Activities for Kids during the Easter School Holidays in Greater Manchester

With Spring nearly upon us, you might be looking to fill your children’s Easter holidays with activities to keep them busy over the break. Thankfully, Manchester is buzzing this time of year. Dive into interactive wonders of SEALIFE Manchester and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, both of which have plenty of activities for children of all ages. See the season at its most dazzling at Dunham Massey or Platt field park, with the Urban Flower show making a return this year too. Here are just some of the great activities worth looking at this half term:

Step into the enchanting world of the Jungle Book. See the timeless tale of mancub Mowgli and friends transformed by the extraordinary imagination of director Robert Wilson – a creator of unmissable theatre experiences who’s known world over for his distinctive style. Co-produced by Factory International, Jungle Book has already wowed audiences of all ages in Paris, Florence and Antwerp, before arriving in Manchester for its very first shows in English. Playing 27th to 31st March 2024.  

Book your tickets here.

After a hugely successful tour across the US and China, the stunning exhibition of The Golden Mummies of Egypt offers unparalleled access to world-class Egyptian and Sudanese collections. Featuring over 100 objects and eight mummies, this exhibition gives you and your family a rich perspective on beliefs in the afterlife during this iconic era of history. This free exhibition is ticketed and may be busy over half term, so if you’re looking for a day at Manchester Museum, we recommend booking in advance!

Book your slot here.

Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series makes its debut as a brand-new musical show, There’s a Monster in Your Show. A high-energy 50-minute adventure featuring lively original music, this show is the perfect introduction to live theatre. Showing on the 30th and 31st March. 

Book your seats here.

After a 6 year hiatus from the city, Cirque du Soleil is back and better than ever. An exciting Cirque du Soleil experience, OVO is a colourful intrusion into a new day in the life of insects; a non-stop riot of energy and movement. Through show-stopping acrobatics and incredible performance, it’s not one to miss. Loved by children and adults alike, it’s a great family activity to enjoy this half term.  

Book your tickets here.

For any dinosaur fans and beyond, SEALIFE Manchester have a Jurassic trail to navigate through and explore the ancient world of the dinosaurs. Uncover fossils and test your knowledge with challenges, and new this year, meet with a baby Triceratops. Running throughout the Easter holidays, expect a great day out with the family.  

Find more information here.

Join in for the rockin’ Breakfast with the Bunny event! Enjoy an unlimited all American breakfast as well as magical entertainment, face painting and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Join the bouncing fun from 9am to 11am over the Easter holidays. As a family-only event, it’s the perfect start to the day if you’re spending the day adventuring around Manchester city centre.  

Book your table here.

For any young artists, HOME have the perfect exhibition that celebrates Greater Manchester’s creative talent. Between Sat 3 Feb and Sun 28 Apr 2024, the HOME Gallery walls will be filled with work created by you, selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives. With free access and even a drawing corner so your little ones can contribute to the collection, it’s a great activity to inspire them. 

Find out more here.

Join in as LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester is taken over by the Play Unstoppable Festival. Be part of the celebrations and take your imaginations on an adventure of limitless discovery, making new creations that only you could ever dream of! Full of activities like designing your own spirit animal, creating a lego flower cart, dance parties, watch the new 4D Lego movie and even a meet and greet with LEGO mascots! It promises to be a great day out for children of any age.  

Book your day out here.

Dive headfirst into the digestive system for an unforgettable journey of super-sized science with Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You. Guided by videos and illustrations of our hosts Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx, prepare to be shrunk, swallowed, and squeezed through Dr Xand's digestive system. Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You brings the hit BBC Children's TV series to life for the first time as a world premiere exhibition experience. 

Find out more here.

Z-arts’ next interactive world of play and storytelling, The 100 Story Hotel, has been created with Discover Children’s Story Centre and award-winning author and illustrator Rob Biddulph. This interactive world of play and storytelling has something for everyone aged 1-8 and their families.   Running from February to July this year.  

Book your family in here.

Reading Rascals is our very own Reading Book Club for children aged between 7 and 12. You can join The Reading Rascals group in-person at Central Library on a Saturday 2-3pm, once a month. You can also find their themed videos on YouTube. The perfect weekend afternoon activity for your bookworms at home.  

Find out more here.

