What to do in Manchester after football museum?

[daisydalrymple]

Planning an overnight trip to Manchester for ds1’s birthday (16) as he wants to go round the football museum. Dd is going on a trip with school, so don’t need to worry about her getting bored. . Ds2 will be with us, he’s 8. Just wondering what else is worth doing on the same day? I’ve looked online and seems there’s a few museums, but none stand out really. Both like footy (but support Arsenal, so etihad / old Trafford of no interest). Would like natural history museum type place. Or any outdoor spaces of interest? TIA for any suggestions.

Would you be up for a journey to the Trafford centre and some time on the indoor ski slope? That's always fun.

There's the science and industry museum too, that's quite interactive and interesting, definitely geared towards DC too.

Junkyard golf, lots of escape rooms, Museum of science and industry (MoSI) the Manchester museum, lots of shops, barge on Manchester ship canal.

Manchester Museum is reopening on 18th February after a massive redevelopment.
I loved it before,so can’t wait to return .
www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

MOSI is a 20 min walk away - (science and industry museum) - www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk

Manchester Museum is closed for a refurb unfortunately which is more of a natural history museum.

If you don’t mind paying (& you like cricket) you can get food and have a play at sixescricket.com which is a two minute walk away. It’s family friendly so will suit your teen and 8 yr old.

The Manchester Art Gallery (manchesterartgallery.org) is 10 mins away, can sometimes have good things on for kids but might a be bit boring for teens / younger ones.

There’s a bowling alley at The Printworks opposite too.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-64413424

The Northwest computer museum has opened in Leigh outside Manchester with old games consoles from the the past few decadès.

Imperial War museum at Salford

Or you can get the tram to the imperial war museum at Salford quays from Victoria train station (next door to the football museum). Think you’ll have to change at St Peter’s Sq.

www.nwcomputermuseum.org.uk/

It's about an hour either way by public transport or over 30 minutes by car. Might be a bit long from the city centre for an afternoon trip

I'd suggest the Manchester Museum if it has reopened by the time you visit. A walking tour of Ancoats or around the city centre is pretty interesting or nipping into Chethams library.

Central Manchester does indoor spaces really well!

I’d agree if you can wait for Manchester Museum to open that should be perfect.

Otherwise, or in addition, MOSI, as suggested, is very young people friendly.

Go to the Whitworth Gallery for lunch or afternoon whatever - it’s the loveliest gallery, small and embracing, and the cafe space is breathtaking.

Don’t miss taking the tram to Salford Quays - it’s a brief, fun journey - and then walking along the canal to: on one side Imperial War Museum North; on the other The Lowry and Media City. (Find out if anything’s going on there that you could attend.)

Back in the city - check now what’s on at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Book tickets. Another fabulous space, and theatre in the round.

It has to be said, Manchester has lost its gloss recently - but there’s still masses to do with teens and children that really is unique to the city.

Heaton Park in Prestwich is easy to get to by tram (also has lots of parking if you're driving) and has a treetop trek

Lego Trafford

Would it be worth going in Winter weather, @BabyMoonPie ?

Museums:

MOSI

• www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk Manchester Museum - re-opens 18th Feb 10/15 mins out of city centre loads of buses or can walk www.museum.manchester.ac.uk

Trafford Centre (get tram from city centre):

Chill Factore indoor ski slope and snow park great fun - www.chillfactore.com
Indoor Sky Diving - www.iflyworld.co.uk/locations/ifly-manchester/
Dino Falls Golf - www.dinofalls.co.uk

Following with interest

Thank you all, yes I did see that the Manchester museum reopen (great timing as we’re planning the trip for half term), so it’s good to know it’s recommended. Appreciate all the suggestions, thank you! I’ll work through them all.

You might find this helpful, too:

www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/destinations/uk/england/manchester/things-to-do-manchester

I don't see why just because they support Arsenal,they wouldn't be interested in seeing other grounds. We visited both!

The football museum is great. Takes much longer than you might imagine.