What's on this Easter in Manchester 2025

What’s on and things to do for the Easter holidays 2025 in Manchester

Events and things to do this Easter

The Smartest Giant In Town -Waterside Arts

This heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need is brought to life in a musical, puppet-filled adventure, following on from Little Angel Theatre’s bestselling adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s picture books including The Singing Mermaid and The Everywhere Bear.

George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it’s time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes. Now he’s the smartest giant in town . . . until he bumps into some animals who desperately need his help – and his clothes!

Live at Waterside Arts from 9th to 10th April 2025
Priced from £15 children and £17 adults

Easter Adventures - Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey’s Easter Adventures encourage families and friends to have fun and connect with nature!

Designed with children of all ages in mind, Dunham Massey’s Easter Adventures trail features ten activity stations which explore the fascinating world of pollinators. From bees to butterflies, and from wasps to beetles, join the fun discovering the busy lives of these mini beasts.

Every trail pack (£3.50 each) includes a chocolate egg (vegan ‘Free-From’ chocolate eggs available), bunny ears and a trail booklet. Pick up your Easter Adventures pack from the Welcome Desk in the Visitor Centre

Available 3rd to 27th April 2025
Priced from £3.50 per child

Easter Egg Decorating Class - The Lowry Hotel

Hop into Easter fun at The Lowry Hotel with a Kids’ Easter Egg Making Masterclass.

The Lowry Hotel is hosting its first children’s Easter masterclass with chocolatier Oli The Choc.

Taking place on 9th April, this hands-on workshop offers children (aged 6-12) the chance to create their own decorative Easter eggs while learning chocolate-making skills from one of Manchester’s best-known experts.

Held in The River Restaurant, the 75-minute session starts at 11:30 am. Kids will be guided through tempering, filling, and decorating their eggs with a variety of colourful toppings and Easter treats. All materials are provided.

Tickets are £25 per child, including the workshop, a drink, and a snack.

Room on the Broom - Lowry

Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The witch and her cat are travelling on their broomstick when they pick up some hitch-hikers – a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird and a frantic frog. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK – it snaps in two… just as the hungry dragon appears! Will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?

With enchanting puppetry, sing-a-long songs and hilarious fun, ‘Room on the Broom’ is an ideal Easter family treat and a magical introduction to theatre for young children.

Live at Lowry from 15th to 20th April 2025

Easter Activities - Kargo MKT

Kargo MKT welcomes you to an exciting April filled with family fun and special events!

Kids Dino Fossil Clay Making Workshop – 6th April, FREE: Join a hands-on clay workshop where you will learn about fascinating dinosaurs and then create your own unique dinosaur fossils. This workshop is perfect for children for all ages. All the materials will be provided.
Easter Boomchikkaboom Family Rave! – 10th April, FREE: With good music and BIG energy, expect dance routines, singing, pom poms, parachute mayhem, bubbles, snow machine and more! Some people say your social life ends when you have children, Boomchikkaboom says, it’s only just begun!
BabyDinos Party – 16th April: Join Ranger Robin with her BabyDinos , Tyson the T-Rex and Talulah the Triceratops for a RAWR-some morning!

Trafford Centre

Spring is in full swing at Trafford Centre, bringing longer days and plenty of reasons to celebrate. With plenty of fun to be had over the Easter holidays, it’s the perfect time to plan your visit.

Create a Custom Friendship Bracelet at Space NK, 17 & 18 April: Join a fun, creative experience! Spend £40 in-store, and one of the beauty advisors will help you craft your very own personalised beaded friendship bracelet, with your name included.
Sylvanian Families Treasure Hunt at John Lewis, 7 – 21 April: Looking for free ways to entertain the kids this Easter? Join John Lewis in-store and take part in a Sylvanian Families treasure hunt.
Sling Library, 10 April, 10.30am – 12pm, Lower Peel Avenue: Looking for a supportive space to get sling advice and connect with other parents? Visit thecommunity Sling Library session at Trafford Centre, hosted by The Parenting Collective CIC.
Win a game, Win an Egg at Laser Quest, 11pm – 5pm, Sunday 20 April: Put your skills to the test this Easter at Laser Quest! Compete in an action-packed game and claim victory for a chance to win a delicious chocolate egg. Gather your friends and family for some friendly competition – will you be the ultimate champion?

Science + Industry Museum

Spring into action at Science + Industry Museum with a sense-sational programme of free hands-on family fun.

Discover the spectacular superpowers of animals in lively new science show Wild Senses. From bees to bats, see how curious creatures use their incredible senses to survive and thrive in our world.

Join expert Explainers at the Tasting Station and discover how bees taste and smell. Hang out in the Bat Cave and learn more about these nocturnal creatures. Get crafty and make your own bat to take home.

Add a ticket to the brand-new exhibition Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You and get ready for an adventure of sense-sational science. Poke around inside a giant eyeball, journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot and plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses.

Power Up—the ultimate gaming experience—will be open every day during the school holidays. Book a day pass for £8 or upgrade to an annual pass for £15 and play the very best video games from the past five decades and try out over 150 different consoles together.

