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 😊

Piccadilly gardens, Chinatown, Art gallery, MOSI, see what is on at Royal Exchange and Printworks cinema, Craft and Design centre.

OP, Liverpool is only an hour away on the train so can easily be done during your trip.

But if you want to do Manchester, don't let us put you off! There are some things to do for sure.

• Rudy's pizza - best Italian style pizza in the UK, I swear! It's so good and really affordable
• Makers market in Salford Quays/media city - last weekend of each month - tasty food, nice atmosphere
• I'm a celebrity jungle challenge in media city - this could be good for kids, check out the reviews
• electric gamebox - another good one for kids, but me and my friends also loved it
• museums/art galleries - take your pick, if you'll be in media city anyway the imperial war museum is right there, the science museum in the city centre is also good although quite small. I found it very interesting though
• if you're into football, there's the football museum as well as the stadiums and games on potentially too
• if you're looking for a more upgraded dining experience, the Sparrows is a hidden gem and really great place to eat
• there is a sea life/world whatever they're called in Trafford centre I think
• you can do a river cruise that takes you from media city into the city centre, it's a nice little activity
• Media City also has the alchemist (nice food and interesting cocktails/mocktails) right on the river so it's quite a nice place for food and drinks in the evening. I think ITV also does studio tours if you're into that kind of thing

Hotel wise, if you stay in media city it's safe, clean, quiet and there are a few hotels there. It would then be a 20-25 min tram ride into city centre.Otherwise city centre but depends on your budget - there are some really nice hotels.

The tram is great btw - there are also some free buses that go around the city centre.

Stay in Prestwich - 15 mins outside the city. Great cafés - near Heaton Park, one of the largest in Europe/easy transport links to the airport/Trafford Centre

I loathe the place but your statement just isn't true. Debenhams has gone but nothing else.

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

So why go on to mention the train between Manc’r & Leeds, which is industrial heritage, and recommend the armouries for a day out?

I’m from the NW, there are lots of things to do in all those cities so why anyone is suggesting another commute between cities with small kids in tow when it’s totally unnecessary is odd.

Go to Liverpool instead 😂

If you must, the imperial war museum is excellent. Lowry also v good.

but Liverpool is still better.

If you are going around Halloween there is a brilliant tiny steam train that runs from Bury through Ramsbottom. They do a Halloween special. They even stop the train in the dark 'between stations' and loads of friendly monsters climb on. The DC adored it when they were young.

It's really sweet anyway, even if it's just the normal steam train running. They do tea and cake.

I love Manchester and I live near Leeds. I would far sooner spend a few days in the rainy city than I would Liverpool.

Suggesting the Armouries in Leeds for small kids is odd imo - it's full of weapons.

My kids used to love the Manchester museum. It had mummies, stuffed animals and dinosaurs plus a kids activity area . It also used to be free. We used to take them to the viewing area for Manchester Airport to watch the planes coming and going . The steam trains from Bury, which I think is reachable by tram, often have special themed rides. We have stayed at a few of the Premier Inns and they were all fine . Check out which shows will be on when you are there as there are a few theatres that often have child friendly shows .

Ohhh thank you for this! DS loves transport-related anything and we have a few days off together in a couple of weeks. I think we might take a drive to Heywood then get on the train there for a day out. He'll love it! Thank you x

I second the East Lancs railway and the Imperial War Museum.

Glad to read you are not Manchester United fans, when the team I support had a rare game there (and were cheated by the referee as per normal there), the only local accents I heard were the stewards and catering staff.

I'm in Manchester now and going to the Legoland Discovery place tomorrow (with DC 3, 5 and 7) so will report back! Mine like Z-Arts and the Lowry and my older two the library and generally mooching about so not getting the Manchester hate. Bring a raincoat!

Sure you did - let's perpetuate that myth! I'm a local and know plenty of locals who regularly go to matches.

Go to Heaton Park on the tram then have a wander around/ eat in Prestwich.

My dd is older so I'm not up to date on activities for the little ones, but if you're going soon there is usually an ice rink as part of the markets.

There are lots of kid things to do at the Trafford Centre so worth looking at but I wouldn't personally base yourself there.

Food wise look at places round the northern quarter to start, but you can't go far wrong there are so many nice places.

The steam train looks Amazing!

It is great, the whole place is very family-friendly, and all the stations are nice places to stop - you can get off and on again later if you want.
The Lloyds Bank black horse ad steam train bit was filmed near Irwell Vale.

Sometimes the steam engines alternate with diesel, so if you go check the timetable for your date.

www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/plan-your-day-out/timetables/

Hope you have a fab day out, @TokenGinger 🥰

I'm from Manchester. I don't think you need to get a train to Liverpool or Leeds. There isn't much more there to be honest! The Liver building and the docks are nice in Liverpool but not much else. Leeds is just the same as Manchester but smaller and less to do!

I would echo what another poster has said. If you go to Media city there is some nice eateries. There is the Imperial war museum which is fascinating and they have a lot on for children. There is also the Lowry.

Still lots of shops open at the Trafford centre. Only Debenhams closed down. I was there last week. Legoland is there

There is the science and industry Museum and also the Manchester Museum. The Manchester museum has dinosaurs and live frogs. Both have lots of events on.

@Miajk thank you too for all the info.
So many people have commented, I really appreciate all your tips.
I have veered away from Lego Land and aquarium and thinking of Manchester Museum and the steam train 🚂

I love Manchester but it’s not really a small child type place

I feel the same as you! I was recently talking to a couple of friends about how people from the north west are either 'liverpool people' or 'manchester people' as we all seem to have a preference on which is best!

I'm a Manchester person there's so much more going on but I will admit that some of Manchester city centre is a bit grey and dreary looking! 😂

My four year old loves it here! And escape to freight island is a great food place next door - very basic (pizza/chips/burger) food options for kids but free face painting and activities at the weekend.

Yep. Mine too!

Selfridges cafe 👌

Just to comment on the ‘Manchester isn’t for kids’ posts.

of course it is, there is loads for families to do in the city. But if you’re from out of town and your children aren’t used to a city then they’ll mostly be thrilled with the tram and how tall the buildings are.

i never realised how ‘country’ my very small children were until I took them to Manchester for the 1st time. They were stunned by the buildings and had a whole carriage of tram besotted with them for being so vocally delighted by just riding the tram. They’d have happily stayed on it all day and ask to go back.

the Halloween things around the city will be nice to walk around as well as visiting places and while a few things are closed at MOSI, again for a non-local child there are still plenty of interesting areas to look at and play with.