The summer holidays will soon be upon us which means you'll no doubt be looking for things to do with the kids.
Whether you're off for just a few days or a few weeks, there are loads of things happening to keep children of all ages happy. And with our ever-changing weather, there are both indoor and outdoor activities on the cards, so you can keep dry if you need to.
When the weather is warm, you might want to check out our list of the best family beaches and to make sure you're always up-to date with events, you can sign up to our Manchester Family newsletter for ideas throughout the summer.
Here's our full round-up of events and things to do in and around Greater Manchester this summer...
Science and Industry Museum
A much-anticipated 'exhibition experience' based around the hit CBBC show Operation Ouch! arrives in Manchester this summer.
Billed as the venue's 'most outrageous adventure yet', it will investigate some of the body’s funniest functions with a voyage through the digestive system, guided via video messages and illustrations from the show's presenters Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx.
Titled Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, it will be the first time that the popular show, featuring the twin doctors, has been brought to life as an exhibition experience.
it promises an unforgettable experience as visitors are squeezed through the intestines and encouraged to 'embrace the silliness' by putting on a ‘poo hat’ as they get flushed down a giant toilet.
Passing through the pan, they will end their journey inside the Doctors’ interactive lab, where they can continue to get hands on with a host of games and activities.
This 'epic adventure' will include plenty of opportunity for physical play and fact-finding, as well as the chance to explore unusual objects from the Science Museum Group’s medical collections and hear from young people living with different digestive health conditions.
Tickets have already been selling fast for the the world premiere exhibition, which opens at the city centre attraction from Friday, July 21 and runs until June 9, 2024.
The exhibition will also inspire a summer-long programme of family fun.
From July 22 to September 3, visitors can discover more about our brilliant bodies by taking a fluffy friend to the museum’s Teddy Hospital. The new ‘departments’ of Heads, Hearts, Bones and Bottoms will be set up around the museum, demonstrating more ways to keep whole bodies healthy.
The museum’s expert Explainers will also premiere a new interactive science show packed full of fun facts and wow moments about how our bodies work.
Tickets for Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, cost £10 for adults, £9 children, senior and concessions, with children aged three and under going free. Visit the website to book.
Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Rd, Manchester, M3 4FP
Knowsley Safari
A Jurassic Summer event is coming to the safari park.
Visitors will be able to come face-to-face with dinosaurs, including Bruce, the incredible six-metre long T-Rex, Betsy, the massive walking Triceratops and Loki, the friendly full-size Velociraptor.
There'll be live dinosaur shows throughout the day and for younger visitors and there's a 'petting zoo' where they can stroke adorable baby dinosaurs.
Jurassic Summer runs from July 22 to September 3 and is included in the usual admission price - children £19.50, adults £22.50. Book online.
Knowsley Safari, Prescot, L34 4AN
The Lowry
A free new exhibition celebrating children's author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler is coming to The Lowry this summer, along with a production of Zog, which comes to the big stage.
The exhibition, entitled Julia and Axel - Thirty Years of Favourite Stories - will celebrate their work, which includes popular tales Stick Man and Room on the Broom.
It will feature a special 'Storybook room', snippets from the animated versions of the likes of The Gruffalo, Zog and Snail and the Whale, as well as an exploration of how Julia and Axel have worked together to create their iconic works.
The Lowry has worked in collaboration with publishers Macmillan Children’s Books and Scholastic on the 'landmark' exhibition, which opens on Saturday, July 22 and runs right through to January 1, 2024.
Throughout the exhibition there will be lots of fun opportunities for children to be creative themselves as they are guided to write their own stories, draw pictures, dress up, and play fun games inspired by the books.
It'll be open Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm, weekends 10am to 5pm and is closed on Mondays, except bank holidays.
There's even more fun for Donaldson fans when Zog roars onto the Salford stage from August 4.
Based on the best-selling book, the smash-hit stage adaptation from Freckle Productions is flying into The Lowry as part of a UK Tour and will be on until September 3.
Large in size, and keen in nature, Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know. Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three. Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet…a duel with knight, Sir Gadabout the Great.
Freckle Productions are pioneers in 'imaginative storytelling for children' and best known for their adaptations of classic Donaldson titles including Stick Man, Tiddler and other Terrific Tales and Zog and the Flying Doctors.
