Which of these activities are worth it in Manchester?

[Cupperdup]

Travelling with 9 year old DS in November to Manchester from Edinburgh.

which of these is worth the visit and which should we give a miss? Can’t do it all as only there 2 days

gamebox at arndale
pac man experience
illusion house
lego experience

and just in general- which museum is best?

I've only been to the museum of illusions, its fun but very small and over priced in my view.

Not on your list but we loved the aquarium at the Trafford centre.

The immersive gamebox is good fun but expensive for what it is. We’ve been twice, once with the kids and once as a couple.
I haven’t seen the other things, but the cube at the arndale is also good fun but, again, expensive.

If your son likes computer games, how about the Power Up Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry? It is quite big, not too expensive and they have computer games from the last forty years to try out. My sons liked it.

We did the Pac-Man experience and it was loads of fun, there was 6 of us though, 2 adults and 4 children. It’ll be full on if there’s only 2 of you. I felt like it was a workout

For a 9 year old, the things worth coming to Manchester for include:

The tram ride from St Peter’s Sq to Salford Quays, and the walk along the canal to:
The Lowry
Imperial War Museum North
Media City

Plus:

Manchester Museum
The Museum of Science and Industry
The People’s History Museum
The National Football Museum
Manchester Art Gallery
The Whitworth Gallery
RNCM
The Bridgewater Hall
RHS Bridgewater
The Royal Exchange Theatre
The John Rylands Library
HOME Manchester

I’ve spent years entertaining children in Manchester and have never been to any of the things mentioned in the OP.

Not the Lego Experience. It just about held DS’s attention when he was 7 (he loved it at 5), and he loved Lego.

Gosh I came to say the opposite, my 12 year old loved it and we stayed far longer than we had planned. Having said that it is aimed at younger children and we did have several younger relatives with us.
i thought it was really good though.

Weirdle's list is good.
I entertain children in Manchester very frequently and the only thing I've done in the OP is the lego place, which really is shite. Though mine quite liked it when they were toddlers.

We’ve done the gamebox and it was fun but really expensive for less than half an hour

I suspect the others are similar

power up at the science museum- and that museum in general- is very good and much better value

national football museum is good if into football. Probably not if not.

If by LEGO experience you mean the discovery centre I’d give it a big serve unless under 5.

Definitely not the lego experience. There are much better things to do in Manchester.

Museum of science and industry would be top of my list.
The people's history museum is good, the football museum if they're into football. Definitely the imperial war museum.

This. We have family in Manchester and there's lots to do. There's also some other stuff to see in the Science and Industry Museum, where this permanent games exhibition is. You can go in and out from the computer area as many times as you want, as long as you keep your wristband, so you can go out fo lunch and come later if you fancy.

If he likes football, the Football Museum is not too far away from yhere. Obviously also the ones attached to the two main football teams. There's a Crystal Maze place in the city centre but I think it's 10yo and above. The Pacman experience that you mention is fun and tiring. It's like a room with projections all around and sensors so you run around and collect points. There are lots of escape rooms in the area too. They also do lots of trails or walking "treasure hunts" in the city centre if you want to walk around and discover areas.

If you want to go shopping, I'd recommend taking the tram to Trafford Centre (20min+ from city centre). There's an Archies skating ring, mini golf, Laserquest, Legoland and Sea Life Aquarium. Also just opposite there's a massive Play Factore centre, a rock climbing place, and a snow/sky one (Chill Factore). The Play Factore is worth the visit but you need to book a slot beforehand.

Liverpool is just an hour away by train and also worth visiting the Eureka Science museum, Beatles ones, World Museum,.and Museum of Liverpool, these latter two I think are still free.