We were looking for a fun, family-friendly city break but didn’t want to take another flight from our home in the UK. Sometimes the thought of dumping everyone and everything in the car for a long drive feels so easy and tempting!
We settled on a visit up north to Manchester, often described as England’s second biggest city after London. Part staycation, part exploration, it has a completely different vibe to the south of the country, with its own traditions, architecture and history, despite being just a few hours away. Here’s what we got up to with 3 boys under 10: our digital postcards from Manchester…
Where to Go
We spent our first day at the National Football Museum. It was so great for kids aged 2-12, with heaps of interactive and sporty exhibits, as well as the history of the game. A must-see for any soccer fans.
On the second day, we visited the Science and Industry Museum. The play galleries were so interesting, thought-provoking and fun – even our toddler could get involved with the interactive experiments. They also have a temporary ‘Power Up exhibition, all about gaming, which our older kids loved.
Another big part of our trip to Manchester was a visit to Manchester United‘s football stadium, Old Trafford. We booked a stadium tour (highly recommended) and treated the kids to lunch in The Red Cafe, which features TV screens showing the best Manchester United goals from history to watch while you eat.
What to Do
We were lucky enough to be there during the 2025 Pride festival, so we had a walk around the Gay Village which was spectacular! I was so happy to introduce the kids to the festival and what it means, so they could understand the importance of the celebrations.
It was also the summer for Music for the Senses, which is a city-wide exhibition featuring famous guitars from musical history, which are being auctioned to raise money for charity. We spotted some amazing guitar exhibits in the streets and stores of Manchester.
The city is full of cultural happenings, from art and music to food and nightlife, so there’s always so much going on here.
Where to Eat
There’s a beautiful newly-developed dining area called Spinningfields, which includes some of our family favorites, including The Ivy, as well some unique new spots, such as The Oast House, for afternoon drinks.
We also found some great coffee and brunch spots in the Northern Quarter. One of the things I loved about the city center was that it’s small enough to walk around easily – you can jump from Chinatown to Canal Street, or the Northern Quarter to Medieval Quarter in just a few hours.
Where to Stay
We stayed in the new Treehouse Hotel, which was super fun for the kids! We had heaps of space thanks to the interconnecting rooms, and they left toys and robes for the kids. The rooms all had a playful touch, linking to the brand’s ethos, so we found chalk boards converting into TV units, board games to enjoy, and a really cool padel court to book next door. Book Now
