Suggestions for spending a day in Manchester with teens

[mamabluestar]

Hi, I'm travelling by train with my 18DD amd 15DS in a couple of weeks time. We'll arrive into Manchester Piccadilly around 11.30am and leave around 6.30pm

I've suggested a couple of things that we could do, but I was hoping for some 'real life' suggestions please

The Museum of Illusions is really great fun and right in the middle of the shops just down from the station.

Mine could happily spend most of the day in Afflecks. But that might depend on your teens.

What kind of things are they into? I love the People’s History museum, Whitworth Art Gallery and the John Rylands Library. There’s football stadium tours if they’re into that. Oldham Street and Afflecks weren’t what they were but still good for mooching with teens. This is great if they’re into gaming https://meetspacevr.co.uk/vr-games-experiences/. Also worth checking what’s on at Aviva Studios.

Theres lots to do but depends on what you/they like/are interested in.

The Ai Wei Wei exhibition is incredible. Huge scale art which is accessible for teens.

I'm 5ft8 my DH is 6ft2

If they’re into gaming NQ64 in the northern quarter is fun, it’s right near Afflecks too so you could do both.

If they’re into football there’s the national football museum or stadium tours for city & united (you can get to both on the tram really easily).

Or there’s flight club, or junk yard golf at First St? Matinee show at the theatre, see what’s on at the Palace or Opera house.

Just be warned with the museum of illusions, it’s the school holidays so might be packed. I took my dc in a half term and we spent the majority of the time queuing at each bit while people took millions of photos. It was not worth it imo.

OP what are they into? There’s the people’s history museum, MOSI, football museum. You can do stadium tours. You can download a food/dumpling trail or loads of different themed walking/history tours. The gay village is colourful to walk through on a nice day and see the Turing statue and is just a hop from Piccadilly. Northern Quarter for exploring bars/cafes and street art. If they like movies you can go to the street that was set up like New York for a Marvel film (I think!). Manchester Art Gallery is in the centre, and the Whitworth is a bit further out with a lovely park, both have good cafes. There’s food hut/stall things all around Piccadilly gardens and the Arndale if they like shopping. China Town has some beautiful street art and the Chinese gate and is very close to the gay village so you could walk from there via canal St very quickly. There’s a library you can get afternoon tea in, but often very booked up. There’s a cool VR experience, ancient Egypt at the mo, I did the previous one and it was lots of fun!

I’m hoping to go soon - would you say it’s good for all age kids @EBWhite? Wondering if my 2 would enjoy it but they’re not yet teens.

There is a great VR experience on Tib Street (ancient Egypt, Machu Picchu and I think a space one soon). Takes about an hour, and is right opposite Afflecks

@RiotNotDiet perhaps not. I left my two with a friend. They’d have spent about 10 minutes there and got bored.