WHAT'S ON · THU 8 OCTOBER
What's on in Manchester tomorrow
Plan tomorrow tonight: family events, shows and sessions across Manchester, with times, prices and ages so you can book before bedtime.
31 things on 12 free 14 indoors 16 venues
Thu 8 October31 things on
from £309:30-11:00
Toddler Mornings
Jungle J's Play & Party Centre · Oldham · ages 0-5
Indoors
FreeAll day · check times with the venue
Human Natures
Manchester Museum · Manchester · ages 11+
Indoors
Free10:00
Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country
Manchester Museum · Manchester
Indoors
from £16All day · check times with the venue
Ascarium: Tricks & Treats
SEA LIFE Manchester · Manchester
Indoors
Free10:00
Money in a time of crisis
Manchester Museum · Manchester
Indoors
from £2All day · check times with the venue
CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre · Macclesfield · ages 8+
from £2All day · check times with the venue
One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre · Macclesfield · ages 7+
from £12All day · check times with the venue
King Lear
Royal Exchange Theatre · Manchester · ages 16+
Indoors
10:00
A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House
Dunham Massey · Altrincham
Free10:00
The Botanical World of Mary Delany
Dunham Massey · Altrincham
FreeAll day · check times with the venue
Collection Spotlight case: Remembering Peterloo
People's History Museum · Manchester
Indoors
All day · check times with the venue
Feel Good Fridays
National Coal Mining Museum for England · Wakefield · adults only (18+)

10:00
Exhibition - The Longest Yarn
Astley Hall · Chorley
FreeAll day · check times with the venue
A Great Betrayal? One Hundred Years On. The lessons of the 1926 strike revisited
Working Class Movement Library · Salford
Indoors
Free10:00
Pineapple Post with Speechly the Pineapple
Dunham Massey · Altrincham · up to age 10

10:00-10:45
Festive Skating
Wentworth Garden Centre · Rotherham

All day · check times with the venue
Daily animal talks
Chester Zoo · Chester

All day · check times with the venue
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos
Science and Industry Museum · Manchester
Indoors
Free10:00
Secret Society skeleton activity
People's History Museum · Manchester · ages 5-12
Indoors
from £310:30
Jungle Jam
Jungle J's Play & Party Centre · Oldham · ages 0-5
Indoors
11:00
Toddler Show
Head Over Heels Chorlton · Manchester · ages 1+
Indoors
11:00
Dunham Massey House
Dunham Massey · Altrincham
Free11:10
Elephant talk
Chester Zoo · Chester

11:40
Black Rhino talk
Chester Zoo · Chester
Free13:30-15:30
Talk English Circle
Manchester Museum · Manchester
Indoors
Free14:15
Komodo Dragon talk
Chester Zoo · Chester

14:40
Flamingo talk
Chester Zoo · Chester

15:15
Penguin talk
Chester Zoo · Chester

15:40
Giant Otter talk
Chester Zoo · Chester
Free17:30
Witches & Healers. Something that was Ours - New Work by Rosie Reed Hillman: Launch
The Portico Library · Manchester
Indoors
19:30
The Tempest
Hebden Bridge Little Theatre · Hebden Bridge
ALWAYS A GOOD SHOUT
Good for a spontaneous day out
No booking, no fuss: places you can decide on over breakfast.
FreePigeon Tower
Bolton
Free grounds to wander around a Victorian tower, an Italian-style lake and gardens on the edge of Lever Park.
CaféDog friendlyFree parkingGift shop+2 more
FreeAnderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre
Northwich
Free to visit engineering landmark with a boat trip, a play area and a maze made from the lift's old counterweights.
Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+2 more
from £11Dunham Massey
Altrincham
Deer park and gardens near Altrincham - roam, picnic and a proper outdoor half-day.
ToiletsParkingCaféPicnic area+2 more
from £8Newbridge Fishing Lakes
Liverpool · adults only (18+)
Day ticket coarse fishing for carp, tench, bream and chub, open 7am to 7pm, but under 18s aren't admitted without an adult.
CaféToilets
from £2.50The Foodie Kitchen
Rochdale
Hands-on cooking classes ranging from kids' festival workshops to a father-and-child pizza battle.
from £1.20Amazonia Bolton
Bolton · ages 0-14
Jungle-themed soft play with a toddler zone, mini golf next door and an arcade for when they've had enough climbing.
CaféIndoor playUnder-5s area
Good to know
Is anything free?
Yes, Human Natures, Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country, Money in a time of crisis, The Botanical World of Mary Delany and 8 more are free to attend. Some free events still need a ticket booked in advance; each listing says so.
What do tickets cost?
Paid events start from £2. Prices are taken from each organiser's own published list and shown on every event page, with the booking link.
What if it rains?
Toddler Mornings, Human Natures, Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country, Ascarium: Tricks & Treats and 10 more are indoors. Our rainy-day list has every place under a roof if the forecast turns.
PLAN A DIFFERENT DAY
What's on, when you need it
Everything open and on in Manchester today, with times and prices.
TOP PICKHuman Natures · free- Fri33 things · Toddler Mornings
- Sat26 things · King Lear
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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