Aviva Studios (Factory International)

Cost: Free half-term drop-ins; shows ticketed
Ages: 0 to 11
Where: Manchester, Greater Manchester
Weather: Works in the rain
Booking: Just turn up for drop-ins; book exhibitions and shows online

Aviva Studios is the enormous home of Factory International on Water Street, and most of its programme is aimed at adults. The reason to bring children is The Social, the free space where you can sit without a ticket, which hosts free drop-in craft sessions in the half terms. In May 2026 it was cardboard creatures and the tiny worlds they live in, all materials provided; last October it was self-portraits and a giant mural.

This winter the big draw is Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs in the North Warehouse, an immersive show of life-size dinosaurs from the Apple TV series, narrated by Damian Lewis. It runs 8 December to 6 January, all ages, with under-3s free.

What it costs: Half-term drop-ins are free with no booking. Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs (8 December to 6 January) is from £25 standard, £20 in previews, with £10 tickets for some visitors and a £1.50 booking fee; under-3s are free.

Know before you go

Hours vary, so check before you go. The week we looked it was 10am to 6pm, until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and closed on the Monday.
Prehistoric Planet runs on a 50-minute loop and you can walk in at any point. Under 14s need an adult aged 18 or over, and the 6pm to 9pm After Dark slots are 12 and over.

What’s on at Aviva Studios (Factory International)

Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs at Aviva Studios

North Warehouse, Aviva Studios, Manchester

Timed slots every 30 minutes, 8 December to 6 January

Life-sized dinosaurs from the Prehistoric Planet series in an immersive LIGHTROOM show, narrated by Damian Lewis, that runs as a 50-minute loop you can walk into at any point. Children get up to 25% off and 2s and under go free. The evening slots from 6pm are not for younger children: the page calls them 12+ in one place and adults only in another, so book a daytime slot.

From £25, previews from £20, 2 and under freeBook a time slot onlineIndoor option

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