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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 Koala Who Could at The Lowry, the People’s History Museum’s Banner Exhibition, Persephone at Leeds Playhouse, 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.

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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
Image courtesy of 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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Creative Writing Challenge at Lowry

Creative Writing Challenge at Lowry, Manchester, Until 16 May 2025, free entry - Visit now

Budding young storytellers—and those who’ve never put pen to paper before—are invited to take part in Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge, open to children aged 7-11 across Greater Manchester.

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Creative writing challenge prize giving, a young boy on stage reading in front of a microphone Creative Writing Challenge at the lowry
Phil Tragen

Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs at Lotherton

Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs at Lotherton Hall and Estate, Until 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.

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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

The Koala Who Could at The Lowry

The Koala Who Could at Lowry, Manchester, 8–13 April 2025 - Book now

Join the lovable Kevin the Koala on a journey of courage and discovery, guaranteed to warm your heart!

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The Koala Who Could at The Lowry
Image by Pamela Raith

Robin Hood and The Golden Arrow at Stockport Plaza

EASTER PANTO: ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW at Stockport Plaza Cinema, Stockport, 18–21 April 2025 - Book now

Get ready for a fun-filled adventure this Easter as Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow takes the stage. 

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Families
iStock/PeopleImages

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!

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

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, Until 19 July 2025, free entry - Visit now

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

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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

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Family things to do in the North

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

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Liverpool
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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.

Liverpool
Shop
Dead Ink Books

Dead Ink Books is an independent bookshop on Smithdown Road in Liverpool, exclusively stocking books from independent publishers.

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the artist
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Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
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Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
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Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
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