Manchester with kids

[MegBusset]

Looking at a long weekend trip to Manchester in February, can anyone recommend stuff to do with the kids? Eg museums, places to walk etc. DC age 7 and 9. We'll be staying in Bury.

[notangelinajolie]

Go to the Manchester Museum on Oxford Road. We used to take the kids there all the time and they loved it! Especially the Dinosaurs & Mummies. It is also free which is always a good thing .

[MegBusset]

Thank you :)

Bumping for any more!

[PMT783]

Science and Industry museum is huge and great. Just off Deansgate. Will take up at least half a day. Football Museum near the printworks is good if they like football. Heston Park is close to Bury as is Hollingworth Lake. Trafford Centre is 15 mins from Bury and as well as the shops and eateries has legoland and sea life centre. The football tour at the etihad stadium is great too.

[PMT783]

Heaton Park not Heston

[Thatwaslulu]

Imperial War Museum is good.

Day trip to Blackpool?

[HandbagCrab]

Do you have a car or are you on public transport?

Public transport - mosi, Manchester art gallery, football museum all easy to get to on the tram from Bury as they are in city centre. Manchester museum is good but a pain to get to imho as it is tram and bus or tram and a long walk. There's not much parking round it either.

Bury has a steam railway that is good. It has an art gallery, transport museum and army museum which are all small and you pay a little to get in. There's also cinema, swimming, roller rink, bowling, restaurants and a theatre in Bury town centre.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with Heaton Park, it's big but there's not much to do other than walk round it, though there is a very small farm animal section to walk around. Burrs Country Park is a short walk from Bury town centre if you'd like to walk round somewhere green.

Trafford centre on public transport is a pain too and there's lots to do but it's all pretty spendy, which is great if that's what you want from your weekend in Manchester :) It's heaving at the weekends as well so I'd go before 12 if you're wanting to get parked and for 10 if you want to go to legoland or sealife. Public transport is a tram to Manchester then a bus to the Trafford centre.

Hope you have a lovely time! Manchester and Bury are great!

[MegBusset]

Ooh thank you everyone. Yes will have a car, not really interested in football or shopping, museums and parks more our thing. Plus visiting some retro video game arcade which is DH's reason for wanting to go - I've said that's fine as long as we also go to Salford Lads' Club

[lovelyupnorth]

If you're in bury you have the museum of transport, east Lancs railway and the fusilier museum on your doorstep.

[Meadows76]

Airport has a viewing park where you can apparently see Concorde and a few other bits plus close views of the runway

[lovelyupnorth]

Heaton park should by then have a fantastic new treetop course and nets.

You also have go ape at Irvington. And the fantastic indoor play area under the chill Factore ski centre - the play factore

[notangelinajolie]

Just to expand on Meadows76 post re Concord. You can actually go on board Concord and look in the cockpit. I'd recommend that you buy tickets in advance especially if you are going in school holidays. We went when Concord just arrived and were disappointed that we were unable get tickets on the day - it gets booked well in advance. There are other planes you can go inside too but for Concord you need to pay extra. Its called the Runway Visitor Park.

[Mehfruittea]

Airport viewing platform is only worth it on a sunny day. You have to pay per HR for the parking and there is not much to do other than watch planes land!

Trafford Centr is free parking and has a lot in the entertainment part, bowling cinema, soft play, amusements as well as legoland and sea life.

If planning on going to Legoland and sea life - check Tesco club card for free tickets as well as cereal boxes etc. IMO very expensive full price but great fun if it were cheaper.

Opposite Trafford Centre is Chill Factor E and play factor e. Free parking again - loads of great activities not just skiing. Play factor e is pricey for soft play but worth it. Climbing wall at chill factor as well.

On same complex as chill factor is David Lloyd leisure and DW fitness. Blag a day pass or trial and make use of the facilities. DL has a small soft play area, kids pool, outdoor swimming and nice-ish cafe.

MOSI is great, small train ride is a firm favourite with my DS.

Check out Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays as they often have cheap shows on aimed at kids. BBC and ITV studios also based here and have tours/various activities on especially during school holidays. It's nice to go anyway for a walk around the quayside and over the bridge - especially if you have kids that need space to run, gets cold though. Good restaurants as well.

Hope you have a fab time!!