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It may be more famous as the playground of the young and the fabulous, but Manchester also caters for families with young children. From awe-inspiring museums and art galleries to exciting family-friendly events, the city is the place to keep the kids busy and entertained this summer, says Andrew Watson.
Arts and culture venues
You are never too young to cultivate good taste. Manchester's world-class (and free-entry) museums and art galleries make culture fun and accessible to all.
As the world's first industrial city, Manchester has a fascinating story to tell at its outstanding Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) on Liverpool Road. Children will have a blast in the museum's hands-on interactive science gallery, Xperiment, where they can have a go at composing a symphony and launching a rocket among other fun challenges. Pop in on June 27, from 11am to 3pm, to try your hand at DJing - the museum is hosting an amateur radio station as part of the international event Museums on the Air. For details visit www.mosi.org.uk.
The Lowry (www.thelowry.com) in Salford Quays is an imposing arts and entertainment centre bursting with fun shows and activities for children. There are some great children and family theatre shows coming up this summer, including Princess and the Pea (July 11) and the smash hit musical Annie (July 28 - Aug 1). Meanwhile, in the Lowry galleries, there is a very original family dance exhibition, called Express Yourself, which will have you dancing all the way back home.
Manchester Art Gallery (www.manchestergalleries.org) on Mosley Street is a major cultural highlight for grown-ups and a fun destination for children. In its Clore Interactive Gallery kids can indulge in a range of hands-on activities, from dressing up games to painting and chariot racing.
Urbis (www.urbis.org.uk) in Cathedral Gardens is an exhibition centre of city life that welcomes visitors of all ages. Just walk in on a Saturday or Sunday to take part in its family-friendly activities, which vary from storytelling to kite making and film screenings.
Located on Oxford Road, The Manchester Museum (www.manchester.ac.uk/museum) has over six million objects in its collections, studying life on Earth, which will have kids wide-eyed with wonder. In the museum's 15 galleries children can travel through ancient Egypt, check out live reptiles and amphibians from Costa Rica, walk beneath the giant skeleton of a whale, get up close to a tiger and encounter Stan the T. rex, a life-size tyrannosaurus.
The Imperial War Museum North (www.iwm.org.uk/north) may look like the last place to take the kids, but don't let its steely exterior fool you. The award-winning, Daniel Libeskind-designed building at The Quays hosts regular events for children, including art workshops and special performances. This summer, kids can decorate their own canvas tote bags in the Bags of Style workshop, or design a canvas pencil case in Back to School (June 20, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm), among other activities.
There are fun and free family-friendly activities at the fabulous Whitworth Art Gallery (www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth), too, with a choice of drama, art, music and dance sessions for under fives and their families this summer. The gallery is located on Oxford Road and houses some amazing collections of watercolours, prints, wallpapers and textiles.
Outdoor fun
Pack a picnic basket and head to one of Manchester's parks for some fresh air and action-packed family fun.
Founded almost 100 years ago, Platt Fields Park (www.plattfields.org) is located in south central Manchester, roughly two miles from the city centre. It features a boating lake rich with birdlife, hilly areas for flying kites, large expanses of grass used for events and sports, a small community orchard, gardens and playgrounds for children. Here you will also find tennis and basketball courts, as well as a skateboarding park. This summer, the park sees the return of the hugely popular Feast! Picnic by the Lake, a weekend of free outdoor family shows from Britain and abroad, from June 5 - 7. Visit www.streetsahead.org.uk for more details.
Located four miles north of the city centre, Heaton Park (www.heatonpark.org.uk) is a huge family park that boasts acres of beautiful scenery, children's play areas and a very popular animal centre. You can also book a horse riding session (£10 per hour) and explore the park on horseback. Don't miss an outdoor production of Cinderella by Chapterhouse Theatre Company on Aug 28 & 29, at 3pm. Spread your picnic blanket and enjoy a sparkling family show about friendship, fun and fairy godmothers. Tickets cost £11 for adults and £6 for children, and you can book by calling 0871 220 0260.
Tatton Park (www.tattonpark.org.uk), in Knutsford, is a bit further afield, about 12 miles south of Manchester city centre, but well worth the trip. It boasts 1,000 acres of stunning parkland inhabited by herds of deer, two historic houses and marvellous gardens. Children will find the park's working farm, with its rare breeds, especially interesting. The park has recently opened a new wet weather play area, featuring pedal tractors and trailers for toddlers and children up to eight years old to have fun with. One of the many events coming up at the park this summer is an outdoor production of The Mowgli Stories on July 12 (6.30pm), based on Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £7 for children, and you can book by calling 01625 374 400.
Festivals and shows
OK, so they probably wouldn't appreciate Oasis in concert at Heaton Park, or the Argentina v England rugby match, but how about Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Ghost live on stage at the Opera House? The cartoon classic is guaranteed to wow kids with its special blend of comedy, popular tunes and special effects. The show runs from July 8 - 11 and you can book your tickets, priced at £10 - £19.50, by calling 0844 847 2484. This is also the number to ring if you fancy watching a brand new production of The BFG by one of the world's favourite children's authors, Roald Dahl, at Palace Theatre on Aug 25 - 29. Tickets for this show cost £10.50 - £15.50.
Or how about some silver screen adventures? The ten-day Family Friendly Film Festival returns this August with a fantastic programme of events in more than 20 venues across Greater Manchester. Expect spooky night-time screenings, behind the scenes tours of museums, filmmaking workshops and the chance to see the best in world family cinema. This year's highlights include make-your-own-movie workshops at Urbis; ghost-busting at Victoria Baths; a screening of Disney classic Alice in Wonderland; and an open-air screening of E.T. at Spinningfields. Plus special screenings of the best in family film from Sweden, France and Australia, where you can meet the directors and crew. Many of the events are free and those that aren't cost a maximum of just £5, so this is credit crunch-proof family entertainment at its very best.
Still not convinced you can survive those endless days of tiffs, boredom and holiday blues with the kids this summer? Well, if we can't help you, perhaps the Kids Fun Ideas Show at Manchester Central will do a better job. Running from June 27 - 28, the show is jam packed with ideas for family summer fun, with exhibitors including Manchester United, Blackpool Illuminations, Jorvik Viking Centre, The Museum of Science and Industry, Camelot Theme Park and Splash World. But the show is not just an exhibition of family-friendly venues; during the two-day event there will be live stage shows and hands-on workshops for the kids to get their hands dirty and leave you in peace to plan your family days out. Tickets cost £6 and children under 16 go free when accompanied by an adult. For more information or to book visit www.kidsfunideasshow.com.