The cast bring the world of Zog to life with handcrafted puppets designed and created by Little Angel Theatre co-founder Lyndie Wright.
Suitable for children and families of all ages, tickets, costing from £17, can be booked on the website.
The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
The Trafford Centre
A huge beach and not one but two splash parks are coming to The Trafford Centre this summer. The popular Summer Daze event is returning and promises to be bigger and better than before.
Thousands of families enjoyed last year's 20,000 square metre paddling pool with water fountain palm trees, wheel-shaped buckets that fill to the top before splashing down on those underneath, and multiple water jets.
Along with the beach area, the splash pool, of which there will be two this year, are free to use once visitors have paid the £3 entry free. There's lots more to enjoy there too, with the return of favourite rides like the Bumper Boatz, Jumping Frog, Waterballs, Starflyer and roller coasters.
In addition to the rides, which are paid for either individually with tokens or a wristband, there'll be extra free activities offered on a covered stage area this year.
Every Thursday afternoon throughout the summer holidays there'll be free hair braiding and tattoos (first come, first served) and craft workshops, with a different activity each week - ranging from decorating beach buckets to designing a family photo frame.
And on Saturday afternoons there'll be a show where families can sing along to the summer's biggest hits.
Once you've had your fill of the rides - or you want to take a seat while the kids have some fun - you can sit back in one of the deckchairs on the beach, where little ones can enjoy themselves playing in the sand. And there'll be all sorts of treats on offer too, from burgers and donuts, to ice creams, sweets and crepes.
Summer Daze will run outside the Great Hall from July 22 until September 3, opening 11am to 8pm. Entry to the fair is £3 if booked online, £4 on the door. Visit the website to book.
A roller disco themed roller rink is also coming to The Trafford Centre in time for the holidays. The StarWash Roller Disco arrives on July 19 and will be open until August 27.
The rink, in front of the Main Stage in The Orient, promises to transport skaters 'to a world of vibrant lights, pulsating beats and kaleidoscope of colours, accompanied by a DJ playing feel-good tunes and disco classics'.
They're being encouraged to go dressed for the disco or explore the dress up area, have a StarWash glitter makeover, get snapped in the photobooth, and hang out with the 'disco dandies and divas' at the StarWash Lounge chill out area. Some additional charges apply.
The experience is open daily Monday to Saturday 11am to 8pm and Sunday 12pm to 6pm, with sessions lasting 25 minutes. Ticket prices are £12 peak (weekends) and £10 off peak (weekdays), which includes skate hire and access to the StarWash Lounge.
There will also be relaxed sessions every weekday at 11am, with fewer skaters, dimmed lighting and quieter music, for those who prefer a more chilled-out skating experience. All skaters under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
To find out more and to book tickets, visit the website.
The Trafford Centre, Trafford, M17 8EB
East Lancashire Railway
A new Family Explorer Ticket has been launched at East Lancs Railway to offer families an affordable day out.
The ticket lets people hop on and off at any of the seven stations along the 12-mile line from Bury to Rawtenstall, with lots to do at every stop.
It also gives families free entry to the railway's very own Bury Transport Museum 'jam packed with vintage vehicles and educational fun'.
The special offer tickets cost £22.50 and are for selected dates from 8th July 8 to September 17 with limited availability. Tickets cover up to two adults and three children and must be bought online seven days in advance of travelling.
There are plenty more events happening at the railway this summer too, including The Wizarding Adventure on August 10 and 17, the popular Day Out with Thomas on August 5 and 6, Travel to Wonderland on August 11, and The Dino Adventure on August 18.
Family fun days involving children's TV favourites Hey Duggee and Peppa Pig are also taking place at the transport museum.
On August 24 and 25 you can take your young squirrels along to meet Duggee, while Peppa and her brother George will be making appearances on August 31 and September 1.
Both days will include a fun fair, face painters, craft activities and the Peppa event will also feature a petting farm for little ones to meet some farmyard friends.
For more details and to book, visit the website.
East Lancs Railways, Bolton Street Station, Bury, BL9 0EY
Backyard Cinema
A new Miami Beach Club themed Backyard Cinema has arrived in Manchester for the summer.
On the roof of former Manchester train station Depot Mayfield, the immersive cinema will be throwing beach parties all across July and August - with special singalong screenings of hit movies like Dirty Dancing, Grease and Mama Mia and extra matinee shows added for the school holidays.
