Every place in Manchester

Blakemere Village

Northwich

Free entry village with a mini railway, Segway forest rides, falconry and archery, plus a playground for the ones too small for any of it.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBlue badge parkingCafé+9 more

Blaze Farm & The Potty Sheep

Macclesfield

Free entry to watch lambing in spring, sheep-shearing in summer, and a nature trail to wander in between.

Birthday partiesBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+3 more

Bodywise Natural Health Centre

Manchester

Yoga classes for pregnancy, new parents and babies, plus adult drop-in sessions, in a studio just off Market Street.

Booking required

Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive

Bolton

Free museum with real Egyptian mummies, hands-on touch screens and local history, right in the middle of Bolton.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingGift shop+3 more

Bolton Steam Museum

Bolton

Free entry to watch a collection of working mill steam engines turning over, some driven by real steam.

Free parking

Boom Battle Bar Manchester Printworks

Manchester · ages 0-18

Axe throwing, crazy golf and shuffleboard under one roof, but the clock ticks fast once you're under 18 after 7pm.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCard onlyGroup bookings+5 more

Bradley Wood Activity Centre

Brighouse · ages 6-12

A day of high ropes, zip wire and archery for 6 to 12 year olds at a Scout activity centre near Brighouse.

Booking requiredGift shopFood on siteParking

Breakout Manchester Newton Street

Manchester

An hour locked in a themed room in central Manchester, working as a team to crack puzzles before the clock runs out.

Booking required

Bridgewater Cruises

Manchester

A slow boat along the Bridgewater Canal with seasonal cruises built around Santa or Easter crafts.

Birthday partiesCard onlyGroup bookingsFood on site

Brookside Pottery

Stockport

Pick a pot, paint it over a couple of hours, and either take it home the same day or come back for it once it's glazed.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredFree parking

Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve

Wirral

Wildlife trails, buzzards and toads to spot, and a walled garden that only opens one Saturday a month.

Bundobust Manchester Piccadilly

Manchester

Vegetarian Indian street food near Piccadilly - high chairs and bookable tables.

RestaurantHigh chairsVegetarian optionsDog friendly

Burnage Library

Manchester · ages 0-11

Storytimes, Lego Club and a garden Easter egg hunt, all free at this small local library.

Toilets

Burnley Mechanics Theatre

Burnley

A proper theatre trip for the family, with a bistro for pre-show food and a lift to every floor.

Accessible toiletParkingPublic transport nearbyStep-free access+2 more

Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre

Bury

Free gallery and sculpture centre in Bury, though roof works mean reduced hours and less on show right now.

Baby changeGift shopToiletsWheelchair accessible

Cannon Hall Country Park

Barnsley

Free parkland with an adventure play area, wooden tepees and assault courses, plus a museum to duck into if it rains.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+10 more

Carver Theatre

Stockport · ages 4+

A proper theatre panto plus junior and youth shows, with pyrotechnics that'll spook anyone under about four.

Hearing loopWheelchair accessible

Casbah Coffee Club Historic Site

Liverpool · ages 0-16

Walk into the actual basement club where the Beatles played their first gigs, on a pre-booked tour that traces the birth of Merseybeat.

Booking required

Castle Hill

Huddersfield

Climb Victoria Tower on top of Castle Hill for the view over Huddersfield, and change for coins at the door.

Public transport nearbySchool visits

Castle Hotel

Manchester

A live music pub with gig nights that range from all-ages theatre shows to strictly 18+ evenings.

Castlefield Gallery

Manchester

Free contemporary art exhibitions in the city centre, with lifts to every floor if you've got a buggy or a wheelchair.

Accessible toiletBike parkingBlue badge parkingWheelchair accessible

Catchdale moss Farm

Saint Helens

Pumpkin picking in autumn and a proper Christmas barn later on, with wreath workshops and a tree kitchen and bar for the grown-ups.

CaféFood on sitePicnics allowed

Chads Theatre Company

Cheadle

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

Accessible toiletFree parkingFood on siteParking+2 more

Chemical Airsoft

Ashton-under-Lyne · ages 11+

Indoor CQB airsoft games plus pool, darts and axe throwing, aimed squarely at the 11-plus crowd.

Birthday partiesGroup bookingsFood on siteParty rooms