30+ best things to do in Manchester with a toddler

When it comes to things to do in Manchester with a toddler it can be a bit daunting. After all, the city is so vast, and then there are the surrounding towns and areas within Greater Manchester that are packed with lots of attractions and things to do. There are so many great Toddler days out North West including in Manchester though.

This post includes all the things I am aware of for toddlers to do in Manchester, including paid and free attractions. You might like this post – Free things to do in Manchester with toddlers if you’re looking for free things to do specifically.

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Last updated – 26th June 2026

Why should you trust my recommendations? I’m a local mum who visits Manchester often. My children are no longer toddlers but I have a niece who is and let’s face it we don’t forget what makes a great day out for toddlers! Some of these ideas are also recommendations from the readers of my Facebook page.

New & trending events in Manchester for toddlers in July and August 2026

These are the upcoming events that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. This section gets a regular update.

• Adventures in Wonderland is an interactive play experience at Z-Arts that is very popular with children aged 1-8 years.
• Bubble Planet is a totally unique immersive experience that you don’t want to miss. It’s at Depot Mayfield until the end of August 2026
• Visit the free giant sandpit at The Great Northern Warehouse on a sunny day.

Manchester theatre shows for toddlers and preschoolers in 2026

There are loads of great theatre shows for young children at venues like The Lowry and Z-Arts across the year.

• The Gruffalo, The Lowry, for children 3+, 3rd – 5th July 2026
• In the night garden, The Lowry, 5th – 9th August 2026
• Dear Zoo, The Lowry, 11th – 16th August 2026
• The tiger who came to tea. Waterside. For children 3+. 11th – 12th July 2026
• Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show. Palace Theatre, Manchester. 14th – 15th August 2026
• Fun for little ones, a tribute to Ms Rachel, Stockport Plaza, 19th July 2026
• Fireman Sam Live! Stockport Plaza, 1st August 2026

Find more kids theatre shows Manchester here.

SEA LIFE Manchester

Where – located with Trafford Palazzo, next to the Trafford Centre (can be accessed from Trafford centre by an indoor bridge). Next door to Legoland Discovery Centre.

How to get here – free parking or there are lots of buses that stop nearby.

SEA LIFE Manchester is perfect for toddlers and even babies as aquariums are such a sensory experience. Toddlers will be mesmerised by the different aquariums, colourful fish and sea life creatures floating around. They also get the chance to enjoy the interactive rock pools. 

You will find turtles, clownfish, rays and even sharks. I have to say I always love the ocean tunnel best!

They often run themed trails and these are usually perfect for toddlers so keep an eye out for these.

Expect to spend 1-2 hours here.

Price – Under 2s go free! Adult tickets start from £20 and you can get combined tickets with Legoland discovery centre.

Parent and toddler ticket (child can be aged 5 and under) from £15 if booked online.

Book here – SEA LIFE Manchester

Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester

Where – located with Trafford Palazzo, next to the Trafford Centre (can be accessed from Trafford centre by an indoor bridge). Next door to SEA LIFE Manchester.

How to get here – free parking or there are lots of buses that stop nearby.

Perfect for any toddler who is Duplo mad, this is one of the best places that is filled with Lego and opportunities to play as well as witness some of the best Lego built sculptures. There’s a 4D cinema which some toddlers might be up for depending on the duration of the film showing. They have two films that alternat throughout the day.

There are two rides. Children must be 90cm tall for Merlins Apprentice but children of any height can ride Kingdom quest but they must be able to sit unaided next to you.

As well as Lego play areas, there is a Duplo farm area and a toddler play area including soft play.

They run monthly mid-week little play sessions for toddlers.

Prices – £12 for a parent and child 5 and under mid-week. Under 2s are always free. Adult standard tickets from £17.50

Book here – Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester

Z-Arts, Hulme

Where – Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, M15 5ZA.

How to get here – Close to the city centre, parking nearby and good transport links.

Z-Arts is the UK’s only dedicated art centre for children. There is an amazing amount of activities for toddlers to enjoy (as well as older children too). There is a cafe, library, family escape room, theatre and an event space.

The children’s library has regular free activities for under 5s such as rhyme time and baby book club. It’s a beautiful place to take toddlers to borrow picture and board books if you live locally.

They also currently have an amazing Adventures in Wonderland area which is a mix of storytelling and imaginative play suitable for children 1 to 8 year olds.

Prices for Alice in Wonderland are £12.60 per adult or child.

Book here – Adventures in Wonderland – Z-arts

They also have regular family theatre shows, many of which are suitable for toddlers and preschoolers.

Find out more about this incredible place in our full guide – Z-Arts Manchester.

Find there full what’s on guide here – What’s On – Z-arts

Museum of Transport

Where – 1.25 miles north of Manchester city centre, at the top end of Boyle Street (M8 8UW), just off Queens Road (A6010).

How to get here – limited on street parking nearby, nearest Metrolink stop is Queens road and lots of buses stop nearby too.

Based in Cheetham Hill, the museum of transport is a must-visit place for any toddlers that happen to be transport mad. A chance to see buses, coaches and trams from years gone by.

