack
Arguably one of Manchester’s most exciting new venues, Freight Island has an electric atmosphere with bustling tables full of happy folks eating delicious street food and drinking all kinds of dreamy concoctions.

Sip on wacky cocktails while watching live performances from music to stand-up comedy and DJ sets. It really is a funky vibe that’s perfect for students and young adults.

TIP: Walk-up tickets are available but it’s best to book your ticket or table before you arrive.

Shape Location Get directions

11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ

Opening Times

Thursday 16:00 - 23:00
Friday 16:00 - 00:00
Saturday 12:00 - 00:00
Sunday 12:00 - 22:00

Pricing

Book online to find tables and prices.

Find out more

Cool Bars To Take Your Teenagers (18+) In Manchester

three young women cheers'ing their disco ball cocktails at bingo balls bar in Manchester
Now if you haven’t worked it out already, Manchester is probably one of the coolest places to visit in the UK and the cocktail bar scene does not disappoint either.

If you’ve got a teen turning 18 or a student turning 21, why not book a weekend in Manchester and sample cocktails from some of the finest establishments?

Need a push in the right direction? Here are some of the coolest bars you and your teenager should check out

Albert Schloss – A firm favourite all over the country, for sure! This classy joint offers regular live performances every 10-15 minutes (on nights) and offers a wide range of cocktail classics as well as Aperol spritz’s and of course yummy mocktails too.

The Wash House – Enjoy out-of-this-world cocktails from a truly bonkers menu. Enter through the vending machine door and enter a classy dim-lit bar. Enjoy everything from lotus biscuit cocktails to wham-bar-inspired cocktails. If you order the ‘Hooligan Mother‘ cocktail you’ll get arrested… Seriously!

NQ64 – This is a gaming bar which is more well-known for the fun factor rather than the drink selection but you’ll still have a great time here.

Alcotraz Manchester – This is a hilarious theatrical evening set in a cell block with hand-crafted cocktails and lively actors. You can find out more about the Alcotraz experience in our Alcotraz Liverpool article.

Speak In Code –  Enjoy unconventional cocktails in a swanky setting at Speak In Code.

Basic Ballers / Bingo Balls – This is Manchester’s only adult-only ball pit bar! It’s super girlie and flooded with iconic pop culture quotes from your favourite teen flicks. You can play beer pong and enjoy lots of tasty drinks here including frozen cocktails!

The great thing about each of these bars is that they offer fun activities and performances! So if you’re looking for things to do with teenagers in Manchester, these bars should make it high on your list!

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading Things to do with teenagers in Manchester. Find even more exciting experiences for teenagers in our UK-wide article Fun Things To Do With Teenagers. We cover a wide range of fun experiences from outdoor adventures at Go Ape to must-see attractions like underground golf in slate caverns at Zip World. Psst, we even have cat cafes on the list too!

Need some savvy pointers? We know the school holidays can be an expensive time with the kids so we are offering families our detailed article on Free Things To Do In Manchester… Try out a variety of activities from Street Art tours to poetry workshops, Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park & so much more.