There will also be screenings of the eagerly-anticipated new Barbie movie for a week-long run later in July, along with a host of family favourites including The Greatest Showman and Back to the Future, as well as recent releases The Little Mermaid, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse and Super Mario Bros.
The 80s themed rooftop cinema includes real sand, palm trees, a Tiki DJ booth, lots of plastic flamingos and, of course, plenty of spots for a photo opportunity too - including a Barbie box to pose in.
The cinema itself is fully covered so you can be assured of a summer party whatever the weather.
Tickets for all screenings - running from now until August 6 - are available to book online now at the Backyard Cinema site. Prices are from £14.
Backyard Cinema, Depot Mayfield, 11 Baring Street, Manchester, M1 2PY
Cockfields Farm
Farmlife Festival is running at Cockfields throughout the holidays. From dancing and circus skills to glitter face painting and its much-loved foam parties, the attraction promises a fun farm day to remember.
There's all the usual fun too, including animal feeding and handling sessions, and indoor and outdoor play, including the giant jumping pillow.
Tickets costing £10 for adults and £10 for children, can be booked online.
Cockfields Farm, Ashton, OL6 8AR
BeWILDerwood
A fun-packed day out in the woods is promised at the popular BeWILDerwood attraction over the summer.
There's so much to see and do at the award-winning attraction, which is inspired by the children's books of the same name by Tom Blofeld. From slippery slides and muddled mazes, to extra-long zip wires, there's no end to the activities in the magical woodland.
It's much more than just a playground though, there's storytelling, face painting, shows, crafts and a whole lot more included in the ticket price - and you can stay all day to make the most of it.
Tickets, from £13.50, can be booked online.
BeWILDerwood Cheshire, Bickley Moss, Whitchurch, Cheshire, SY13 4JF
Open Air Bounce
The massive outdoor bounce park with inflatables is back for the school holidays - with some extra special events planned.
With huge inflatables including bouncy castles, slides and obstacle courses, Open Air Bounce is at Umberton Farm, in Over Hulton, Bolton and can be seen from the nearby M61. Sessions run three times a day - 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm.
Special events are running on specific dates including a football event with freestyler Chris Draper on July 23, DJ Chris on July 29, a Teddy Bears Picnic on July 30 and August 12 and a Foam Party on August 13 and 28.
Further events to be confirmed include birds of prey, superheroes and princesses.
Tickets cost £9.95 for ages one to four and £12.50 for ages five and above, including adults. Under 12 months go free and adults who aren't bouncing pay £2.50 entry. Book online.
Open Air Bounce, Umberton Farm, Over Hulton, Bolton, BL5 1BP
Tatton Park
There's loads of fun happening at Tatton Park over the holidays.
The Tiger who Came to Tea Garden Trail is still running, giving little ones the chance to pick up a trail pack for £2, put on a tiger mask and explore the tea-party trail in the spring gardens.
Families can pre-book the packs for the event, which runs until September 3 and is included with standard park and garden entry fees.
Special events including Party Time with the Tiger and Create and Bake with the Tiger are also running at the end of July.
And from July 25 a brand new event launches - Mog in the Maize Maze at the Farm.
Mog has forgotten her farmyard chores and gets lost in the maze. Families will have to follow Mog's trail through the farm and help her with her chores along the way.
The event is running until October 29, but Mog herself will be making special appearances between August 19 and 25.
As well as the trial, with packs costing £2 each, there'll be a range of activities for all ages, including storytelling of Judith Kerr's favourite stories and designing a bravery medal for Mog in the craft activities. Again park and farm entry fees apply.
Book via the website.
Tatton Park, Knutsford, WA16 6SG
Moss Bank Park
Kids can get close to nature with a number of events taking place at Bolton's Moss Bank Park.
Forest School Tasters are running on August 2 and 16, Woodland Warriors sessions on August 6 and 26 and Nature Kids on August 11 and September 2.
The tasters give families a chance to discover what Forest School is all about. Ideal for children of all ages, who love the outdoors and enjoy being with nature. There will always be time for free play in our natural surroundings, as well as the odd activity and game to get involved in, anything from hide and seek and den building to mini beast hunting.
