13 things to do with the kids in Manchester this May half term recommended by our family editor (original) (raw)

If you're looking for things to keep the kids happy over the school holidays, look no further

The school holidays are upon us once again and it's looking like we may just have the weather on side this May half term.

The warmer weather means it's ideal for outdoor events and there's no shortage of them taking place, from the new forest tube slide at Zip World in Heaton Park, to the water sports fun at Wild Shore parks in Delamere and Blackpool.

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Emma Gill is the M.E.N's family editor and has recommended these 13 events and things to do in and around Greater Manchester this half term

Forest Tubing, Heaton Park

You don't really need an excuse to visit Heaton Park in the school holidays, but there's more reason than ever to visit this half term.

The park is about to get even more exciting for families with the addition of a new tubing experience.

The UK's longest outdoor tubing slide is opening at the park's Zip World attraction, letting visitors soar along two slides measuring 77 metres and 88 metres in length.

The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure will let people ride solo or together, winding through the woodland of what is the largest municipal park in Europe inside a donut ring.

Forest Tubing will be suitable for children aged four and above, with adventurers allowed unlimited rides during an hour-long session.

It promises 'sweeping bends' to 'send you spinning, swooping and soaring down the slide' and there'll be 'mini bumps' to 'give you a quick lift, adding a little airtime as you fly down the slide'.

It adds to Zip World Manchester’s existing woodland adventures, which includes a range of treetop net and ropes courses suitable for all the family.

The experience opens at the park on Friday, May 22, with tickets starting at £20 per person. Children must be a minimum 1m tall to take part and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at the site. Children aged 4 - 17 require one participating adult for every three children.

For visitors looking to make a full day of it, Zip World’s saver bundles also allow guests to book multiple adventures at a discounted rate. Other experiences include Treetop Nets, Treetot Nets for younger children and Tree Hoppers. Bookings are now available.

Knowsley Safari

A 'magical new adventure' is promised at Knowsley Safari this May half term where storybooks are being brought to life with a brand‑new series of activities and tales for the whole family, called ‘Once Upon a Time’.

Running everyday from May 23 to 31, between 11am and 4pm, the immersive programme promises to 'transform the attraction’s Foot Safari into a playful world of fairytales, storytelling and imagination'.

Young and old alike will enjoy a feast for the senses as costumed characters, puppetry and whimsical performances pop up, enchanting visitors at every turn. Budding storytellers can get hands‑on in creative craft sessions, making their own finger puppets and even stage their own performances on dedicated stages – the perfect way to inspire young storytellers.

Guests will find themselves at the heart of classic tales with striking fairytale installations, including cheeky straw wolves huffing and puffing as they attempt to blow down the Three Little Pigs’ house, while cosy story time sessions offer a chance to slow down and enjoy the magic of reading together.

Alongside Once Upon a Time, families can also enjoy everything Knowsley Safari has to offer. From the Safari Drive and sea lion displays to amusement rides, animal encounters, and food and drink.

Once Upon a Time activities are included with standard Safari admission tickets - from £24.50 for adults, £22 for kids - and are designed to appeal to children of all ages. For more information and to book, visit the website here.

Pokemon, National Trust

National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up to offer families a new experience this half term.

Exclusively designed for the National Trust, Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are running throughout the school break at 14 National Trust sites including Quarry Bank in Cheshire, Sizergh in Cumbria and Speke Hall on Merseyside.

Families will search for 10 Mega Evolution Pokémon across 10 trail points, with each trail point featuring a simple physical or creative challenge inspired by different Mega Evolution Pokémon.

From showing courage and curiosity with Darkness-type Mega Gengar ex, to unleashing energy and imagination inspired by the powerful Fire‑type Mega Charizard Y ex, the trails 'blend imaginative play with gentle activity'.

A trail sheet will help young trainers keep track of their discoveries and at the end of the trail, explorers can celebrate their achievement together with a photo opportunity at a Pokémon TCGMega Evolution Trail backdrop.