Gandey's Circus Carnival - Trafford Centre

Step right up and join the heart of the carnival spirit as Gandeys Circus proudly presents the 2025 Carnival Spectacular! Prepare for an electrifying fusion of circus, magic and the vibrant energy of a world-class carnival.

Leading the charge is the dazzling Ringmaster Joel Hatton, along with the comedic genius Bippo The Clown, whose antics will keep you in stitches!

This is a show like no other – a whirlwind of excitement and wonder that promises to delight the entire family. From uproarious comedy to breathtaking acrobatics, every act is a feast for the eyes – this show has it all! With vibrant costumes, dazzling choreography, and show-stopping performances, it’s a full-scale carnival extravaganza that rivals the excitement of any festive celebration.

Secure your tickets now and join Gandeys Carnival Spectacular, featuring an international cast of extraordinary performers who will leave you in awe, with memories that will last a lifetime.

Live from 5th to 21st April 2025

Adventures in Wonderland - Z-Arts

Tumble down the Rabbit Hole and into Wonderland to enjoy a brand new immersive play experience at Z-arts.

Adventures in Wonderland has been created in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books and celebrates the 160th anniversary of one of the most loved children’s books of all time, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Created to enchant children aged 1- 8 years the design and build of the whole set is the skilful work of Z-arts’ in-house team.

All tickets for Adventures in Wonderland are priced at £12 (plus 60p booking fee), with a family ticket for four priced at £40 (plus £2.40 booking fee). All sessions are timed and are available from Saturday 5 April, with dates released until the summer.

Discover brilliant children’s books from Macmillan Children’s Books, the publisher of Alice in Wonderland, with their dedicated children’s newsletter, Macmillan Kids. Sign up here.

Mary Poppins - Palace Theatre

Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s spectacular production of the classic multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins is flying to Palace Theatre from 9th April 2025 for 5 weeks only.

Acclaimed Australian stars Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert, having both received critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations for their performances in the recent Australian production.

Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is even more magical than ever before featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.

Live from 9th April to 17th May 2025
Tickets priced from £28

Children's Cookery Adventure - Vegetarian Society

Join Vegetarian Society for a fun hands-on cookery class where children team up with an adult to create a delicious meal from scratch.

In this hands-on experience, little chefs will work side-by-side with their grown-up helpers, learning basic cooking skills, and how to measure, chop, and mix ingredients to create delicious dishes. Once the meal is ready, sit down together to enjoy the fruits of your labour, sharing the joy of good food and great company. It’s a perfect way to spend time together, learn, and enjoy a tasty meal you’ve both helped prepare.

Suitable for ages 7 and over.
Available 10th April 2025
Priced £100 per adult & child pair

The Koala Who Could - Lowry

A Lowry, Rose Theatre, Nicoll Entertainment, Northern Stage, Unicorn Theatre and MAST Mayflower Studios co-production

Based on the bestselling picture book about taking a chance

An empowering and chuckle-out-loud story about embracing change — whether we like it or not.

Join Kevin, King of the staying-still-kings, and his friends the wombats, roos, and dingos as they learn that “life can be great when you try something new”.

Live at Lowry from 8th to 13th April 2025

East Lancashire Railway

The mischievous bob-tailed bunny, Peter Rabbit™, is visting the Bury Transport Museum!

See Peter Rabbit at intervals on Friday 18th & Saturday 19th April.

There will be even more family fun with three fun fair rides suitable for toddlers, face painters and craft activities.

Complete your day out with a ride along one of the heritage steam or diesel trains through Irwell Valley. Ticket price includes a ride on any train services on the day of your visit.

Family Drop-Ins - Factory International

Spring into creativity this Easter with free kids crafts in the Social

Drop by the Social for free kids creative activities throughout the Easter holidays, including:

Decorate your own wearable butterfly wings with Mila Raczkowska
Create your own butterfly mask with Kymara Akinpelumi and Annie Moxon
Make a brightly-coloured disco crown with Gemma Hemingway
Join a folding paper workshop with UPTONOGOOD.ART

RHS Garden Bridgewater

The giant Easter egg hunt at RHS Bridgewater is more egg-citing than ever!

This year, children have a special quest to solve* as they look for brightly coloured eggs hidden in the garden. You can also enjoy storytelling, planting and craft workshops and the magical Guess How Much I Love You™ garden adventure trail.

Book garden entry online and save; free to RHS members and children under 5. Children aged 5–16 just £5.

*A £2.50 charge applies per child for a code-breaker pack and chocolate treat – pre-order online to save time at the door.

Easter Activities - Manchester Libraries

This Easter their are 24 Half Term Activity Funded sessions at Withington, Forum, Avenue, Newton Heath, Longsight and Gorton Libraries.

Sessions start at 11am and finish at 2.30pm with a free lunch provided.

Sessions can be booked by eligible families on the Manchester Active website MCRactive Activity Finder. If you are not eligible, remaining slots become available around 72 hours before the session to all other families.