In Woodland Warriors, kids will be able to 'camo up, ready to explore The Hive and learn some survival skills'. Take part in the foraging trail and have a go at fire striking and den-building. Making your own rainstick to accompany the warrior chant.
Tickets are £8 per child. One accompanying adult and children over 12 enter free, additional adults charged at £3 per adult.
Nature Kids sessions are for children between the ages five and 10 who love the outdoors and will enjoy the variety of activities, including building habitats for the wildlife, doing a spot of gardening or planting, as well as getting crafty. There'll also be time for a fire and tasty treat at the end.
Tickets for the events cost between £8 and £9 per child, this includes one accompanying adult. Any additional adults are charged at £3 per adult. Visit the website to book.
Moss Bank Park, Bolton, BL1 7NJ
Reddish Vale Farm
The popular Farm Fest is event is back this summer, with a beach, a fair and so much more.
Promising to be 'bigger and better' it runs from August 19 to 28 and includes a host of activities from a children's assault course and fairground rides to glitter faces and end of day foam parties.
All the usual farm activities will be running too including the chance to cuddle the rabbits and guinea pigs, meet the baby goats and feed the outdoor animals.
Kids can also enjoy the outdoor play area with zip wires, giant air bouncing pillows, tractor rides and more.
For tickets, costing £16.50 for children and £12.50 for adults, book online.
Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Road, Stockport, SK5 7HE
Arcade Club Bury
You can play earlier and for longer at the Arcade Club in Bury, which extends its opening hours in the school holidays.
The Ela Mill venue features hundreds of retro and modern machines over four floors and gamers have been flocking there since it opened in 2015.
There's everything from Pac-Man and Space Invaders to Donkey Kong and Sega Rally and kids can play their modern favourites like Fortnite and Rocket League.
It's open Thursday to Sunday, opening at 11am and closing at 11pm on Thursday and Saturday, midnight on Friday and 8pm on Sunday.
The £9 entry fee is for kids aged five to 15 to play all day long. If adults want to play too it's £17 per adult, or £43 for a family.
If you think you'll be visiting a lot over the summer then you could become a VIP and get unlimited gaming for a month for £22.50 for kids and £45 for adults.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit the website.
Arcade Club, Ela Mill, Cork Street, Bury, BL9 7BW
RHS Garden Bridgewater
RHS is partnering with Aardman Animations for what promises to be 'a mini-beast adventure on a grand scale this summer'.
Lloyd of the Flies is a brand-new comedy series from Aardman, and its hero Lloyd will be at RHS Garden Bridgewater from July 23 to September 3 when families can join The Grand Bug & Pest Hotel Hunt.
Lloyd and his friends have gone to stay in a luxury bug hotel at RHS Bridgewater but have got lost on the way. Children can enjoy seeking out characters including housefly Lloyd and his little sister PB, best friend Abacus the woodlouse and Cornea the butterfly in locations around the garden. Along the way, there will be a host of fascinating mini-beast facts and interactive fun.
For the first time ever at RHS Gardens, families can use a special augmented reality app developed by Aardman to ‘shrink’ down to fly size and see the world through insect eyes as they complete the trail with Lloyd and his friends.
Suitable for children of all ages, the Lloyd of the Flies AR Bug Hunt app will see characters from the hit CITV show pop up amongst the flowers in selected locations around the garden. The app is free to download from the Apple store and Google Play Store and includes lots of interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy.
As well as the interactive trail around the garden, you can join in with fun family activities, including model-making and animation workshops with Aardman, outdoor theatre performances and the chance to meet real-life mini-beasts with ZooLab.
Activities included with garden admission unless stated otherwise on the website, where you can find more details and book tickets.
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Occupation Rd, Worsley, M28 2LJ
Heaton Park
You won't be short of things to do if you head to Heaton Park this summer.
The giant 'beach' is back, promising to be the 'largest sandpit in the north west' and entry is free, so your little ones can play in the sand for as long as they like.
The fair will also be running as part of the event, with rides, inflatables, trampolines, dino appearances and more.
And if you do have a young dino fan on your hands then you won't want to miss the 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs arriving as part of Dinosaurs in the Park.
Running from July 20 to August 6, the event promises to transform the park 'into a palaeontologist’s playground', delighting dino fans of every age.
