Manchester for kids / places hour outside

[WindIsSwirlling]

Wondering if anyone had any good ideas for a pit stop perhaps an hour outside of Manchester? We’re coming from glasgow but need to be in city early morning so thought we’d go night before and stay around an hour way so shorter drive in morning (the Manchester hotel we have is too expensive for evening before). Ideally in area with something for primary ages children to do in the afternoon/ early evening (park, swimming, softplay?)

Then any recommendations for things to do in Manchester itself for primary aged children (going to book sealife)?

In the city centre for kids;
Science and Industry museum
Peoples History museum
Manchester art gallery (usually have children's activities weekends and holidays)

All the usual stuff you'll find in any city like cinemas, mini golf etc.

Presume you're aware that the sealife centre isn't in the city centre but a few miles away in Trafford.

For swimming there is the swanky Aquatics Centre and then just over the road there is the Manchester Museum which ticks a few KS1/2 topics- the Egypt bit was done up a few years ago and they have dinosaurs.

The dinosaurs and the vivarium at Manchester museum are great.
The sealife at the Trafford centre is a bit shit tbh, particularly if you've been to a different one before...plus if it's a weekend I'd avoid the Trafford centre like the plague!
There are some great national trust properties on the outskirts of manchester Quarry Bank Mill and Dunham massey are our favourites.

Thanks for the info everyone. Shame sealife isn’t so good - was hoping would be decent one as our more local one is tiny. We need to be in Manchester for early morning for family event but then have few days “at leisure” so looking for something different to do with kids.

Lancaster is about 1 hour away and just off the M6. Don't know it very well but could be a useful pit stop.

As for when you're in Manchester

MOSI (Science Museum) have a Science week on, it's free.
Treetop Golf at The Printworks
National Trust - Dunham Massey, Quarry Bank, Lyme (all a short drive from the city)