Family events North West January 2026
Christmas may be behind us but there’s still plenty for families and children to do in January. I’ve rounded up the best family events North West January 2026. These include children’s theatre, free craft sessions and Chinese new year celebrations. Find more Family events North West here.
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Pantomime guide North West
There are lots of pantos on across the region in January. Find them all here – Pantomime guide North West
What’s on for families in Manchester January 2026
Operation Ouch! Brains, bogies and you! The Science and Industry Museum. 14th February 2025 – 4th January 2026. Find out more here – Operation Ouch
Quentin Blake and me, free exhibition. The Lowry. until 4th January 2026. Book here – Quentin Blake and Me
Alice in Wonderland. Z-Arts. From 5th April 2025. Book here – Adventures in Wonderland – Z-arts
Snowys conservation club, SEA LIFE Manchester. 22nd November 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Snowys conservation club
Christmas at Dunham Massey. 14th Nov 2025 – 3rd Jan 2026. Book here – Christmas at Dunham Massey tickets
A Christmas Carol, Octagon Bolton. 13th November 2025 – 10th January 2026. Book here – A Christmas Carol | Octagon Bolton
Skate Manchester, Cathedral gardens. 25th October 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Skate Manchester
Aladin, Stockport Plaza. 5th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Aladdin
Gandey’s Snowstorm wish, Trafford centre. 5th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Snowstorm Wish
Robin Hood, Opera House Manchester. 6th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Robin Hood
The enormous crocodile. The Lowry. 10th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – * The enormous crocodile
Little bear and the Christmas lights, The Lowry. 28th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – * Little bear and the Christmas lights
Winter holidays at Manchester Museum of science and industry. 20th December 2025 – 4th Jan 2026. Full details here – Winter holidays | Science and Industry Museum
Freaky Friday. HOME, Manchester. 27th November 2025 – 10th January 2026. Book here – Freaky Friday
The lion, the witch and the wardrobe, The Lowry. 3rd December – 11th January 2025. Book here – * The Lion, The witch and the wardobe
Broad Oak Hearts trail. Fletcher Moss. 31st December 2025 – 12th January 2026. Full details here (check to ensure it is still on as the park is prone to flooding at this time of year) – Broad Oak Hearts trail
Winter Family Trail with Speechly the Pineapple. Dunham Massey. until 8th March 2026. Full details here – Winter Family Trail with Speechly the Pineapple
Really wild January. Cockfields Farm. Selected dates 9th – 31st January 2026. Book here – Really wild January
The Great Turtle Odyssey. Sea Life Manchester. 10th January – 1st February 2026. Book here – The Great Turtle Odyssey
Luminiscence Manchester. Manchester Cathedral. 14th January – 26th March 2026. Book here – Luminiscence Manchester
Dunham Apples Wassail. Dunham Apple barns. 17th January 2026. Book here – The Wassail | Dunham Apples
K-Pop Demon hunters silent disco. Kargo MRTK. 18th January 2026. Book here – K-Pop Demon hunters silent disco
Wickedly Ariana. Bolton Albert Halls. 18th January 2026. Book here – Wickedly Ariana
The Ordsall Hall Wassail, 18th January 2026. Full details here – The Ordsall Hall Wassail – Ordsall Hall
Red the panto. The Lowry. 23rd – 25th January 2026. Book here – red
The Wizard and the Mechanic, Z-Arts. 31st January 2026. Book here – The wizard and the mechanic
What’s on for families in Cheshire January 2026
Land of lights presents Wonderwild, Gulliver’s world Warrington. 8th Nov 2025 – 31st Jan 2026. Book here – Land of Lights Lantern Festival – Warrington
Lanterns and light at Chester Zoo. 13th Nov 2025 – 3rd Jan 2026. Book here – Lanterns and Light | Chester Zoo
Alice in the hidden garden, a winter light adventure at Bents. 21st Nov 2025 – 3rd January 2026. Book here – Alice in the hidden garden
Beauty and the Beast, Storyhouse Chester. 5th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Beauty and The Beast | Storyhouse
Jack and the bean stalk, Crewe Lyceum. 12th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Book Jack and the Beanstalk tickets | Lyceum Theatre Crewe
Alice in winter Wonderland, The Grange Theatre, Northwich. 5th Dec 2025 – 3rd Jan 2026. Book here – Alice in Winter Wonderland | The Grange Theatre
Free Brereton Heath Nature reserve elf Hunt. 13th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Full details here – Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve Elf Hunt
Free Gladiators Zuma. Chester Amphitheatre. 3rd January 2025. Full details here – Gladiator Zumba
Tegg’s nose country park elf hunt. 13th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Full details here – Tegg’s Nose Country Park Elf Hunt
Elmer’s Art Parade. Macclesfield Town centre. 21st Nov 2025 – 9th January 2025. Full details here – Elmer’s Art Parade
Cinderella, The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn. 11th December 2025 – 11th January 2026. Book here – * Cinderella
FREE Winter welly walk, Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington. Daily from 10th January 2026. Find out more here – Winter Welly Walks