The park will be filled with classic favourites such as the Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Velociraptor, as well as the lesser-known Dilophosaurus, Kentrosaurus and Hypacrosaurus.
Visitors will be able to wind their way along the Dinosaur Trail, solve puzzles, and carry out some Jurassic dentistry by brushing the teeth of the resident T-Rex.
And after the trail there'll be a fun zone with hands-on activities included dino excavation digs, mini golf, a dino kingdom bouncy castle and mini soft play for under threes.
On two of the days, July 23 and August 5, there'll be a guest appearance from a real-life palaeontologist, Manchester University’s Dr Dean Lomax.
Tickets cost £10.50 for adults and children over three, plus booking fees. A family ticket costs £40. Book any time slot after 3pm to get 20% off. Visit the website to book.
Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Manchester, M25 2SW
National Football Museum
Families are invited to get in the game this summer at the National Football Museum's 'most interactive exhibition to date'.
Opening just in time for the school holidays, Batteries Not Included is a hands-on history of football toys and games, from the Victorian era through to virtual reality technology.
Visitors of all ages can see some of the oldest surviving collectable cards from the museum’s Football Heritage Collection, take on friends and family in old-school board games and enjoy a nostalgic throwback to a bygone age of video gaming via retro arcade machines and emulators.
The space will also play host to dedicated Subbuteo demonstrations, giving big and little kids the chance to master the traditional tabletop game.
As well as looking back at popular pastimes, Batteries Not Included casts an eye towards the future of gaming technology. Museum visitors can hone their skills without setting foot on the pitch thanks to Rezzil, one of the world’s leading extended reality sports trainers.
Using a high-tech headset and apparel, players can run through a series of training drills and exercises, developed and used by elite footballers and clubs.
Batteries Not Included opened on July 12 and is running until February 2024. Admission, costing £7 for ages five to 15 and £13 for adults, includes unlimited visits for a full year. Museum entry is free for Manchester City Council residents.
Other activities running at the museum include Penalty Shootout, games, displays and gallery trails.
For more information about the exhibition, visit the website.
National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, Manchester, M4 3BG
Inflata Nation
Families can take advantage of 15% off throughout the summer when booking online.
The indoor attraction offers slides, climbing walls, giant ball pools and assault courses, with something for all ages and abilities.
It's open 10am to 7pm Monday to Friday during the holidays, and 10am to 7pm on Saturday and Sundays.
One-hour bounce sessions cost £6.99 for under-fours and £11.99 for everyone else. Use the code SUMMERMANC to book via the website.
Inflata Nation Manchester, Textilose Road, Trafford Park, M17 1WA
Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
Lego DREAMZzz is coming to Legoland Discovery Centre this summer with a new and exclusive 4D Movie ‘Z-Blob Rescue Rush’.
Visitors are invited to 'dive into this thrilling journey to enter a 4D world of your wildest dreams!'
A bunch of ordinary schoolchildren transform into five brave heroes – will they be able to use the power of their imaginations to rescue Z-blob from the clutches of the Nightmare King?
The 'adventure of a night-time' is promised with a dream creature hunt, build activities and exclusive giveaways.
Tickets to the event, which is running from July 22 to September 3, cost from £15 and can be booked online.
Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester, Trafford Palazzo, M17 8AS
Sea Life Manchester
Little ones can embark on a treasure hunt around the aquarium this summer.
Join Captain Careless on this 'swashbuckling adventure' where you can meet a pirate, create something special at the captain’s colouring station and get up close to the 'awesome marine life' that lives at Sea Life.
Visitors can see sharks, turtles, Japanese spider crabs, rays, clownfish and much more.
The Pirate Treasure Hunt event is running from July 15 to September 10, with little ones encouraged to dress as pirates for their special trip. Tickets, from £15.50, can be booked online.
On two dates over the summer the popular after-hours with mermaids event is back.
Taking place between 5pm and 9pm on August 18 and 19, visitors have 'a rare chance to marvel at the real-life mermaids' as they join sea turtles Cammy and Ernie in the ocean tank.
Guests are given a set time to take a break from exploring the centre to head to the Ocean display window for the experience to make sure everyone gets a good view.
Tickets, from £21.50, can be booked via the website.
Sea Life Manchester, Trafford Palazzo, M17 8AS
