Manchester with 5 year old DD

[peasando]

I'm planning a weekend away with my five year old DD while her brother is at a school camp. I've booked bargain train tickets to Manchester and got a hotel sorted. One day she wants to go to the cinema so that's easy peasy, but I'm wondering what to do with the other. Although she enjoys shopping I don't think I (or my bank balance) could take a whole day of it. She likes super girlie stuff (which I do not, but will do for her!) but she's also pretty gung ho and willing to give most activities a go.

Please no soft play - we do enough of that at home!

Any suggestions v gratefully received.

These are the things I’ve taken small children to in Manchester that they’ve absolutely adored:

Tram from St Peter’s Square to Salford Quays. Walk along the canal side (clean, safe, pedestrianised) and over the bridge to lmperial War Museum.

The Lowry - check for children’s shows, but visually fascinating either way.

Royal Exchange Theatre. Great if there’s a suitable show on - but the interior of the building is amazing on its own.

John Ryland’s Library - fascinating building, can feel like an adventure to walk around or sit in.

Manchester Art Gallery - great spaces and art and dedicated Clore gallery for children.

Manchester Museum - huge and magnificent and fun to wander around.

Whitworth Gallery - small and very beautiful; breathtaking art, glass walled cafe and wonderful outdoor spaces.

Science and Industry Museum - worth repeated visits. So much stuff.

National Football Museum - some impressive exhibitions and interactivity.

In short, Manchester doesn’t have the unmissable outdoor spaces of, say, Liverpool - but if you know where to look its buildings and interiors are truly rewarding to visit.

Lots of new places to eat have sprung up since I was last there - others can recommend.

A great list by @BeetledBrow !
Mayfield Park at the back of Picaddily station is a hidden gem of a place with a great kids play area if it's a nice day.
You could do a morning of shopping at the Trafford Centre and then cinema there in the afternoon or there's a dinosaur crazy golf thing across the road.

thank you both so much - especially @BeetledBrow that is an amazing list! I'm going to look into everything on it. Any more ideas anyone?

Some places do a kids afternoon tea if you want to get her dressed up? Not sure if she's still a bit young for this.

Cloud 23 or the Midland Hotel would both be nice.

Richmond Tea Rooms is cute and quirky.

Heaton Park has Treetop nets and a lake with boats for hire. There's a cafe in the park, but an even better one (The Goods In) next to Heaton Park Tram. About a 20-25min tram from the city centre.

oh Richmond Tea Rooms is really fun, I haven't been there for years!

There is currently a Shrek cafe in primark which looks fun. If you are here this weekend it is Halloween in the city and there’ll be lots going on in the streets. If you are coming nearer Christmas then there will be ice skating etc and the markets (but they get hammered).

Manchester Art Gallery and Science and industry museum and John Rylands library are free and easiest to get to if you are in the city centre as you can walk to them.

For a weekend you don’t need to schlep to the Trafford centre or Salford quays unless you want to.

I took my 6yo DD to the museum of illusions (right in the town centre) the other day and she loved it moimanchester.com

My two used to love Legoland Discovery centre and while is right next to the Trafford centre, you'll be able to shop too.

www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com/manchester/

It really isn’t a schlep to Salford Quays - and particularly for a five year old the up-and-down-over-water tram journey is probably half the fun!