Every place in Manchester

Cheshire Art Gallery

Stockport

A small gallery to duck into for a browse round the art, with a car park a minute away.

Cheshire Outdoors

Northwich · ages 6+

A woodland activity site where kids from six try archery, axe throwing and a segway glide through the trees.

Parking

Chester Zoo

Chester

Chester Zoo - big animals for Liverpool and Manchester day-trips. Soft Play N.

Free parkingCaféRestaurantFood on site+7 more

Chetham's Library

Manchester · ages 8+

A guided tour through a 600-year-old library with a chained collection, medieval cat flaps and the desk where Marx and Engels studied.

Booking required

Chipping Steam Fair

Clitheroe

A field full of vintage steam engines, funfair rides, donkey rides and a stunt show over three days in Clitheroe.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingDog friendlyFree parking+2 more

Chorlton Players

Manchester

A local am-dram stage doing pantomime and plays, with £7 tickets for kids and no fuss about where you sit.

Chuck Gallery

Manchester

A free contemporary art gallery in Manchester where you can wander round paintings and mixed-media work with the kids in tow.

Circus Sensible

Ashton-under-Lyne

A travelling circus outfit that brings Big Top shows, skills workshops and stiltwalkers to your own garden or field.

Birthday partiesGroup bookingsSchool visits

Clayton Hall

Manchester

Dress up in Victorian costume and hunt for witch marks scratched into the walls of a moated manor house, free of charge.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféGift shop+4 more

Cloud Aerial Arts

Manchester

Aerial silks, hoop, straps and pole classes for kids and adults, plus two-hour birthday parties on the equipment.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCaféMembership scheme+2 more

Cockfields Farm Park

Ashton-under-Lyne

Ashton farm park with animals, indoor play and jumping pillow - open daily, free parking.

Indoor playOutdoor playCaféFree parking+3 more

Code to Exit

Altrincham · ages 12+

A locked room, a 60 minute clock, and puzzles to crack before the ship blows or the painting stays lost.

Booking requiredToilets

Community Clay Studio Manchester CIC

Manchester

Family ceramics sessions where kids get hands on with a pottery wheel or hand-building clay, in a proper working studio in Stretford.

Bike parkingWheelchair accessible

Contemporary Six

Altrincham

A small contemporary art gallery where kids can look at original paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics, with talks and events laid on too.

Cronkshaw Fold Farm

Rossendale · ages 6+

Goat yoga, beehive inspections and farm tours on a steep Rossendale hillside, booked as proper activities rather than turn-up-and-wander.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredEV chargingFree parking+4 more

Crookilley Woods

Stockport

Free woodland walk on maintained paths, with ancient trees and wildlife to spot along the way.

Outdoor play

Crosby Beach

Liverpool

A wide stretch of sand dotted with 100 cast-iron statues by Antony Gormley, free to wander any time.

Cuppa' Chaii (Manchester)

Manchester

A café with proper carrom board tables, board games and a room big enough for a full-on family party.

Halal optionsIndoor playIndoor seatingFood on site+2 more

Daisy Nook Country Park

Manchester

A free country park with a play area, ponds to dip in and canal paths for a wander or a bike ride.

CaféOutdoor playParkingPicnic area+2 more

Dance Studio Manchester

Manchester · ages 3-16

Weekly dance classes for ages 3 to 16, from Early Years Academy to street dance, KPop, jazz and break dance, starting with a taster session.

Birthday parties

Daneside Theatre

Congleton

A proper local theatre stage with pantomimes, plays, musicals, films and dance shows through the year, tickets from £5 for members.

Accessible toiletParkingToiletsWheelchair accessible

Delta Force Paintball Liverpool

Prescot · ages 7+

Outdoor paintball across Hollywood-themed zones, with a lighter Miniball option for kids from age 7.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookingsSchool visits

Delta Force Paintball Manchester

Manchester · ages 7+

Kids storm bunkers and attack castle walls with paintball markers scaled down for younger players, from age 7 up.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookingsSchool visits

Depot Climbing Manchester

Manchester · ages 1+

Bouldering walls and roped climbing from age one, with quiet sessions and free carer entry for accessible climbing.

CaféCard onlyGift shopFood on site+7 more