Trails are included with standard National Trust admission (free for NT members). Find out more on the website here.

Open Air Bounce

A giant outdoor inflatable bounce park in Bolton is back open for May half term.

Billed as 'the biggest inflatable park in the UK', Open Air Bounce offers the perfect setting for children to play outside and keep active.

Based on Umberton Farm, in Over Hulton, Bolton, the attraction is packed with 15 huge inflatables including bouncy castles, slides and obstacle courses. There are also fairground rides for youngsters to enjoy, a sandpit 'beach' area and picnic benches for families to sit at and enjoy food and drink from various on-site concessions.

Since opening in 2023, it's been a huge hit with families, including those who attend the dedicated SEN sessions which are also returning this year.

Tickets include free parking to the site - which can be seen from the nearby M61 and is close to Salford and Wigan - and give access for two-and-a-half hours play time, with sessions bookable for either 11am or 2.30pm.

Prices will remain the same as last year, with tickets costing £12.95 for ages four and above, and £9.95 for ages one to three. Under 12 months go free with access to the three years and under area and adult non-bounce admission is £2.50.

Extras include food and drink, with a number of traders selling refreshments such as brews and breakfast rolls, and there are some small fairground rides, which you pay for with tokens or unlimited ride wristbands.

Visit the website for more details or follow Open Air Bounce on Facebook.

Bubble Planet Experience

A new immersive bubble experience arrived in Manchester earlier this year and is open across May half term.

The Bubble Planet Experience at Depot Mayfield in Manchester city centre invites visitors to 'step into a joyful, dreamlike world where bubbles take centre stage'.

Described as 'a bubbly universe where colours, lights, textures and illusions blend seamlessly', the event features 10 themed rooms, with each space offering something new.

There's giant balloons, floating soap bubbles and even a giant Bubble Bath - effectively a huge ball pit that you climb down into and play and hide among the thousands upon thousands of balls.

During the Easter holidays, tickets for ages three to 12 cost £16.90 and for 13+ they cost £20.90. All tickets have a £2 booking fee. Students, senior citizens and those with a disability cost £18.90, while children two and under go free.

To buy tickets, visit the website here.

Pet Pals workshops, Pets at Home

If you've got a little animal lover or two then you might want to check out the free Pet Pals workshops at Pets at Home stores which are returning this half term.

Children can enjoy a variety of free activities, including getting hands-on with animals and learning how to spot if animals are feeling happy , comfy or a little stressed.

Kicking off at 2pm, each 45-minute session is packed with hands-on fun, giving children the chance to learn how to create the perfect home for different pet types - from small animals and fish, to reptiles and bigger pets like cats and dogs.

Children can also put their knowledge to the test with a sticker activity sheet, using the stickers to create the perfect pet homes and learn what different animals need to feel safe and cared for. Each child will take home a Pet Pals activity pack, including brand new Pet Pals characters, a certificate and stickers, all completely free.

Aimed at children aged four to 10, workshops are running from May 23 to June 7. Spaces are limited to one adult per child. To book one near you visit the website here.

Wild Shore Delamere / Blackpool

With the warm weather expected over half term, it could well be the perfect time to enjoy some water sports fun at Wild Shore parks in Delamere and Blackpool.

Both sites are fully open for the summer season with high-energy Aqua Parks, Ringo Rides, stand-up paddleboarding and more.

This season they're also debuting a completely revamped wakeboarding programme designed to get more people on the water than ever before - with a range of sessions designed to welcome first-timers, develop regular riders and bring the wakeboarding community closer together.

New for 2026, the RiDE Session offers a 15-minute coached set on the water, a high-excitement way to build skills or ride freely after exploring what else the site has to offer.

For those looking to take their first strokes on the board, Wild Shore Delamere’s Learn 2 RiDE session provides 45 minutes of expert, qualified instruction, complete with structured training to guide beginners from the dock to the water with confidence.