Price – £7.50 for adults, under 16s free

Full details here – Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester

Cockfield’s Farm, Ashton/Oldham border

Where – Cockfields Farm Park, Lees Road, Ashton/Oldham Border, OL6 8AR, UK

How to get here – There is a large, free car park. The 425 bus from Oldham stops a 6 minute walk away at Abbeyhills road. The 231 bus from Manchester stops at Lichfield Avenue which is a 15 minute walk from the farm.

A children’s farm is a fantastic place to take a toddler and Cockfields farm is one of the best in the area. They hold lots of special events at different times of the year. Many of them are dedicated to toddlers and young children. You can explore and pet the animals, enjoy feeding time, explore the play areas and enjoy the on-site cafe. 

Price – Weekends and school holidays, £12.95 for adults and children over 1 if booked online (£5 more on the gate), under 1’s £2.95

Term time, week day offer – 1 adult, 1 child and a bag of animal feed £12.95 (must book online.

Book here – Cockfields

Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park, Altrincham

Where – Sunbank Lane, Altrincham, WA15 8XQ

Getting here – Not far from junction 6 of the M56. Car park is £5 for upto 2 hours, £10 for up to 4 and £12 for over 4 hours.

What toddler is not aeroplane mad? Even if they don’t show much interest the Runway Visitor Park is still a great place to take little ones. Here they can enjoy a wonderful playground and watch the aeroplanes take off and land. There are even a couple of retired planes that you can board.

There is a large picnic area and cafe.

Price – free arriving on foot. Car parking charges apply (see above).

Full details here – Runway Visitor Park

Smithills Open Farm, Bolton

Where – Smithills Dean Rd, Bolton BL1 7NS

How to get here – There is parking onsite. Buses 526 or 525 from Trinity Street Station stop at the end of the farm lane. It is 5-10 minutes walk up the lane.

Here you will get the chance to watch the animals in their surroundings, pet some of the smaller ones, and even join in at feeding times. You can also enjoy tractor rides and lots of fun outside.  

Book here – Smithills open farm.

Reddish Vale Farm

Where – Reddish Vale Road, Reddish, Stockport, SK5 7HE

How to get here – Parking is available on site.

This is another great children’s farm but this one is also a horse and pony riding school. They also run regular special events that toddlers will love.

Full details here – Reddish Vale Farm

Little northerners at The Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester City Centre

Right opposite the cinema box office is a tiny little play space with a teepee, small wooden Montessori climbing set, dolls house, books and play kitchen. They also have events for little ones too and it’s all free!

Find out more here – Little Northerners – Great Northern, Manchester

RHS Bridgewater, Salford

Where – Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester, M28 2LJ

How to get here –

We love RHS Bridgewater and it is perfect for toddlers. There are plenty of pushchair-friendly paths and a large woodland play area with lots for toddlers to enjoy. This includes a really cute fairy house village.

They run lots of kids activities in the school holidays, many of which are perfect for toddlers.

They have Guess how much I love you trail on until the end of 2025. Find out more here – Guess How Much I Love You

Find our full guide here – Visiting RHS Bridgewater with kids

The museum of science and industry, Manchester City Centre

Where – Liverpool road, Manchester, M3 4FP

How to get here – There is no parking and I’d really recommend getting public transport. We usually get the tram to Deansgate and it is a short walk from here.

There’s lots to entertain kids of all ages at the Science and Industry Museum and there are plenty of parts that toddlers will enjoy especially on the top floor in experiment. There’s even a special area for babies and toddlers. A museum is a great idea if you have older kids to please too.

Price – free

Find out more about the science and industry museum here in our full guide – Science and Industry museum Manchester.

The Hive at Moss Bank Park, Bolton

Where – Moss Bank Park, Moss Bank Way, Bolton, BL1 6NB.

How to get here – There is free parking

The Hive is designed with nature play for children under 7 in mind. There are self-led activities including water play, a sound garden, mud kitchen, den building and bug hunting. They also have regular family events.

Find out more here – The Hive at Moss Bank Park

Manchester Central Library

Where – St Peters Square, City Centre

Manchester Central Library has an incredible children’s library that has books perfect for toddlers to enjoy. This is a great way to pass some time in the city centre. 

Don’t forget to check your local library too. They often have story and rhyme time sessions for under 5s.

Find out more here – Central Library

Manchester Museum

Where – Oxford road, Manchester, M13 9PL

Getting here – Public transport is the easiest in my opinion but we have parked in a car park nearby before.

Whilst there are definitely better museums in Manchester for toddlers (Science and Industry in my opinion), there are still elements of the Manchester museum that they may enjoy especially if you have older kids to entertain too. The recently reopened Manchester Museum has some incredible exhibits namely to do with animals and ancient history which little ones will find fascinating. 

Find out everything you need to know in our full guide here – Visiting the Manchester Museum with kids

The Lowry, Salford

Where – Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ

The lookout area of The Lowry is their dedicated family space where kids can create their very own master piece! They run activities in the week for under including little creatives and babies playtime.

