Manchester is one of the best cities in the UK for family fun, packed with lots to do to keep the whole clan entertained with museums, attractions, shopping and dining out. Make it a mini-break by staying over in family friendly serviced apartments where you can choose accommodation to suit a variety of family set-ups.
Where to STAY: Serviced Apartments Manchester
Manchester is pretty easy to get around; trains go into Victoria or Piccadilly stations, and the Metro Link connects all over the city. Staying in apartments near Picadilly or Deansgate will keep you central with good transport links and where you will be surrounded by all the facilities and amenities you could want or need.
Image: Museum of Science and Industry
Where to PLAY: Museum of Science and Industry| Old Trafford Stadium | Manchester Art Gallery | Treetop Adventure Golf
Entertaining the kids can be both fun and educational and there are plenty of places to feed their intrigue and imagination; Sea Life Centre, Lego Land (both next door to each other and offer duel centre tickets), Museum of Science and Industry, Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester Art Gallery, and Treetop Adventure Golf, to name just a few.
Sea Life Centre is located at the Trafford Centre (connect via the Metro Link from city centre) and is a fantastic family day out. Day passes can be purchased for £15.95 but annual passes, which offer unlimited visits with a handful of restricted peak dates, are a steal at £16.95 for adults and £11.95 for children over 5. Under 5’s are free.
Family photos are taken in front of a ‘green screen’ at the start of your Sea Life journey so that by the time you have reached half-way around the exhibition, your photos are brought to life with added backdrops of mermaids, desert islands, and deep water marine scenes. All of which can be viewed at the photo kiosk with a dedicated staff member to talk you through the pics and the packages. We opted for the Silver package (£20) which included two 6×8 prints, keyring, magnet, two wallet pictures and the downloadable files.
Navigate your way through different themed zones and attend feeding times by the Sea Rangers (see website for times). There is a new Rock Pool section where you can gently stroke starfish, and an underwater tunnel where you can gaze at the giant green sea turtles and stingrays and baby sharks.
Where to EAT: Gusto | 20 Stories | The Anthologist | Dishoom
Visiting restaurants with young babies and children can be a daunting and stressful experience when you throw prams, highchairs, extra needed space and potential tantrums into the mix. But there’s no need to scrap an enjoyment of dining out just because you have some mini humans in tow, you just need to select a family-friendly eatery. Luckily this doesn’t mean you have to forgo trendy venues or culinary delights, you can still visit some of the best spots in town.
Gusto is a luxe Italian restaurant situated in Manchester’s Deansgate. The extensive menu features sourdough pizzas, prime cuts of steak, fancy fish dishes and pasta. There is a dedicated kids menu and highchairs’ are available. Ask to be seated at one of the larger round tables (located to the right of the restaurant as you enter) where you will have more room for prams and highchairs. The drinks list is substantial with some great wines by the glass and delicious virgin cocktails.
The spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, all views are Groomed & Glossy’s own.