Days out ideas for younger teenagers near Manchester

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We've planned a short break in Manchester (staying in Chorlton) with our 2 DC who are 12 and 14. I used to live there (more than 20 years ago!) so the trip has mainly been driven by nostalgia (yes, I fully expect to spend most of it saying "it never used to be like that ..."). I do have some ideas of places that I'd like to go (again, mainly for nostalgia purposes) but wondered if anyone had any particular ideas of places to visit that DC of this age would find interesting?

Afflecks Palace is a teenagers dream!!

A back-stage tour of BBC media city is really informative, interactive and engaging. www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/media_city
Vertical chill ice wall www.vertical-chill.com/location-manchester/
Imperial War Museum. It's free and you can also climb the 180 steps of the iconic AirShard and stand almost 100ft (30.48m!) in the air and enjoy amazing views of the Manchester skyline for only £1.20.
Chill Factore is an indoor snow centre with skiing, snowboarding, ringos, an inflatable luge run and more www.chillfactore.com/snow-fun-and-climbing/what-is-snow-fun/
The National Football Museum is free and a great place for the family to have some fun and learn more about the game. Throughout the museum there are interactive objects, games and displays that help keep you engaged and involved. The terrific FootballPlus+ simulations are for over 7s only as they require users to kick, stretch, run and react quickly.

The velodrome (although I think it might be being refurbished at the moment).
Check out what concerts and shows are on?
Curry mile for dinner one evening.

Afflecks Palace is a teenagers dream!!

I remember taking DD there when she was roughly the same age as Op's children and she was shocked!

There was a shop selling speciality condoms which you had to be at least 16 to enter and another where they were selling paraphernalia for smoking dope (though not the stuff itself)

When I was a student in the early 1980s I remember getting some lovely vintage clothing there. Things have moved on a bit since.

You've got also got the Museum of Science and Industry.
We live in Manchester, but recently took my DS for an Afternoon Tea in Cloud 23 at the Hilton because we see the building all the time, but have never been in.
Football stadium tours (if either of your DC into football?)

New treetop trek and nets course in Heaton Park.