Christmas in Manchester

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

We're up north for Christmas this year.

What's worth going to? ie the stuff which isn't there all year... (probably organised by the council or somehting???)

Is there an icerink? Is it a nightmare?

(We have a 9 year old boy btw)

Watching with interest. We are going to be in Manchester area too.
So far we are planning the big wheel and the museum of museums.
Watching for more suggestions.

Museum of museums?

That place down on Oxford Road is a bit like a museum of a museum but is that what you mean???

Apparently it is in either Salford or Eccles near the Lowry centre. Currently there is an Egyptian exhibit on with a recreation of Carter opening the tomb of King Tut.
I can't tell you what road it's on, not being a Manc myself it's all a mystery.

The Museum of Museums is near the Trafford Centre - which is about a 20 mins drive from Manchester on a very good day but there will be heavy traffic around the Trafford Centre throughout December, so be warned! If you do manage to fight through the traffic then parking is free.

www.museumofmuseums.org.uk/

The Trafford Centre has some lovely Christmas decorations and is worth spending some time there if it is raining/cold etc.

www.traffordcentre.co.uk/

Manchester has Christmas Markets in the city centre.

www.manchestermarkets.com/Specialist-Markets/Christmas-Market/Christmas-Markets_15_p1.asp

There is usually an ice rink at the Trafford Centre and also in the centre of Manchester (Picadilly Gardens but I don't know if they are on this year.

You could try the Chill Factore (which is near the Trafford Centre) Expensive and you may need to book

www.chillfactore.com/

For an overview of Christmas in Manchester try here:

www.visitmanchester.com/

Drpink, how kind. I sort of knew the MoM's was near Trafford centre, which is Eccles way isn't it? My geography of that end of the country is shocking [Londoner}.
Really looking forward to taking DD to see the exhibits there. DH is planning to go to Old Trafford.

Ice rink is at spinningfields in the city centre

The art gallery (near st peters square tram stop) is free and has lots of interactive and child friendly stuff

The manchester museum on oxford road is also free and has an area upstairs to eat your own picnic, and for the kids to look at books, draw etc. that's in addition to all the exhibits and the live toads/snakes etc

winnie the witch is on at the dancehouse theatre on oxford road