Best things to do this summer holidays for kids in and around Manchester

Looking for some brilliant ideas for your families Manchester summer holiday? Look no further.

School’s out for summer, as Alice Cooper once said. That means six weeks to, ahem, enjoy with the kids.

Manchester is dialling up the summer fun with a jam-packed programme of events, art workshops and exciting food and drink on the menu.

If you’re worried about running out of ideas for things for kids to do before the end of the first week, we have a line-up of some of the best, and (mainly) free, family-friendly events in and around Manchester to keep them entertained.

If you’re looking for ideas for a great Manchester summer holiday 2024, we’ve got you covered.

Manchester summer holidays 2024

The Hundred at Emirates Old Trafford

25th July – 11th August 2024 Tickets from £5 for under 16s, £17 for adults

Get ready for an action-packed summer as The Hundred returns to Manchester, featuring the thrilling Manchester Originals! This inclusive 100-ball cricket competition combines the best of sport and entertainment, perfect for families and fans alike.

This year, experience the excitement as Manchester Originals take on seven other city-based teams. With both men’s and women’s squads playing, you can enjoy double the action in one day!

The Hundred features fast-paced cricket rules that keep it simple and fun—whoever scores the most runs wins! Alongside the matches, a fantastic music line-up, curated in collaboration with BBC Music Introducing, will enhance your experience. Look forward to performances from emerging artists, including DJ Roesh and indie pop group Corella.

Key Fixtures

• Thursday, 25 July: Manchester Originals vs Welsh Fire (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:30 pm)
• Monday, 29 July: Manchester Originals vs Trent Rockets (women’s 3:00 pm, men’s 6:35 pm)
• Thursday, 1 August: Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles (women’s 11:30 am, men’s 3:00 pm)
• Sunday, 11 August: Manchester Originals vs Northern Superchargers (women’s 2:30 pm, men’s 6:00 pm)

Join in on the fun and help cheer the Originals as they aim for glory this season! Don’t miss out on early bird ticket offers—grab yours before they sell out!

Location: Emirates Old Trafford

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Bright Lights, Big Fun at Trafford Centre

26th July – 1st September Tickets £2.50 (advance) £3.50 (on gate)

Get ready for a spectacular summer as Trafford Centre’s beloved fairground returns with a new name and even more excitement!

Bright Lights, Big Fun promises a fun day out for the whole family, with attractions including a splash park, giant beach, delicious food trucks, and fairground rides galore.

Enjoy a massive 600 square metre beach, perfect for building sandcastles and soaking up the Manchester sun. Cool off at a giant splash park, equipped with multiple water jets for endless family fun.

Experience an adrenaline rush with over twenty thrilling rides, including Star Flyer, Zero Gravity and new for 2024, Freak Out and Pirate Ship. Rides for the little ones include Waterballs, Bumper Boats, and a large inflatable area to ensure fun for all ages.

Once you’ve built up an appetite, enjoy treats including ice cream, doughnuts, crepes,
burgers, and sweets.

Location: The Great Hall, Trafford Centre Opening Times: Daily from 12pm to 8pm

(Ride tokens are sold separately at £1 each)

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Jurassic World

Friday, 2nd of August – November 3rd 2024 From £19

Experience the thrill of walking among life-sized dinosaurs as Jurassic World: The Exhibition heads to Manchester’s Trafford Centre.

The award-winning exhibition is stomping its way into the Trafford Centre from August 2nd.

Prepare to be wowed by new, life-sized dinosaurs in a thrilling, family-friendly exhibition.

This world-famous spectacle has already dazzled audiences in cities around the globe like Sydney, Toronto, Houston, Chicago, and Paris.

Now, it’s our turn to walk amongst these prehistoric giants!

This exhibition isn’t just for the big kids. Little ones can interact with adorable baby dinosaurs, including Bumpy from the hit animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, streaming on Netflix.

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Zip World

All Summer long Full trek for a group of four is £103

Nestled in the heart of Heaton Park, Treetop Trek Manchester is the place to be for a jam-packed fun day out for the family in the North-West.

Forget you’re in the city centre and explore the treetops on a high-ropes course, Full Trek and Mini Trek, or leap along the huge bouncy nets, Treetop Nets, suspended in the woodland. These adventure activities are fun for all the family, with ages 3 and older welcome.

With those dipping their toe into the world of adventure in mind, or simply a spot to grab an afternoon’s adventure, Zip World Expedition sites offer fun and accessible adventures for everyone. From a couple of hours tackling the treetop obstacles on a high ropes course, to perhaps soaring along the skyline on the UK’s only aerostat of its kind, our Expedition sites will transport you far from the busyness of everyday life for a few hours.

Toddlers need not miss out on the fun too – as they hold a Treetop Tots session nearly every day (Please check their website for more info)

At 10 am on most days the epic Treetop Nets bouncy adventure is open to mini adventurers who want to explore and let off steam!

This unique and exciting bouncy adventure is nestled high up in the trees, with plenty of giant netted spaces, walkways and slides to explore. The perfect soft surface to refine those motor skills, Treetot Nets offers a safe but thrilling environment that we’re sure your tot will absolutely love, not to mention burn plenty of energy!

