Indoor places in Manchester

A family guide to Manchester

Family places to explore and play entirely under a roof.

Manchester splits between rooms built for running about and rooms built for staring at something odd. Head Over Heels is a play cafe with an underwater play space, a climbing frame, a toddler zone and role play. Printworks, Europe's largest venue of its kind by ceiling, throws in a free sandpit, beach-themed quizzes, archery, giant games, basketball, Pac-Man and live DJs. The National Football Museum sets penalty shoot-outs, football-shirt design, fun trails and drop-in workshops among the kits and trophies. Freight Island turns seasonal with Winter Island, Twilight Tales and a Fright Halloween night of circus acts, sensory play and a fire show. Victoria Baths lights the Gala Pool with a giant glowing sun for Helios, and runs stained-glass making and a live Easter panto. Museum of Illusions opened its first UK site here. Supermassive calls itself the city's Digital Playground, built from visuals, soundscapes and a ball-drop zone. Manchester Art Gallery keeps hands-on zones and creative corners. Depot Mayfield holds Europe's largest vertical skate ramp and runs beginner sessions for anyone starting out. Sapporo Teppanyaki cooks at the table and puts on a Sunday kids menu. AO Arena, Co-op Live, Treehouse Manchester, Z-arts, the Science & Industry Museum and Luminiscence at Manchester Cathedral are here too.