Wild Shore Blackpool is based at the former Blackpool Wake Park and is home to an aqua park described as 'a giant floating playground of adventure' with Ninja Warrior-style features including Tire Run, Ninja-Jump and Eagles Nest.

Wild Shore Delamere also has its own aqua park, as well as an Aqua Chimp floating obstacle course, featuring everything from zip wires and rope swings to climbing walls and rope bridges. To find out more about Wild Shore Blackpool, visit here. For Delamere, see the website here.

RHS Garden Bridgewater

A week of games, play and outdoor adventure is planned for RHS Garden Bridgewater this half term.

Between May 23 May and 31, visitors can take part in The Great Garden Game-a-thon, a lively programme of interactive activities designed to get children moving, exploring and playing in nature.

Activities include giant games such as oversized dominoes, a winding maze challenge, circus skills workshops, outdoor team games and more.

The Great Garden Game-a-thon is included with normal garden admission and offers a full day of entertainment alongside Bridgewater’s planting displays, woodland walks and open green spaces.

Tickets for children aged 5-16 are £6 and visitors receiving Universal Credit and other qualifying benefits can also purchase garden tickets for £1, with up to five accompanying guests also eligible.

To book and to see the full timetable of events, visit the website here.

Partridge Lakes, Culcheth

A new lakeside walk with a sandy beach and pedalos has launched at the attraction and is open daily across may half term.

After playing host to a Springland event with live characters over the Easter holidays, Partridge Lakes Cafe and Park in Culcheth, Warrington, is welcoming visitors to its new lakeside walk.

There's a café on site and the new dog-friendly Partridge Park Walk - which is pram and wheelchair accessible - has opened with extra food and drink huts and character pedalos such as a unicorn, flamingo and dragon. Dogs can also have a swim when it's quiet.

The pedalos cost £15 for a 20-minute session - available 10am to 2pm on selected dates - and you can book online and pick the pedalo of your choice.

The walk itself takes people on 'a stunning lakeside trail through the natural world', with many points of interest along the way as well as exciting diversions like giant games of Connect 4 and Kerplunk.

Visitors can relax in the sun on the sandy beach or enjoy the view from the benches and picnic benches which are scattered along the route.

As well as new refreshment outlets - selling pizzas, coffees and more - there's a bar serving alcohol and a new lakeside outdoor seating area.

The attraction is next to Partridge Lakes Fishery, set over 70 acres with 394 pegs across 15 waters.

Partridge Park Walk is open daily from 7.30am to 5pm, with refreshment huts open on selected dates. The main cafe is open daily, including bank holidays, from 7.30am to 4.30pm, with last hot food served at 3pm.

The Mandalorian and more at Vue

The Mandalorian and Grogu movie hits cinemas in time for May half term and you can catch that and other blockbusters at Vue.

As well as the chance to see the new film, released on May 22, it's also showing classics such as Space Jam, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Shrek, which is marking its 25th anniversary.

Vue's Mighty Mornings are also back, ideal for kids between four and 11, and this half term it's the recent animated adventure Goat that families can watch for just £2.49 a ticket when booked online.

For younger ones, Bluey At The Cinema: Playdates With Friends is also showing, allowing families the chance to enjoy some of Bluey’s best episodes up on the big screen.

Vue cinemas at the Printworks and Quayside now feature the option of Ultra Lux seats which provide 'the very best view' of the screen and come with a host of premium features, including an extra-wide armrest, beverage cooler and personal table for snacks and beverages, as well as back and leg rests which recline independently, allowing customers to find the most relaxing viewing position possible.

To book a screening, visit the website here.

Science and Industry Museum

A miniature steam railway is coming to the museum this half term.

Offering short trips around the attraction's historic goods yard, once home to the terminus of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world's first inter-city passenger railway, it's running from May 23 to June 7 (with the exception of May 30 and 31).

