Science and Industry Museum
Working steam engines, the story of Cottonopolis, and hands-on galleries in the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station. Free, and the live demonstrations are the bit kids actually remember.
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester, Greater Manchester
A big free gallery on Mosley Street that takes children seriously. The Lion's Den family gallery was created with help from nursery children and has its own play area, there are baby change facilities by the entrance, and the family programme of workshops and hands-on activities costs nothing. The rest, some 46,000 objects across three connected buildings, is free too.
It works best as the indoor half of a city centre day. Do the Lion's Den and a couple of galleries while everyone is fresh, the fashion gallery with its couture pieces usually lands surprisingly well, then out for lunch before anyone flags. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, last entry 4.30pm. A ramp on Mosley Street makes it easy with a buggy.
Know before you go
- Closed Mondays. Head for the Lion's Den family gallery first, then see how far the patience stretches.
- No car park of its own - train to Piccadilly or Oxford Road and walk, or budget for city centre parking.
Looking for more museums & science near Manchester?
Also in Manchester
Manchester Museum
A T. rex skeleton cast, live frogs in the vivarium, Egyptian mummies and a genuinely good natural history floor. Free, university-run, and less overwhelming than the big London equivalents.
National Football Museum
Shirts, trophies and match footage across six floors, with penalty shootout and skills games that football-mad kids refuse to leave. If yours do not care about football, skip it - it is exactly what it says.
Runway Visitor Park
Watch jets take off close enough to feel them, with Concorde parked by the fence. Free in, pay for parking, and there is a play area and cafe for the wait between planes.
Heaton Park
One of the biggest municipal parks in Europe: a free animal centre, boating lake, adventure playgrounds and an actual vintage tram running on summer days. You will not do all of it in one visit.
Wythenshawe Park & Community Farm
A big south Manchester park with a proper community farm - pigs, goats, horses - a Tudor hall, and enough playground to earn the trip on its own. All free.