Advice for Manchester holiday

[BillieHolliday]

Hi,
We have a long weekend in Manchester coming up. Me, DH, 5 yo and baby.
Neither of us have been before. We're flying in.
What is good to do with kids? Any good hotels to stay/ definitely avoid?
All advice welcome. Thank you 😊

I should say, we're not MU fans so won't be doing Soccer stuff and we are more than likely going to Lego Land and maybe the Aquarium too

Both of those attractions are at the Trafford Centre so you might want to book a hotel there. You can get the 18 bus from the airport to the Trafford centre, or train then team or taxi.

If you stay at the Trafford Centre you'll need to get public transport or taxis into the city centre.

Tram, not team

My advice would be get the train to Liverpool

Quite a bit around or in the trafford centre: small sea life and Lego centre, play factore and the chill factore too. Easy to access by tram or bus.

There are a few museums and fun type places like bowling/gaming/golf in the centre of town but not loads and your children may be a bit young. May be something on in a theatre?

Salford quays/media city is nice for a walk around, not a great deal there but ok for food and drinks. There’s a market on once a month. You can do a boat ride there now!

@WeAreTheHeroes great, thank you. I will check out hotels in the Trafford Centre area

🤣🤣 poor Manchester!!

@Withnoshoes thank you ☺️

The MOSI is great.

Why the fuck are you going to Manchester? And yes, go to Liverpool or Leeds

It's just not a great family destination with kids, and totally willing to be proved wrong.

Most of the heritage options are football or industrial revolution focussed so not great for sMall people

I don't understand why you would fly to Manchester for a long weekend without having checked what might appeal there first? Especially at this time of year. Did you just stick a pin in a map? (Sorry, not trying to be unhelpful, just rather baffled).

With you @HundredMilesAnHour

I'm from Manchester. I echo everyone who's said go to Liverpool. Legoland is pants, don't waste your money. Half the shops in the Trafford Centre have closed down - it really isn't a destination anymore.

The Lego land and sealife are pants and you will absolutely be disappointed with a trip specifically to see those.

My DH is going for work and we thought we might as well make a weekend of it. Flights were cheap and short. Our local airport is very small so travel out should be straightforward . We thought older DC would enjoy the excitement of travelling. With COVID we haven't brought DC anywhere further than 2 and a half hours drive within our own country.

TBH DC will be happy getting on a bus and having a sandwich and juice for lunch and going to a playground.

I suppose I assumed all big cities in England have something exciting to do.
I was hoping to get advice like "whatever you do, don't stay near the train station" or "X restaurant does a fabulous coffee" or "Lego Land is great but don't bother with the Aquarium" (I'm grateful for the advice received so far)

Oh well, we'll do Liverpool/ Leeds another time 😃

@schnausages oh no. I was hoping for one out of the two to be good at least!

Stay near the airport and go to Styal Mill, a walk in Styal Woods is also lovely. Dinner in The Ship Inn.

We had a great family long weekend in Mcr a few years back, we loved it.

Science and Industry Museum - great for kids, very hands on
Imperial War Museum
The Lowry
Salford Quays
Bury Art Museum - when we were there they had kids' activities
Getting the tram

Sorry for all the 'down on Manchester'. It's just not great for kids, the Lego thing is pants...

Get the train to Leeds and go to the armouries (free). Whole day out for my kids, also train from Manchester to Leeds goes through a spectacular industrial heritage, probably your kids are too young

Armouries are in a complex with a pizza express, many great days out with my two from 3yo to 15

I defer to @MegBusset

Hey,

I love Manchester and very biased being a Mancunian with two small kids. So here are some things we like to do :)

There’s loads to do with kids in Manchester and Salford Quays/Media City (same place).

I would get a hotel in the city centre, that way you can meander and do things there or head out on a tram or bus to somewhere else. The Edwardian is nice, but pricey and I found a little noisy when I stayed (pre kids). Surprisingly the best place we stayed in Manchester when we had a night off was the Crown Plaza near the arena.

The Lowry is fab for kids and in Media City. It’s a museum and theatre. Link so you can see what’s on when you’re here. One of my favourite areas to have a day out. There’s the Blue Peter garden, a kids’ play area and the imperial war museum (never been with my two yet, aged 7 and 3). The Banksy exhibition is on at the moment too.

The Salford Museum is really nice and has an old fashioned Victorian street to visit too. Peel Park is right behind Salford Museum and my kids loved it.

Heaton Park is massive. Has a tree top adventure, animal area, various kids’ play areas, train and an occasional fair (depending on half term or not).

John Rylands Library I just love this place. You wouldn’t spend loads of time here, but it’s beautiful. As is Central Library. Both in the city centre.

Depending on when you are in Manchester, you’ll find different things going on. For instance this week Halloween in the City starts. Great day for kids with monster spotting, live shows and a trick or treat around the city. The Christmas markets are also being assembled - used to be at the town hall, but all changed and haven’t been with the new layout.

plus, as others have said, you’ve got the Trafford Centre, etc. I wouldn’t stay at the trafford centre, personally.

Richmond Tea Rooms

Ordsall Hall

Afflecks

have a lovely break 😊

@Motherofalegend feel like a proper philistine

If you have time there is a restaurant called 'airport pub' at the airport, it's outside area is right at the runway and it's fab to go watch the planes and it has a big play area. Food is good too.

There's loads to do - MOSI is great, so is the Manchester Museum and the Lowry.

What do you like to eat - loads of places for leisurely breakfast. Hotels I recommend Dakota - not cheap but amazing service .

Manchester is great.