Things to do in Manchester

[pico1]

Am taking the DCs (10 & 8) to Manchester for Strictly Live next weekend. Can anyone recommend some fun things to do? We'll probably do the Football Museum. Lego Discovery place gets quite mixed reviews so not sure if it's worth it. We're staying at Hotel Football at Old Trafford so anything close to there or city centre would be great. Thanks!

MOSI is really good: msimanchester.org.uk/

Theres a mini seaworld(?) sealife(?) in the Trafford centre thats quite good, id personally avoid lego land as we went and thought it was pretty rubbish, the lowery is good for kids stuff, theres always a play on or a book reading.

Oh oh oh! I just remembered the air raid shelters in Stockport, I used to love going there when I was little really interesting but I am a bit of a history geek

I agree with msimanchester.org.uk/. Its free and there is a brilliant interactive section in the main building. They are a good age for that (Mine are 9 and 7 and enjoyed it - even the stroppy 9 year old LOL) Its huge as well - so many different buildings so it can take all day.
Lego discovery is being overhauled I believe so sections will not be open.

It's Chinese New Year, so there will be loads on in the city centre including the dragon parade on sunday. You picked a great weekend to visit!

Fantastic! Thanks so much. Will definitely check out the MOSI. Does anyone know if there's a decent swimming pool/leisure centre close to Old Trafford?

Check out Stretford Sports Village. It's a council run leisure centre. I've never been swimming there but it's very popular.

Manchester Museum is also quite good, they often do great crafty stuff at the weekend but there is a section with live snakes, lizards, chameleon and frogs. They also have Dinosaur bones.

www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/ is museum site

Whitworth Art Gallery is great if they like art and crafty things.