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Huddlepin

BY PARENTS, FOR MANCHESTER PARENTS

Family days out in Manchester

Never hear “I’m bored” on a Saturday again.

Every great family day out in Manchester: farms, museums, parks and hidden gems, with the details parents actually need before setting off.

363 places listed75 free days outThu 6pm the Weekender lands

PLAN A DAY

What's on, when you need it

This weekend in full →
37 on right nowWED 7 OCT
Today

Everything open and on in Manchester today, with times and prices.

TOP PICKHuman Natures · free
See today
38 things onFRI 9 - SUN 11
This weekend
  • Fri33 things · Toddler Mornings
  • Sat26 things · Exhibition - The Longest Yarn
See the weekend
TomorrowThu 8 · 31 things onRainy days202 under a roofFree75 cost nothing
SEASONALENDS 31 OCTHalloween: pumpkin patches, spooky trails & torchlight. 11 already live.
Plan Halloween

PICK A LANE

Jump straight to your kind of day

All categories →
Zoos & Wildlife Parks in ManchesterZoos & Wildlife Parks19Farms & Petting Farms in ManchesterFarms & Petting Farms17Theme Parks & Fairgrounds in ManchesterTheme Parks & Fairgrounds20Adventure Parks & High Ropes in ManchesterAdventure Parks & High Ropes16Museums in ManchesterMuseums21Science & Discovery Centres in ManchesterScience & Discovery Centres5Aquariums & Sea Life in ManchesterAquariums & Sea Life10Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in ManchesterCastles, Historic Houses & Heritage12Model Villages & Miniature Railways in ManchesterModel Villages & Miniature Railways7Steam Railways & Boat Trips in ManchesterSteam Railways & Boat Trips13Caves, Mines & Underground in ManchesterCaves, Mines & Underground12Tours, Trails & Treasure Hunts in ManchesterTours, Trails & Treasure Hunts12Observatories & Planetariums in ManchesterObservatories & Planetariums5Soft Play in ManchesterSoft Play19Trampoline Parks in ManchesterTrampoline Parks4Climbing & Bouldering Centres in ManchesterClimbing & Bouldering Centres2Laser Tag & Nerf Arenas in ManchesterLaser Tag & Nerf Arenas5Go-Karting in ManchesterGo-Karting1Bowling in ManchesterBowling1Escape Rooms in ManchesterEscape Rooms4Crazy Golf & Adventure Golf in ManchesterCrazy Golf & Adventure Golf5Ice Rinks in ManchesterIce Rinks1Roller & Skate Rinks in ManchesterRoller & Skate Rinks4Arcades, VR & Gaming in ManchesterArcades, VR & Gaming12Board Game & Play Cafés in ManchesterBoard Game & Play Cafés12Pottery Painting & Craft Studios in ManchesterPottery Painting & Craft Studios18Sensory Rooms & Play Sessions in ManchesterSensory Rooms & Play Sessions8Parks & Playgrounds in ManchesterParks & Playgrounds4Country Parks & Nature Reserves in ManchesterCountry Parks & Nature Reserves3Woodland & Forest in ManchesterWoodland & Forest3Gardens & Arboretums in ManchesterGardens & Arboretums3Lakes, Reservoirs & Riversides in ManchesterLakes, Reservoirs & Riversides2Beaches & Coast in ManchesterBeaches & Coast4
Walking & Cycling Trails2Splash Parks & Paddling Pools in ManchesterSplash Parks & Paddling Pools2Pick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches in ManchesterPick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches3Skate Parks & BMX Tracks in ManchesterSkate Parks & BMX Tracks2Outdoor Gyms & Trim Trails in ManchesterOutdoor Gyms & Trim Trails1
Yoga, Pilates & Barre1Baby & Toddler Groups in ManchesterBaby & Toddler Groups5Dance in ManchesterDance4Drama & Performing Arts in ManchesterDrama & Performing Arts2Music Lessons & Choirs in ManchesterMusic Lessons & Choirs4Art & Craft Classes in ManchesterArt & Craft Classes16Cooking & Baking Classes in ManchesterCooking & Baking Classes4
Languages1
Reading, Book Clubs & Storytime5Forest School & Outdoor Learning in ManchesterForest School & Outdoor Learning1Homework & After-School Clubs in ManchesterHomework & After-School Clubs4Holiday Clubs & Camps in ManchesterHoliday Clubs & Camps3Adult Workshops & Evening Classes in ManchesterAdult Workshops & Evening Classes3Wellbeing & Mindfulness in ManchesterWellbeing & Mindfulness3Theatres & Shows in ManchesterTheatres & Shows14Pantomime & Family Theatre in ManchesterPantomime & Family Theatre22Cinemas in ManchesterCinemas7Live Music & Gigs in ManchesterLive Music & Gigs27Comedy in ManchesterComedy5Galleries & Exhibitions in ManchesterGalleries & Exhibitions26Libraries in ManchesterLibraries12Circus & Street Performance in ManchesterCircus & Street Performance14Talks, Lectures & Author Events in ManchesterTalks, Lectures & Author Events28Immersive & Touring Exhibitions in ManchesterImmersive & Touring Exhibitions5Indian & South Asian in ManchesterIndian & South Asian2Italian & Pizza in ManchesterItalian & Pizza6
Cafés, Brunch & Coffee1
Christmas20
Halloween & Pumpkin Events16
Bonfire Night & Fireworks3
Half-Term & School Holiday Events2
Community Events & Fun Days3
Shows, Exhibitions & Conventions1
Open Days & Behind-the-Scenes1Party Venues in ManchesterParty Venues7Mobile Activities & Hire in ManchesterMobile Activities & Hire1Party Experiences & Packages in ManchesterParty Experiences & Packages1Cakes & Party Food in ManchesterCakes & Party Food1

