Sale, Greater Manchester
Waterside is Sale's arts centre, a theatre, gallery and cafe under one roof in the town centre. Outside of show times it is a quiet place for a coffee and a free exhibition; the reason families go is the theatre, which runs picture-book adaptations, family concerts and workshops through the year.
This autumn's family programme includes Not Now, Bernard on 25 October (3+, with Makaton), a Day of the Dead family rave on Halloween, and a Halloween claymation workshop for 7 and over. At Christmas the creators of the Father Christmas stage show bring Mr Popper's Penguins, 5 to 27 December. The family shows we checked run about an hour, which is the right length; the January panto is the exception at two and a half hours.
What it costs: Exhibitions are free. Family shows are ticketed: Not Now, Bernard in October is £12 a child and £14 an adult; the Christmas musical is £16.50 to £21.50 depending on date, with £10 low-income tickets on some performances.
A physical theatre version of David McKee's picture book, with live music played on household objects and an enormous purple monster. Integrated Makaton, suitable for 3 and up, an hour with no interval. The first Sunday of half term.
A neon, Day of the Dead themed family disco for Halloween afternoon: a live DJ, zombie limbo, creepy congas and glow entertainers. Come dressed to glow. An hour long, all ages, £7, and ear defenders are a good idea for babies.
The creators of the Father Christmas stage show return to Waterside with their penguin musical. An hour long and suitable for 3 and up, with prices up to £21.50 between 19 and 26 December and cheaper either side. The 11am show on Saturday 5 December is BSL interpreted and relaxed.
Sale Nomads' amateur family panto lands after the Christmas rush. Weekend matinees on the 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th, two tickets for £20 on the evening shows of 8, 13, 14 and 15 January, and a £58 family ticket for the rest. It runs two and a half hours with an interval, which the theatre itself says may be long for under-3s.
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Go on a Sunday. A volunteer-run miniature railway takes passengers round a quarter mile of track for 30p a ride, there are two age-split playgrounds, and the cafe is a narrowboat on the canal.
Sale's Green Flag town park, a five minute walk from the Metrolink. Two age-split playgrounds, a skate park and an outdoor gym. No cafe and no car park, so it is a walk-in park.
An 18-hole pitch and putt open seven days a week, clubs hired on the spot, no booking. That is the reason to come. The playground here is under 7s only, so the golf is what occupies the older ones.
Sale town centre's soft play, themed round the town itself: tackle a Sale Sharks player, surf on Sale Water Park. £3.50 a child with adults free, a separate sensory toddler frame and two hours' free parking in the multi-storey 100m away.
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