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Family things to do in the North

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

Spring has officially sprung! The days are lighter and brighter (mostly) and Manchester is teaming with events and activities to enjoy, both indoors and outdoors. Read our highlights below, including Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts, Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs at Lotherton, the People’s History Museum’s Banner Exhibition, Make-it! Coconut Pyramids at the Jewish Museum and lots more!

Other events include Pig Heart Boy at The Lowry and Good Fridaze family rave!

Our top picks

2025 Banner Exhibition

2025 Banner Exhibition at People’s History Museum (PHM), Manchester, Until 29 December 2025, free entry - Visit now

Enjoy a family-friendly journey through the history of activism at the People’s History Museum’s year-long Banner Exhibition.

Find out more
A textile banner featuring text: 'Manchester Deaf Triangle Club, Lesbian & Gay Group', and different coloured hands doing sign language. 2025 Banner Exhibition at People's History Museum
Manchester Deaf Triangle Club banner, around 1985. On loan from British Deaf History Society.

Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts

Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts, Manchester, 8 2025–11 April 2026, from £12.00 - Book now

Tumble down the rabbit hole and experience the most curious adventure, where the surreal and bizarre awaits!

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Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts
Z-arts

Make It! Coconut Pyramids at The Jewish Museum

Make It! Coconut Pyramids at Manchester Jewish Museum, Manchester, 10 April 2025, from £0.00 - Book now

Learn to make scrumptious coconut pyramids– sweet, delicious treats traditionally enjoyed during the Jewish festival of Passover.

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Photograph of coconut pyramids Make It! Coconut Pyramids at The Jewish Museum
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Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs at Lotherton

Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs, 29 March–21 April 2025, from £0.00 - Book now

An Easter adventure awaits! Explore the amazing grounds of Lotherton, prove your skills as a true Dragonologist and find all the lost eggs.

Find out more
Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs A image of a green dragon flying above colourfully patterned eggs and fire
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Pig Heart Boy at The Lowry

Pig Heart Boy at Lowry, Manchester, 26–29 March 2025 - Book now

Grab your tissues and get ready for an unmissable, deeply moving stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s award-winning novel, Pig Heart Boy.

Find out more
Pig Heart Boy at The Lowry

Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island

Good Fridaze Easter Family Social at Freight Island at Freight Island, Manchester, 18 April 2025, from £8.50 - Book now

Enjoy a fun-packed family knees-up this Good Friday at Our Kids Social’s Good Fridaze Family Social, packed with fun, music, and exciting activities.

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Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island

Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You at the Science and Industry Museum

Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 4 January 2026, from £10.00 - Book now

Get ready for a sense-sational adventure packed with super-sized science and brilliant biology!

Find out more
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx sitting on a hospital bed
Science Museum Group

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Palace Theatre

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Palace Theatre, Manchester, 11–16 March 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

Our favourite flying car is brum-brumming over to Manchester for a fun-filled musical adventure to magical, faraway lands.

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Palace Theatre
Image supplied by ATG Tickets

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS - Visit now

The ultimate indoor playground! LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is an immersive indoor attraction where iconic sites from Manchester’s skyline and other famous UK buildings can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

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LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Mary Poppins at the Palace Theatre

Mary Poppins at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 9 April–17 May 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

A supercalifragilisticexpialidocious family treat awaits as the world’s most loved nanny flies over to Manchester in April 2025.

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Mary Poppins at the Palace Theatre
Mary Poppins. Image courtesy of Daniel Boud.

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 September 2025 - Book now

Whether you’ve half an hour or a full day, you’ll always find something new to discover at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.

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Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum
State of Mind installation at the Science and Industry Museum. Image courtesy of Orbie Pullen Photography.

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, 15 March–19 July 2025, free entry - Find Out More

Get your wellies on and enjoy fun and creative outdoor activities.

Find out more
Toddler standing on grass with a paintbrush in hand turning to the right to look at the camera. He is wearing a navy blue rainsuit with a burgundy and navy blue long sleeved tiop underneath. He is standing in front of large cream coloured sheets that have been strung up on a washing line. The sheets have mud marks making on.
Fiona Jenkins

2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

2025 Banner Bingo, Until 29 December 2025, free entry - Visit now

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism. 

Find out more
Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
People's History Museum

Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Power UP at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 March 2025, from £8.00 - Book now

From Mario to Sonic and Pong to Fortnite, play your way through five decades of the best video games. Fun and educational. Win-win.

Find out more
Boy playing retro arcade games in Power Up.
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum.

More families events

Pig Heart Boy at The Lowry
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FamiliesMediaCityUK
Pig Heart Boy at The Lowry

A Children’s Theatre Partnership, Unicorn Theatre and Sheffield Theatres Production
Based on the novel by Malorie Blackman
Adapted by Winsome Pinnock
Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu

Is it better to have a pig’s heart that works … than a human heart that doesn’t?

Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
Until
ActivityManchester
2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism.

free entry
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Mother's Day in Manchester and the North
Spotlight on

Mother's Day in Manchester and the North

From bespoke bouquet workshops and poetry royalty to slap-up Sunday roasts and gin tastings, check out our guide of things to do with your mum this Mother's Day.

Take me there

Family things to do in the North

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade West Kirby

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

See all places

Destination Guides

Things to do in Bradford: Kala Sangam
Things to do in Bradford

Our guide to the dark horse of Bradford, full of eye-opening exhibitions, independent shops and authentic curry houses.
Things to do in Blackpool

Fancy a day trip? Explore our guide to Blackpool and build yourself an itinerary featuring attractions, galleries, restaurants and more.
Birkenhead Priory
Things to do on the Wirral

The Wirral is a short train (or ferry) ride away from Liverpool so why not sample its best arts and culture spots?
York Castle Museum
Things to do in York

We take a closer look at York, one of the UK’s most beautiful heritage cities with a wealth of contemporary culture.
Burnley's Singing Ringing Tree
Things to do in Lancashire

Our guide to the culturally rich coastal county of Lancashire, encompassing Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackpool and Blackburn.
Chester
Things to Do in Cheshire

Our guide to the best things to in Cheshire, including culture, shopping and food and drink in Chester, Crewe and Macclesfield.
Things to Do in Cumbria

Our guide to the best things to do in the Cumbria and the Lake District, including Penrith, Kendal, Carlisle, Keswick and Cockermouth.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

DaDaFest’s 40th anniversary line-up, contemporary reimaginings and outlandish fringe, check out our top theatre picks for spring onwards.

We shelter here sometimes promo image. Featuring My Dog Sighs inside and abandoned building.
Cinema in the North

David Lynch, International Women's Day and Manchester Film Festival are amongst our cinematic highlights this March.

Mohair Man, 1991, by Dave Swindells
Exhibitions in the North

Cinematic sets, 90s nightclub photography and even new gallery - we have a great mix of exhibitions for you this month.

Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

GROVE
Music in the North

We’re championing all things underground this month, with a selection of gigs and festivals that embrace the strange.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.