Find out more and book a session here – Little Creatives | Workshops | The Lowry

They also show lots of family theatre including ones suitable for toddlers.

Whitworth Art gallery

Where – Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER

Another art gallery suitable for ​little kids is The Whitworth. They run regular activities for kids like outdoor art club which runs on one saturday each month and art baby which is suitable for babies, toddlers and preschools and runs on selected Fridays.

Find all the family events here – Families | Whitworth Art Gallery 

East Lancashire Railway, Bury

Where – There are 7 different stations and you can start your journey at anyone!

How to get here – By car you are advised to park at Heywood or Rawtenstall.

Although this one is technically in Bury, Lancashire, I thought it was worth including as it’s not too far and it is perfect for train mad toddlers.

Ride a steam train over 12 miles of stunning scenery with 7 stations to stop at. They also run regular events including Peppa Pig and Thomas the Tank engine.

Book here – The East Lancashire Railway

The Donkey Sanctuary – Permanently closed

Treetop Trek Adventure, Heaton Park

Where – Heaton Park, Greater Manchester, M25 2QB

Getting here – Pay and display parking, maximum £3.50. Heaton Park is served by the x35, 59, 90, 135, 149, 156, 164 and 484 buses

TreeTop Adventure is usually associated with older children, but there is the TreeTop Nets activity that toddlers can very much get involved with. Walking among the trees on the bouncy nets, your little ones can have fun exploring and trying something new. Suitable from age 3.

Price – from £20

Find out more here – Treetop Nets Manchester

Sweet Pea Play, Higher Poynton

Where –

This one comes highly recommended by parents who read this website! Indoor and outdoor loose parts and open ended resources to develop creativity, imagination and a whole host of skills learning through play. Term time sessions on Wednesdays. 10-11.30!

Full details here – Sweet Pea Play

Soft play centres and role play villages

One of the obvious things to do with a toddler is to head to a soft play centre. These are usually fairly quiet during the week, outside of school holidays when older children are at school. They are a great choice for a rainy day with younger kids. They are areas where children can climb and play freely, and if you find the right ones that have larger areas for small children and an excellent cafe you can’t go wrong. Here are some of the best soft play centres in Manchester. 

Play Factore

One of the biggest and best soft play centres in Manchester Play Factore has a huge area dedicated to toddlers which is undergoing major renovations until 20th June 2025.

It is one of the UK’s largest indoor play centres and while there is a lot dedicated to older children, toddlers are still very much catered for. The toddler area includes an immersive room, interactive area and a 5 meter high playframe.

There is also an on-site cafe serving an array of cold and hot food and lots of drink options. You will find Play Factore in Trafford, very close to the INTU Trafford Centre. 

Head over heels

Head over heels in Chorlton is a great soft play centre with plenty of climbing frames and slides suitable for young children and toddlers. There is also a great cafe there and dedicated toddler play times during term time. 

The Funhouse

The Funhouse, which is located in Swinton is another great soft play centre that hasn’t forgotten that younger children want to play and explore. There is an excellent separate area dedicated to under-fours with a lot to keep them occupied. 

Tumbles Play Place

Just on the Saddleworth border in an area called Mossley, which is close to Ashton-Under-Lyne, you have Tumbles Play Place. A very popular soft place centre with a great area dedicated to toddlers. However, in the term time, the larger area is still very much suited to younger children, and with a bit of adult supervision, a lot of fun can be had. 

Adventure Forest, Trafford Park

Here you’ll find a 3 tier forest-themed play frame for children aged 3-11 years. There is a large forest-themed toddler area. In addition, they run Little Bear mornings, Monday – Friday during term time where there are toys, crafts and singing with Bruno bear. Find out more here – Adventure Forest

Little Town Play House

Where – Second Floor, 138 Albert Road , Farnworth,

This one comes highly recommended by parents on my Facebook page. This is a play centre with a Montessori approach that have regular sessions and special event.

Find full details on their Facebook page – Little Town Play House

Let us play, Little Town, Stalybridge

Where – Unit 1, Pattern House, Castle Street, Stalybridge, SK15 1NX, UK

Designed for children aged 1-8 years old this play centre with a Montessori approach with high quality wooden toys.

There’s a construction area, cafe, salon, market and post office for little ones to enjoy.

Find out more here – Let Us Play Little Town

Visit a park

There are loads of great parks to visit in Manchester. These are great places to visit with toddlers as they have lots of open spaces and great play areas and parks are very suitable for walks with a pushchair.

Find details of all the best parks to visit in Manchester here.

Go for a walk

There are loads of great pram-friendly walks in Manchester for you to work your way through. Read this post for loads of ideas and find out which have play areas etc – pram-friendly walks Manchester

Enjoy an ice cream Manchester

Find loads of Ice cream parlours Manchester here.

I hope this has given you inspiration for some of the things to do in Manchester with toddlers. 

Where to next?

If you are not far from Cheshire then here are some more ideas for you – Things to do in Cheshire with toddlers.

Find more Things to do in Lancashire with toddlers here.

Find loads of Free things to do in Manchester with kids here.

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