Around Manchester

[User6784097]

Hi we have an opportunity to stay in Manchester for a week in the summer holidays . Are there any places around Manchester we can explore upto 1 hour drive? Any picnic spots , museums, theme parks etc? Thanks

There’s loads to do in Manchester itself e.g. the Science and Industry Museum, Crystal Maze experience, Lomo Wall, police museum, National Football Museum, Media City, Inflata Nation, Imperial War Museum, Legoland discovery Centre, I’m a Celebrity Challenge, Runway Visitor Park etc…
Within an hour’s drive: Chester Zoo, Gulliver’s World, Sandcastle Waterpark, Tatton Park, Trentham Gardens, Hebden Bridge, Formby Beach…

There’s lots to do in the North West.
Take a walk up Rivington Pike for a lovely view.
Liverpool - so much to do, must go on a ferry.
Formby beach - look for squirrels.
Crosby beach for the naked men exhibition- check tide times as there’s no point going at high tide.

Liverpool- go to New Brighton beach- good restaurants there as well.
Salford- Media City.

Thank you all lots of ideas there . We have a 9 and 7 year old and also a toddler. Should have put that in the OP

Lots of good places already mentioned - also some great parks to visit in & around Manchester.

Heaton Park (free to enter but paid parking), Tatton park & Dunham Massey (both paid entry), and nice country walks around Alderly Edge and Worsley.

I would second NT places if you are a member - our favourites are Dunham Massey, Lyme Park and Quarry Bank Mill. Also the one near Speke airport where you can also watch the airplanes there.

Other places not mentioned:
Jodrell Bank Space Observatory
Delamere Forest (Gruffalo Trail)
RHS Bridgewater - brand new
Lytham St Annes or Southport for a good day trip to the seaside.

The Lowry are doing a free children's exhibition over the Summer (good for a wet day), Media City is nice to walk around too.
Day trip to Liverpool - a few excellent free museums

I’m sure Anthony Gormley would be thrilled to here his artwork described as naked men 😂
Chester
east lancs railway (check if it’s a steam train day)
blue Peter garden at Salford quays / media city
old Trafford stadium tour if they’re into football (I believe that other local team also offer one)
there’s a dinosaur mini golf place near the Trafford centre that my nephews love

Thanks so much everyone. I think we will need to stay another week 😅 please keep the ideas coming. We are not NT members. Is it worth it to get it? We live in the midlands.

Other museums I’ve thought of, all in the city centre :)

Whitworth art gallery
Manchester art gallery on Mosley St
Peoples history museum
John Rylands library - v gothic!
Chethams library - Harry Potter-esque, only open on certain days but well worth a visit

Thanks for coming back to me 😊 any play areas or big playgrounds for the older two to keep them happy. Have already booked the lancs railway.

Lyme Park has a fantastic play area, Quarry Bank has a smaller one but the woods are excellent for playing in (as is Alderley Edge) Dunham Massey is also great for children. Only you know if NT membership would be worth it but those three are certainly great to visit - Tatton is a bit different as only part owned/managed by NT.

Heaton Park has a decent size play area, and a boating lake & a tram you can ride on.

Depending on when you visit the temporary urban park at Castlefield might be open, it’s part of a longer term plan to turn an old viaduct into a permanent park 😊

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castlefield-viaduct/features/finding-a-future-for-castlefield-viaduct

Thank you 😊 great suggestions. I think we are covered now . DC will be happy. Need to go through the list and plan now

The play area at Bruntwood park in Cheadle is good and it’s right under the flight path for the airport so you can wave to the planes landing!

Thanks for that Emma . That is a very short drive from where we are staying