10 Best Family Things to Do in Manchester

Lark Hill Place, located inside the Salford Museum, functions as a mockup of Victorian England. The recreated street has genuine fittings and signs that will make you feel as if you've travelled back to 1897. With cobblestones, gas lamps and even the sounds of carriages around you, it creates an immersive atmosphere you won't be able to find anywhere else. You can even venture into some of the local shops and taverns to learn more about what everyday life was like for people back then.

The Greater Manchester Police Museum is housed within a former police station, containing extensive archives regarding Victorian policing. You'll find vintage vehicles dating back to when local police first adopted the use of cars.

Other items that you may not have considered to be so essential to police work include old Victorian lanterns. You can also learn more policing in general, a topic your children may be especially interested in if they want to be a law enforcer when they grow up. 

When you visit the Science and Industry Museum, you'll find yourself immersed in the rich history of transportation technology. There are exhibits highlighting aircraft and locomotives, along with a 3rd exhibit showcasing Manchester's history with computing technology and how it affected communications across distances. 

This museum is home to a replica of the Manchester Baby, which was the first electronic stored-program computer in the world dating back to the 1940s. You can explore large industrial machines including old steam engines and hot air engines. Most of them are still operational, so you can see them in action at the museum during scheduled presentations.

Play Factore is one of the most popular family entertainment arenas in Manchester. You'll find plenty for the little ones to enjoy, whether they're as young as 6 months or as old as 16 years. Parents are even welcome to play with their children on state-of-the-art equipment. Among the attractions within, you'll find a laser tag arena, a virtual reality game, a go-kart track, a zip wire ride, and even the tallest indoor slide in the UK. Additionally, there's delicious food available ar its onsite pizzeria.

The Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum is dedicated to the rich history of firefighting across the UK, with a focus on the Greater Manchester area. Firefighting and fire engineering developed quite a bit in this region featuring some advancements that fire brigades all over the world later adapted. 

The museum displays relics from the early days of firefighting, including some from England's first municipal fire service that was formed back in 1826. When you visit the museum, you'll find exhibits showcasing equipment, vehicles, uniforms and more including how they changed over the past 2 centuries.

Treetop Manchester lets you traverse the breathtaking greenery of Heaton Park. With Treetop Nets and Treetop Trek both available here, you can travel through elevated walkways and soar across exciting zip lines. 

Treetop Manchester has many obstacles for all skill levels, so both you and your kids can find a fun challenge no matter what you're capable of. You'll also find ballparks, slides, and trampolines scattered about as well.

Take a trip to Cockfields Farm and your little ones are sure to delight at the sheer diversity of animals that live there. The farm has donkeys, llamas, goats, cows, pigs, ponies, chickens, reindeer, alpacas and meerkats, just to name a few. Additionally, your kids can get up close and personal with the exotic reptiles and creepy crawlies that live on the farm during one of the live reptile shows. 

Of course, no farm visit would be complete without meeting some of the adorable creatures on site. Children are welcome to handle small animals, such as rabbits, chicks, ducklings, hedgehogs and owls.

Manchester is home to some incredible countryside, and you can see all the vibrancy for yourself when you book a ride on the relaxing and historic East Lancashire Railway. You'll bypass picturesque villages and landscapes including vibrant and lush valleys. As an adult, you can even order an ale on the ride while kid-friendly drinks are available for the little ones. You can even sign up for special events that let you experience what it's like to drive a diesel train.

Knowsley Safari is home to a 550-acre safari drive and over 700 wild animals. Some of its most popular residents include lions, wildebeests, and baboons, many of which can be viewed from the safety and comfort of your car. 

Follow the section that allows you to traverse on foot and you'll see massive birds of prey and bats from Egypt. Your little ones will especially enjoy the wolf sanctuary, where adorable pups can be seen roaming around and playing with each other.