Yard & Coop - Kids eat free

This Easter, Yard & Coop – home of The Best Chicken and The Biggest Smile – is making family dining a whole lot easier (and tastier). From April 4th to April 22nd, kids eat free all day, every day excluding Saturdays.

Designed for hungry little cluckers and their equally hungry parents, the offer includes a free kids meal with every paying adult. That means delicious buttermilk fried chicken and proper good times without breaking the bank this half-term.

The Kids Eat Free menu features a choice of crispy buttermilk chicken or veggie nuggets, fries or mash, and peas or beans – with a drink included. The only thing families need to do is book a table and show up hungry.

Yard & Coop’s fun, laid-back setting, table service and famous fried chicken makes it a family favourite in the city – and this Easter’s campaign promises to be one of the busiest yet.

Oxygen Activeplay

Take advantage of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Easter Holiday Pass. For just £30, the pass holder can visit the park on any five days of the two-week break, including weekends and Bank Holidays, for 60 minutes of Open Play.

Jumpers can let loose on interconnected trampolines, a mega-airbag, an inflatable park and a Strike Arena, where players can form a team or take on a solo mission, to navigate their way through obstacles to strike lit-up targets and score the most points.

High above the park, bouncers over 120cm can take on the exhilarating high ropes course and navigate across six challenging crossings, while thrill-seekers who are 135cm or taller can get a sky-high feeling as they take flight and soar over the park on a harness on the Sky Rider.

Museum of Illusions

The Museum of Illusions offers a unique experience that both kids and adults will love!

Packed with over 50 mind-bending interactive exhibits, including optical illusions, gravity-defying rooms, and mesmerizing holograms, the museum offers a hands-on adventure where science and perception collide. It’s the perfect way to keep young minds curious and creative while having fun together as a family.

One of the best parts? The hilarious photo opportunities! Kids will love striking funny poses that make for unforgettable, giggle-worthy memories. Plus, the brain room is filled with puzzles and mind games to keep those little cells buzzing throughout the school break.

Visitors can explore at their own pace, making it ideal for anything from a quick visit to a full afternoon of fun. Whether you’re looking for a short trip or a longer family day out, there’s something for everyone.

People's History Museum

People’s History Museum (PHM) is celebrating 90 years of Penguin Books this Easter.

Families are invited to make mini books inspired by a revolution in publishing and the changemakers whose stories are told on the museum’s galleries.

Taking place in PHM’s Playful Protest Space, children will be given a series of fun challenges to help them create their mini masterpieces to add to their bookshelves at home.

Easter Mini Books, Big Stories is suitable for ages 5+ (under 18s must have an accompanying adult), is free to take part in and no booking is required.

Total Ninja

Let the kids loose at Total Ninja Manchester for ninja-tastic eggs-ercise to burn off all their excess energy.

The park tests your Ninja skills while climbing, balancing and swinging across obstacles or bouncing across their inflatable – plus find out if you have what it takes to beat the wall!

To recharge after all the action, you can recoup in the cafe with a variety of drinks, snacks or mains. Over the school break, prospective Ninjas can snag two 1-hour sessions plus a sharing pizza, Monday-Friday after 4pm, for just £24.

What’s more, families can enter a social media colouring competition, from Friday 11th April to be in with the chance of winning a birthday party at Total Ninja Manchester for 10 people.

Easter Children’s Party - Red Hall Hotel

Get ready for an egg-citing day of fun and laughter at Red Hall Hotel’s Children’s Easter Party — the perfect way to start the weekend celebrations.

What’s Included in the ticket price:

Face Painting — Transform into the Easter bunny
Balloon Modelling — Watch as balloons turn into amazing creations.
Disco Dancing & Games — Bust some moves and join in on classic party games.
Delicious Children’s Buffet — Packed with tasty treats to keep the energy going.
Easter Egg Colouring Competition – Prize for the best egg

Pricing:

Children: £20 (Under 2’s go free!)
Adults: £15 – Includes a tasty lunch menu to choose from

What's on this Easter in Manchester 2025

Events and things to do this Easter

The Smartest Giant In Town -Waterside Arts

Easter Adventures - Dunham Massey

Easter Egg Decorating Class - The Lowry Hotel

Room on the Broom - Lowry

Easter Activities - Kargo MKT

Trafford Centre

Science + Industry Museum

Gandey's Circus Carnival - Trafford Centre

Adventures in Wonderland - Z-Arts

Mary Poppins - Palace Theatre

Children's Cookery Adventure - Vegetarian Society

The Koala Who Could - Lowry

East Lancashire Railway

Family Drop-Ins - Factory International

RHS Garden Bridgewater

Easter Activities - Manchester Libraries

Yard & Coop - Kids eat free

Oxygen Activeplay

Museum of Illusions

People's History Museum

Total Ninja

Easter Children’s Party - Red Hall Hotel

An email you'll love

Support us

Donate

Shop

Fundraise

Advertise with us

Online Advertising

Out-of-Home Advertising

Download our App

Company

Support us

Work with us

News & Stories

What's On

Shop