Last Updated on November 12, 2024
I always tell people I’m from Manchester. It’s a lie, of course. But one that avoids lengthy explanations.
It turns out no one has ever heard of the tiny village in northwest England where I actually grew up. And that includes people from just down the twisty country road.
But, although I can’t credibly claim Manchester as my home city, it is a place that looms large in my life.
As a teenager, it provided an escape from girl guide parades and church hall talent shows into a world of nose piercings, record shops and art house cinema.
When I was uncertain about pretty much everything, I was dazzled by Manchester’s swagger. Its history of protest and radical women shaped my politics. I prowled its indie stores, art galleries and grimy music venues to glimpse a more vivid adult world.
Thirty years later, I was curious to become reacquainted with this metropolis again. However, this time, instead of purple hair and a scowl, I was accompanied by my 9- and 13-year-old.
I discovered that although much had changed, Manchester could still cut through teenage apathy and offer up thrilling diversions.
Here are some of our favourite things to do with tweens and teens in central Manchester, plus details of where to stay during a weekend away.
Street art, shopping and gaming in the Northern Quarter
Hunting down murals around the Northern Quarter is a good way to explore Manchester’s most happening neighbourhood. We started around Stevenson Square and Spear Street, then widened our search through nearby streets lined with red brick buildings and renovated warehouses.
There are lots of stores and coffee shops to pause at en route, including Fred Aldous (a palace of crafting supplies), Travelling Man (graphic novels and board games) and Siop Shop (seriously good doughnuts).
Eventually, aim for Afflecks, a former Victorian department store turned indie emporium. Want a fluffy leopard-print bucket hat? Or perhaps a Henna tattoo? This is the place to come for vintage clothes, posters, cute jewellery, badges and a whole world of other weird and wonderful things. Browsing heaven for tweens and teens.
Still looking for more entertainment? Virtual Hideout Manchester is close by and has family-friendly VR experiences.
Cultural venues, big and small
Since opening its doors in 2023, Factory International has hosted some impressive large-scale exhibitions and live performances.
During our summer 2024 visit, we spent a happy couple of hours in the immersive Sweet Dreams exhibition. From 10 December 2024 to 25 January 2025, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) will bring larger-than-life projections and a specially composed musical score into the vast space. But, basically, whenever you visit, it’s well worth finding out what’s on.
The smaller-scale, free Manchester Art Gallery is also worth a stop. Once you’ve admired the paintings, sculpture and fashion, head to the three-sided ping pong table in the Lion’s Den children’s gallery. A quick game may even raise a smile with a reluctant culture vulture. Younger kids will love all the cushions for den building.
Lunch at a 2D comic café
On the doorstep of the art gallery lies another treat for the senses: Manchester’s Chinatown. We loved browsing the supermarkets here for spicy snacks (especially as the only green thing my kids seem to eat is wasabi seaweed).
And, as you’d expect from the largest Chinatown in the UK outside London, there is a feast of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants. (Only Yu is apparently the go-to place for dim sum.)
But, knowing my children’s penchant for anime and Japanese food, I booked lunch at Waku Waku, the UK’s first 2D comic café. It didn’t disappoint.
We loved finding cartoon cats lurking on the walls, as well as gobbling the delicious drinks and gold-dusted sushi. The price was reasonable for the quality (a set of 10 pieces costs around £17.50). Look out for the very cute egg waffles.
Looking for more family-friendly ideas in northwest England? Read about our favourite sculpture walks around Manchester and beyond.
An afternoon at the museum
Most teens aren’t going to be satisfied with completing a museum trail in return for a sticker any more. (Sob). Still, Manchester’s museums have lots to offer.
The obvious winner for many is the National Football Museum. Meanwhile, I’ve written before about the excellent People’s History Museum, which will no doubt appeal to teens interested in protest, workers’ rights and democracy.
On our recent trip, though, we pandered to my tween’s obsession with animals with a visit to the Wild exhibition (until Jun 2025) at the free Manchester Museum.
The museum has recently undergone a big renovation, meaning its collection of mummies, dinosaurs, fossils and archaeology is beautifully curated. The live amphibians and reptiles on the second floor make for a particularly animated collection.
Of course, the other big hitter is Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum. Tweens and younger teens may well enjoy its free Experiment gallery. Then, during weekends and school holidays, all kids will undoubtedly be delighted with a paid pass to the Power Up exhibition. This allows you to battle it out over five decades of computer games. I was thrilled that my misspent youth mastering Street Fighter could finally allow me a moment of glory. Until my son knocked me out with a lucky dragon punch.
Arndale activities
I’m not a fan of large shopping malls, especially when finding the exit feels like an expedition requiring a satellite phone, headlight and sleeping bag. But, confusing corridors and escalators aside, the Arndale Centre has lots to entertain tweens and teens.
We splashed out on a trip to the Immersive Gamebox, where we donned silly hats and dashed about for 30 minutes in an attempt to collect coins and not get caught by ghosts. Fun times.
Other non-shopping attractions include a high-tech minigolf course, ten-pin bowling, karaoke and arcade games.
Piccadilly play and food
Swooping slides at Mayfield Park. Photo credit: Massey and Harris
So, full disclosure: we haven’t actually been to Mayfield Park near Manchester Piccadilly Station yet. But the photos and reviews look so good that leaving it off the list felt wrong. I can’t promise that the slides will thrill teens – but they look like they’ll give it a go. I suspect tweens will love it.
Escape to Freight Island is nearby, serving a range of street food. It’s a good choice when your kids can’t agree on what to eat (which I believe is some kind of sibling bylaw).
Where to stay in Manchester with kids?
We were invited to stay at CitySuites Aparthotel in Manchester, and I know bloggers probably always wax lyrical about hosted visits, but me and my kids really did love it.
Our 2-bedroom apartment was clean, modern and a great size for us all to kick back after a busy day. It was even stocked with some fun card games. The kitchen was well-equipped and came with a chore-saving dishwasher. And the Sainsbury’s Local supermarket across the road was handy for stocking up on snacks and milk.
We were also just across the river from the Manchester Cathedral, Harvey Nichols and the heart of the city – but away (I think technically in Salford) from the accompanying noise.
The main reason, though, my kids loved staying here was the indoor 18-metre swimming pool, spa pool and steam room. Having these facilities turned a short UK city break into a memorable family holiday.
The menu at the Embankment Kitchen gave us lots of great dinner and breakfast options, including veggie and vegan choices. We set off for another day of exploring Manchester well-rested and well-fed.
How to get around Manchester with kids?
Manchester is a fairly compact city and, most of the time, walking is the way to go. We only jumped on public transport on the way to and from the Manchester Museum, out by the University.
There is a good range of buses (which you can pay for by cash and contactless on board), as well as the nippy Metrolink network (tap on and off onboard). For details about young people’s fares, visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.
And finally …
It can feel unsettling to return to a place brimming with memories of your younger self. But Manchester’s whirring sense of the now banished any nostalgia.
Instead, I relished experiencing this dynamic city afresh, buoyed by my tween’s enthusiasm and my teen’s humour. But, as a sign of the passing years, I also like slipping away for some quiet time in the hotel steam room.
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