It costs £4 a ticket to ride the train, which invites passengers to 'journey through history surrounded by world-changing ideas and feats of engineering, filling the yard with steam, whistles and horns as you go'.

Owned and operated by Little British Rail, visitors will be able to 'discover how water becomes steam, see what powers a piston and even explore how your own bodies mirror the mechanics of machines with expert explainers while you wait for your turn to ride'.

There'll be space to play and relax as you watch the train, with a host of garden games available, including family favourites Connect 4, Quoits and Cornhole, or you can pull up a deckchair and enjoy ice creams, drinks and snacks from a pop-up stall.

A limited number of tickets are available to book in advance, or can be purchased at the museum welcome desk when you arrive for your visit. Under ones ride for free.

As well as the train, there's lots to keep kids entertained at the Liverpool Road museum.

Families can get close to mighty machines and 'experience the sights, smells and sounds of engine-driven ideas' inside the Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery.

And there are refreshed displays to enjoy in the Revolution Manchester gallery. From Alan Turing to the Trafford Park Kellogg’s Factory, discover more objects and stories about Manchester's rich legacy of industrial innovations, scientific discoveries and ideas that started life in Manchester and went on to change the world.

Paid-for activities include an 'epic space adventure' at the Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition which landed in Manchester earlier this year - the first time the hit BBC TV show Horrible Science has been brought to life as a major exhibition.

And Power Up is also also running, giving families the chance to explore five decades of play.

Billed as 'the ultimate gaming experience', visitors can discover how far computer games have come. From retro favourites like Pac-Man and Street Fighter to virtual reality, there's something for all the family with over 100 consoles to experience. See the website here for more.

National Football Museum

There's a full line-up of activities taking place at the National Football Museum this half term including a Build a Baller Trail where families can follow a new object trail around the galleries and learn more about football, collecting stickers as they go.

The Head, Shoulders, Knees and Goals exhibition is also running, promising an exploration of football through the body - movement, representation, science, and what it feels like to play.

Highlights of the exhibition include a large-scale replica of David Beckham's cast foot when he broke his metatarsal, a framed facemask worn by Harry Kane when playing for England in 2016 and a hijab and eye mask for Ayman Hafiz, the first Hijab wearing player on England Women's blind team.

Keeping with the theme of movement, the museum is also playing host to a uniquely urban football experience. Yard Ball has transformed the Pitch Gallery into an all-action arena that will put your skills to the ultimate test.

Packed with 'street football vibes and nostalgic fun', Yard Ball invites players of all abilities to take on challenges that will improve players’ balance, hone their accuracy and finesse their footwork.

Usual admission fees apply - £9 for children and £15 for adults, which gives you access for 12 months. Under fives go free. Residents who pay their council tax to Manchester City Council can also visit for free.

For more details of the activities taking place across half term, visit the website here.

Cockfields Farm

Families can get hands on with some Highland cows at the farm's special event planned for May half term.

The chance to groom nine-month-old Ghia can be added to the Highland Hoedown event taking place at Cockfields Farm Park in Ashton, Tameside.

Tickets have already been selling fast for the event, which runs from May 23 to June 7 and includes a host of activities from meeting the small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs, seeing the chickens and ducks and meeting the reptiles including lizards, snakes and spiders.

Those lucky enough might just witness the birth of a new Highland calf, with pregnant Denny due any day. Highland cow maternity talks will be taking place for visitors to find out more details.

Other activities at the event include free tractor and carousel rides; hand feeding cows, llamas, alpacas, goats and sheep; and enjoying the huge play areas including the giant jumping pillow.

A Highland hoedown and foam party will take place at the end of each day.

Tickets cost £9.95 each, £2.95 for under ones, and can be booked on the website here. A Highland calf encounter to meet, groom and spend time with the animal, can be added costing £29.95 for four people. The activity is for ages four plus, younger children may attend in the group but will not take part in the groom.