Lily Parr – one of football's first female superstars - gets a new permanent museum display dedicated to her life and legacy. It features never-seen-before photographs of Lily and her teammates - which were found in an old suitcase hidden in a loft for four decades. Explore her history and more at the National Football Museum this Easter, with Manchester residents receiving cheaper entry tickets too. 

Book your visit here.

A fun Family Friendly version of the game of Bingo to explore People's History Museum. Find different images featured in banners found throughout the museum's two main galleries and the 2024 Banner Exhibition. Visitors collect their FREE Banner Bingo sheet from the Info Desk when they arrive. There are two versions depending on the challenge you are looking for, and with younger visitors also in mind. 

Plan your trip here.

Celebrate the crowning glory of British industry with three iconic mainline steam locomotives and sample fine cuisine in opulent surroundings on a journey through the Irwell Valley. If your little ones are train mad, this will make a great day out during the holidays.  

Find out more here.

See the newest instalment of reimagined fairytales The Not So Big Bad Wolf, follow Little Red on her adventure to uncover the wolfs secrets. The Not So Big Bad Wolf, performed by two actor musicians, featuring original live music and puppetry, will tour outdoors on Wrongsemble’s incredible converted horsebox travelling Imaginarium stage. Showing March 17th at the Lowry.  

Book your seats here.

See the classic story of Alice in Wonderland at Watersides Arts, There, she begins on an adventure she will never forget. Come along and make some of the strangest and most peculiar friends, including the mysterious Cheshire Cat, the Wacky Mad Hatter and the foul-tempered Queen of Hearts. Filled with live music, puppetry and hilarious characters, it's the perfect show for the whole family! Showing at Waterside Arts on 23rd March.  

Book your spot here.

Spring themed crafts will add some colour to your day and there will be a free Spot the Egg trail taking place throughout the building. If you have little ones you’ll find a play area, with role play toys and books, set up in the Pineapple Room each time you visit. Also, regularly available to families is the Miles of Tiles activity; a fun way to discover the building with tasks to complete, quirky features to spot, curious questions to answer and a small prize to claim at the end. 

Find out more here.

Go Quest Adventures offers fun and interactive treasure hunt style Quests all self-guided through the Go Quest Adventures app.  The Quest Master has designed each adventure so you can explore city attractions and find its hidden gems, discover local history & unique facts and ultimately, conquor the Quest! With clues to find, puzzles to solve and challenges to complete, think outdoor walking adventure meets urban escape room.With 15% off bookings over half term, now is the time to book your adventure.  

Start your quest here.

Visit Chester Zoo between March 23 and April 14 and join the Really Wild Egg Trail! Discover five GIANT eggs and collect your prize from the gift shop. Plus, be one of the first to see Chester Zoo’s new, highly anticipated, snow leopards! Enjoy special on-site activities over Easter weekend, from storytelling to shows. Look out for a giant chicken around the zoo, too! Will you find a golden egg? From March 29 to April 14, they’ll be hiding a golden egg in the zoo each day, with an exciting prize inside! Will you be the lucky one? Don’t forget to check their website and social media accounts for exclusive hints.

Book Now.

Gain unprecedented access at the home of the Premier League Champions with this exclusive combined tour of the Etihad Stadium and the City Football Academy. The City Football Academy Tour takes you behind the scenes at the Premier League Champions’ state of the art training complex, allowing fans to visit the home of our men's and women’s first teams and our world-class youth set-up. For your mini city fans, book into the daily tours and see for yourself what it's like to run out of the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium.  

Book your spot here.

The Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour offers a behind the scenes look at one of the world’s most iconic stadium; Old Trafford. Come and sit in the managers seat in the dugout, walk through the players’ tunnel towards the hallowed turf and find the seat of your favourite player in the dressing room. Get a feel for life in the Premier League and immerse yourself in an unrivalled story, the greatest football story ever told. If your kids are a red devils fan, or just football mad – it's a great day out for the who family 

Book your tickets here.

Join the fun of the giant egg hunt this Easter at RHS Garden Bridgewater, to win a chocolate prize and discover the garden in all its spring glory. Running from 29th March to 14th April, Follow the hunt around the garden to find the hidden giant Easter Eggs. Each egg has been hand painted by artists Cath Ford and Alastair price based on designs by local school children. The perfect easter holiday activity for your little ones!  

Get more information.