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 Central Library
Manchester, Greater Manchester
Central Library on St Peter's Square is one of the best free rain shelters in the city centre. The children's library was refurbished and reopened in December 2021 with a jungle theme, child-sized seating and corners for a parent and child to curl up with a book. Stock runs from board books for babies through picture books to older fiction, dual language stories and non-fiction.
It is a short visit, and meant to be. Join, borrow a pile of books, find a storytime if one is on, and move on to lunch. There are baby changing facilities, a nursing room and a cafe inside. Opening runs to 8pm Monday to Thursday, which makes it a useful after-school stop, but it is shut on Sundays.
What it costs: Free. Children's events are listed through the library's Library Live programme and Loads To Do.
Know before you go
- Hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays and bank holidays, so it is not a Sunday rain plan.
- There is no general car park; the only parking is seven blue badge bays behind the library on Mount Street. St Peter's Square tram stop is right outside.
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What visitors say
★★★★★ 4.6 across 1,362 Google reviews.
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