Making the Most of Magnificent Manchester

16th March 2017

If you want a day out that your whole family will enjoy, head to electrifying Manchester.

If you want a day out that your whole family will enjoy, head to electrifying Manchester. It was named one of Lonely Planet's top 10 travel destinations for 2016 and it offers fantastic museums, art galleries, shops and more. It’s a big city so you might find you need to make a repeat visit in order to fit in everything you want to do. Travelling into the city by train is arguably the easiest way, with both Manchester Piccadilly Station and Manchester Oxford Road offering you the perfect gateways into the city.

Shops Galore

Shopaholics will be spoilt for choice in Manchester, with most of the best shopping spots being located in the city centre. The Northern Quarter is perfect for vintage lovers, the Avenue for those who prefer high-end designers and for mainstream, everyday fashion, the Arndale centre is a must.

If you’ve never been to the Trafford Centre before then it’s well worth hopping on a bus and making the short journey across the city. As well as boasting hundreds of shops and dozens of restaurants, it has a cinema, a laser quest arena, a bowling alley and a miniature golf course. It’s also home to Sea Life Manchester and Legoland Discovery Centre where you can get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train.

Active Adventures

If your kids are sporty or fancy trying something new, the nearby Chill Factore is not to be missed. This indoor skiing and snowboarding centre has the longest indoor slope in the UK and kids of all ages will love playing in the real snow. There’s also a Mini Moose Land for toddlers, and Downhill Donuts, the Luge Slip ‘n’ Slide and Sledge ‘O’ Mania for bigger kids and adults. Try your hand at skiing and snowboarding lessons or head straight for the slopes if you’re already experienced. Afterwards you can grab a bite to eat in Pizza Dalla Piste, Nandos or The Mont Blanc Café before tucking into a delicious ice cream at Fredericks Ice Cream Parlour.

There’s also a great indoor climbing wall and young children will love an hour or two at Play Factore, an indoor play area like no other. It has the tallest standing indoor slide in Europe, a zip wire, indoor laser tag arena and a go-kart track for inter-family races.

Football Fun

For visitors who follow their favourite team religiously, a trip to the National Football Museum should definitely be on the cards. Whether you’ve got kids who play in a league or you just like catching a match on the sofa every now and then, this free museum is packed with interesting exhibitions on football through the ages as well as interactive activities for both adults and kids. It’s located in a striking contemporary building right in the city centre, next to Manchester Cathedral.

Other places in Manchester that you might want to check out include the Manchester Art Gallery, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford Stadium.

Whatever you decide to do on your trip, you’re sure to create some unforgettable memories in Manchester. Make tracks and get planning your trip today, which could cost you even less than you realise when you have a Railcard.

Make the most of Manchester and find even more things to do on our Pinterest board.