Manchester - what is there to do around the Old Trafford area (near the Lowry centre and the like)?

[foxinsocks]

we'll be going up for the FA cup semi final soon and we're staying the night (because the FA helpfully scheduled the game at 4pm on a Sunday and all our fans have to come up from London via car as the trains aren't running on that Sunday grrr)

so, is there much to do around there? I see it is near the Lowry centre - is that worth taking the kids to?

bump for any Mancurians

(ooh and I see the trains are running that day now)

do you come, do you come, do you come from Manchestaaaaaaaaar?

The Science Museum in central Manchester is excellent foxy

aah thanks Nadine.

Is that far from Salford Quays (where Old Trafford is)?

My kids love stuff like that so it would be a good trip.

I moved away years ago, so someone else will have more up to date info than I've got. but, as no-one's answered yet.....

There was a cinema just round the corner at Salford Quays - it's probably now got bowling and paintballing and stuff.

There are some nice parks around.

There is the Trafford Centre - loads of shops there and a cinema as well.

Lowry centre wasn't there when I was so can't comment.

Coronation street studios not far away either.

Hope you win btw - we support the other team from Manchester

Weeeelllllllllllllll I lived in manchester a looooooooooooooong time but am hopeless at directions - I have emailed gdg she's taken the boys there so I'm hoping she'll be along forthwith.

I think the tram might be a go-er

if you have boys the science museams good, theres a bit with a steam train and stuff

natural history museum in central manchester has dinosaurs ect

just hop on the metrolink takes you there directly

the trafford centre for some retail therapy and food?

or come to mine for a BBQ -lol

Manchester don't have another 'team' there is only one that counts

and they wear red

oh no they don't nadinebloodybagott. They wear blue.

do your kids like thomas the tank?

theres a real lifesize thomas the tank train that you ride, complete with fat controller 10 mins from where you are on sundays, what date are you going so i can check its on?

we're chelsea supporters

it's a chelsea vs blackburn game played at a neutral venue Old Trafford (i.e. v inconvenient if you live in London and not so if you live in Blackburn!)

aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

bends knee makes sign of cross and hangs garlic round neck

thanks for the ideas - luckily for me kitty, we're past the Thomas stage

the science museum sounds fab - have just looked it up and there's a Dr Who exhibition (the children will faint with excitement!)

we're taking the car up and it says there are Brown Signs pointing to it so I'll print a map off before we go

now I remember the cup final between Chelsea and Man City in.... I think 1985. Chelsea beat us 5 - 4 after supersub Paul Simpson came on and scored four in about three minutes. Ref blew early.

Twasn't an fa cup final, or even a league cup final.

Manchestoh hearing you loud and clear!!! Glad you're paying a visit to the best city in the land, home to Corrie, Boddies bitter and the lovely Gallagher brothers (who love it so much they fucked off down to London). Anyway, there's loads to do near Old Trafford - Salford Quays and the Lowry Centre are great and the newish War Museum is a must-see if your kids are over 8-years-old. The Trafford Centre shopping centre is also a stone's throw away if you fancy mingling with hoardes of shell-suited shoplifters. You are on the doorstep of Manchester city centre as well - so much to do there (I could wax lyrical all night) but special mentions go to Chinatown and the Curry Mile in Rusholme (fantastic food), the Science and Industry museum in the Castlefield area (brilliant for kids) and the Printworks entertainment complex (great cinema and restaurants. Hope you have a great trip.

If you are in OT it's easy to get on the tram into town. Get off at G-MEX for the Science Museum - you can walk from there and I think it's signposted. You can see it from the tram stop because it's got a big red cog on the top of it! It's free to get in except for the exhibition part but we never do that anyway. There is the whole sciencey part with interactive stuff and then just across from there is a building with old steam trains in it. Personally, the science museum is where I'd head. It's right in town so if you want to wander into the centre you can.

The Lowry has some shops and it's got a cinema at the top. There is a war museum at THe Lowry too - it's a bit away from the shops but it's quite nice to walk round the quays and over all the big bridges (my boys like it anyway) and the museum is OK for boys - big planes hanging from the ceiling and old cars in there too.

Squonky! A fellow City fan!!!

Nadine, your lot play the day before (Sat 14th) against Watford at Villa Park

correctamundo

I'm an armchair fan

Tram it into town Foxy - don't drive. Much easier.

MrsGumby, is that really something you want to shout about?!

GLory, glory Man Uniiiiited
Glory, glory Man Unitttted....

Is the big wheel still in town does anyone know? That's worth a go too.

thanks

we are staying v near Old Trafford so I'll definitely drag them around the Lowry centre and the quays - that sounds great for wandering around (will try the war museum - they are 6 and 5 but dd has been doing trenches and stuff at school)

ooh has it got a good curry mile - we all (including the kids) LOVE a good curry

yes anyone who wears blue is persona non grata

big wheel gone i think!

but selfridges is still there !