Wassail at Norton Priory. 11th January 2026. Book here – Wassail! – Norton Priory Museum and Gardens
Family Big Garden Bird Watch at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands. 24th January 2026. Book here – Family Big Garden Bird Watch at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands
Macclesfield Lantern Festival, Macclesfield Town Centre. 24th January 2026. Full details here – Macclesfield lantern festival
Justin Fletcher Live. Crewe Lyceum Theatre. 31st January 2026. Book here – Justin Fletcher Live
What’s on for families in Lancashire January 2026
Blackpool illuminations. 30th August 2025 – 4th January 2026. Full details here – Blackpool Illuminations
Christmas by the sea Blackpool. 21st November 2025 to 4th Jan 2026. Full details here – Christmas By The Sea | VisitBlackpool
Lancaster on ice. 21st Nov 2025 – 4th Jan 2026. Book here – Lancaster On Ice
Snow White, Blackburn Empire. 22nd November 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Snow White
Meet Stick man this Christmas, Gruffalo and friends clubhouse. 21st November 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Meet Stick Man this Christmas
Join Santa’s Conservation Crew, SEALIFE Blackpool. 21st november 2025 – 4th January 2026. Find out more here – Snowy’s Conservation Crew
Peter Pan at Lowther Pavilion. 1st December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Peter Pan: A Christmas 2025 Panto! – Lowther Pavilion
Beauty and the beast at The grand Theatre, Blackpool. 5th December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – Beauty and The Beast Pantomime 2025/26 – Blackpool Grand Theatre
Winter Xplorer at Brockholes. 8th December 2025 – 5th January 2026. Book here – Winter Xplorer at Brockholes
Winter Xplorer at Mere Sands Wood. 8th December 2025 – 5th January 2026. Book here – Winter Xplorer at Mere Sands Wood
Inspiration trains. East Lancashire Railway. 23rd – 24th January 2026. Book here – Inspiration trains
The Great British birdwatch at Ridgeway Farm. 23d – 25th January 2026. Book here – The Great British birdwatch
Open house weekend. East Lancashire Railway. 24th – 25th January 2026. Book here – Open house weekend
Pirate princess. The Whitaker. 24th January 2026. Book here – Pirate Princess
Fleetwood beach clean. 31st January 2026. Full details here – Fleetwood beach clean
Ice trail, Barnoldswick. 31st January 2026. Full details here – Ice trail
What’s on for families in Liverpool in January 2026
Icebox Liverpool, kids skate free in Jan. until 11th Jan 2026. Book here – Ice Skate in Liverpool – BOXPARK
Cinderella at Shakespeare North Playhouse. until 10th January 2026. Buy here – * Cinderella
Cinderella meet and make. Shakespeare North Playhouse. 2nd January 2026. Book here – Cinderella meet and make
Liverpool Winter Festival. Pier Head. 21st November 2025 – 5th January 2026. Full details here – Liverpool Winter festival
Matilda, Liverpool Empire. 2nd December 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – * Matilda
Sleeping Beauty, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. 6th December 2025 – 4th Jan 2026. Book here – Sleeping Beauty – Floral Pavilion
Liverpool indoor funfair. M&S Bank Arena Liverpool. 20th December 2025 – 3rd January 2026. Book here – Liverpool indoor funfair
Aquarium behind the scenes tour. World Museum. Various dates January 2026. Book here – Aquarium Behind The Scenes Tour | National Museums Liverpool
New Year at Eureka! Science + Discovery. 2nd – 4th January 2026. Book here – New Year
Big Art special: Art Sparks. Walker Art Gallery. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17,18, 24, 25, 31 January 2026. Book here – Big Art special: Art Sparks | National Museums Liverpool
Titanic in focus. White Star Line Hotel. 8th January – 10th March 2026. Book here – Titanic in focus
Wonderfully Wicked. Otterspool adventure. 10th & 11th January 2026. Book here – Wonderfully wicked
Discovering dinosaurs. World Museum, Liverpool. 10th, 24th & 31st January 2026. Book here – Discovering dinosaurs
Nature superheroes at Eureka! Science + Discovery. Weekends in January from 10th. Book here – Nature Superheroes
Mary Poppins. Liverpool Empire. 14th – 31st January 2026. Book here – Mary Poppins
Peter Pan. The Atkinson. 15th – 25th January 2026. Book here – Peter Pan
Hunter’s tribute. Otterspool adventure. 17th, 24th & 25th January 2026. Book here – Hunter’s tribute
Kpop Fantasy. St Helen’s Theatre Royal. 18th January 2026. Book here – KPOP Fantasy
Olivia Rodrigo vs. Sabrina Carpenter tribute show. St Helen’s Theatre Royal. 31st January 2026. Book here – Olivia Rodrigo vs. Sabrina Carpenter tribute show
What’s on for families in Lake District & Cumbria January 2026
The wizard of Oz at Theatre by the Lake. 14th November 2025 – 4th January 2026. Book here – The Wizard of Oz – Theatre by the Lake
Winter warmer trains, Ravenglass and Eskdale. 28th December 2025 – 3rd January 2026. Book here – Winter Warmer Trains
New Year’s beach clean. Barrow-in-Furness. 3rd January 2026. Full details here – New Year’s beach clean
Bouncefest, Ulverston. 31st January – 1st February 2026. Book here – BounceFest
One of my favourite winter walks is Elterwater to Skelthwith bridge walks. Flat, low lying and a fantastic cafe halfway.
Find ideas for wet days here – Things to do in the lake district when it rains.
What’s on next month in the North West
Find out what’s on in February 2025 here – Family events North West February