CURATED FOR YOU

Or start with a Huddlepin list

Hand-picked and honestly described.

KIND TO THE WALLET

75

Brilliant days out that cost nothing

Proper days out with free entry, bring a picnic and you're done.

See the list →

FEED & STROKE

22

Farms, lambs and llamas

Everything you can feed, stroke or watch being ridiculous.

See the list →

INDOOR LIFESAVERS

202

Rainy day rescue

For when the forecast betrays you, all under a roof.

See the list →

STEP BACK IN TIME

69

Museums & heritage

Castles, caves and machines kids are allowed to gawp at.

See the list →

THE EVENT CALENDAR

What's on this weekend

October
Jungle J's Play & Party CentreFri 09:30Toddler MorningsJungle J's Play & Party CentreDetails →
Dunham MasseyFri & SatThe Botanical World of Mary DelanyDunham Massey · from 10:00 each dayDetails →
Wentworth Garden CentreFri & SatFestive SkatingWentworth Garden Centre · from 10:00 each dayDetails →
People's History MuseumFri & SatCollection Spotlight case: Remembering PeterlooPeople's History Museum · 2 daysDetails →
Royal Exchange TheatreFri & SatKing LearRoyal Exchange Theatre · 2 daysDetails →
Science and Industry MuseumFri & SatHorrible Science: Cosmic ChaosScience and Industry Museum · 2 daysDetails →
Dunham MasseyFri & SatPineapple Post with Speechly the PineappleDunham Massey · from 10:00 each dayDetails →
SEA LIFE ManchesterFri & SatAscarium: Tricks & TreatsSEA LIFE Manchester · 2 daysDetails →

Plus 30 more events this weekend across Manchester.

MORE THAN A LIST

One place, a hundred ways to explore

Browse the map, follow the crowd, or save a shortlist for the school holidays: whatever works for your family.

Explore the map

Parents' favourites

  1. 01Person shaping clay on a pottery wheel whilst wearing a dark apron with clay-covered hands.7 Spot Pottery
  2. 02Players TheatrePlayers Theatre
  3. 03Green and yellow tractor with enclosed green trailer parked on grass, historic stone church buildings in background.Glebe Farm
  4. 04Upward view of a historic brick building with decorative stone windows and lion sculptures, against a clear blue sky.Astley Hall
  5. 05The WitchwoodThe Witchwood
See everything →

Your shortlist, saved

Tap the heart on anything and it's waiting for the next free Saturday. No account needed to start.

Open your shortlist →

COLLECTION

Rainy day rescue

202 indoor lifesavers for when the forecast lets you down.

Open the collection

KIND TO THE WALLET

75

completely free days out within 30 minutes of Manchester

Show me the free ones →

Want lists like these in your inbox every Thursday? Join the Weekender: free, in time to plan your weekend.

HIDDEN GEMS

The ones you've never heard of

Places that aren't on the usual lists, written up honestly.

See every place →
Modern building with green and black metal cladding lit up at dusk, reflected in water below.

No. 01Runcorn

The Brindley

A theatre stage for panto and family shows, with a café and free parking right opposite.

Read the write-up →

Chads Theatre Company

No. 02Cheadle

Chads Theatre Company

A local am-dram theatre putting on plays and pantomime, with a bar, snacks and its own free car park.

The Pankhurst Centre

No. 03Manchester · from £5

The Pankhurst Centre

A small suffragette museum where kids get a garden to chalk in and a photo op, not just glass cases to file past.

THE WEEKENDER

Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.

The best family things happening around Manchester, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old.

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