Suitable for any child under the age of 3, this session is designed with little ones in mind, so that they can enjoy the nets in a more relaxed, suitable environment whilst they’re still finding their feet. Plus, there’s plenty of picnic seating below the nets, giving adults the chance to chill with a brew, and maybe even a picnic!

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The 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts

July 20th – Thursday 21st February 2025 – Tickets from £9.50

Step into a whimsical world at The 100 Story Hotel, where storytelling and play come to life! This interactive experience features a cast of delightful characters, including lions, tigers, dinosaurs, and even sausage dogs throwing a beach party. But there’s a mystery to solve—one of the hotel’s amazing stories has gone missing, and it’s up to you to track down the naughty culprit!

Created by bestselling, multi-award-winning author and illustrator Rob Biddulph in collaboration with Discover Story Centre, this enchanting adventure is perfect for families with children aged 1-8.

Join in the fun as you follow clues and explore this imaginative hotel filled with surprises around every corner!

Location: Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, M15 5ZA

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Celebrate science at the Science and Industry Museum

All Summer Museum Admission £5

From 20th July to 1st September, the Science and Industry Museum is inviting scientists, innovators and engineers of the future to experience a jam-packed summer holiday programme of free activities and explore ideas that change the world.

A whole host of hands-on events will delve deeper into the science behind space, machines, our bodies and more, as well as reveal some of the museum’s special spaces during its current large-scale repair project. Ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, will put players to the test with five decades of consoles to explore, while free exhibition, Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, will share one of the most important scientific stories of our time.

There’ll be something new to discover every day, with pop-up activities that dive deeper into engineering, the world of medicine and the inner-workings of our city. Families can discover what goes on inside an engine, use metal detectors to explore a special sand pit or examine the marvellous machines that help us look inside our bodies. Budding engineers can also get hands-on with special activities inspired by plans and blueprints of collections from the museum’s archive.

A brand-new science show will invite visitors to explore the hidden worlds uncovered by incredible engineers. From images of deep space to microscopic pictures of the world around us, the museum’s expert Explainers will take audiences on the ultimate journey to help us think differently about our world.

Demonstrations of the museum’s historic textile machinery will bring to life Manchester’s industrial past. For the first time, visitors will get to see the inner workings of these historic objects, as cameras placed inside will broadcast footage of the intricate workings of these magnificent machines.

Special ‘Hidden Spaces’ tours will give visitors the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the museum. The adventures will provide an alternative look at the site during a time when some of its historic buildings are closed for important restoration and improvement works, and include stops revealing how the museum operates day-to-day, such as the Research Centre where its archives are stored and a chance to explore the historic Lower Yard. The exciting excursions will run every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through summer. Free tickets can be booked on the day at the museum front desk, capacity is limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Visitors can explore five decades of play with a ticket to Power Up, the ultimate gaming experience, where they can discover how far computer games have come. From retro favourites like Pac-Man and Street Fighter to virtual reality, there’s something for all the family with over a hundred consoles to explore. Annual passes are now available to purchase, meaning visitors can unlock a new level of play and gain access to the experience for a whole year.

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Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry

31st July – 11th August From £18.50

When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag.

Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush.

Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life in this UK premiere.

Bluey’s Big Play is produced by Andrew Kay and Cuffe & Taylor with Windmill Theatre Co for BBC Studios.

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The Great Garden Adventure with Shaun the Sheep

20th July – 1st September

Join the fun and frolics with Shaun this Manchester summer holiday.

Discover what it takes to grow your own fresh ingredients with Shaun here at RHS Garden Bridgewater this summer – there’s never a dull moment. Enjoy a mini-musical adventure and interactive storytelling, go on a welly walk for little explorers, and have a go at making your own Shaun model at a claystation drop in session.

Join the fun with Shaun this summer at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Discover how to grow fresh ingredients, enjoy a mini-musical adventure, interactive storytelling, and a claystation drop-in session to make your own Shaun model.

Family Trail: Daily from 10am-6pm. Join Shaun as he learns to grow the best fruit and veg. Suitable for all the family.

Hide and Sheep: Daily from 10am-6pm. Search for Shaun in the ‘Hide and Sheep’ zone or use Aardman’s interactive app for a 3D photo opportunity. Suitable for all ages.

Shaun’s O’Lamb’ pics: Daily from 10am-4pm. Participate in Shaun-inspired sports day activities like hopper races. Suitable for all ages.

Space Chickens: 22-23 July at 12pm, 2pm, and 3pm. Follow an adventurous chicken sent to space in this puppet show with live music. Recommended for ages 5+.

Colour the Clouds Storytelling: 24 July, 9 and 28 August at 11am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Shaun and friends explore the garden after hours. Recommended for ages 3-6 (older and younger siblings welcome).

After-hours with the Mermaids

16th August @ 17:00 – 21:00 From £21.50

Have you seen any events that would make a great Manchester summer holiday? Let us know! [email protected]