Half-term in Manchester, come rain or shine

February half-term is the dreariest of school holidays: grey, cold and often wet, and without the sparkly drama of a big festivity to take the edge off.

It’s tempting to hunker down with a bit of den-building, baking, board games and a good book. In our house, The Mysterious Benedict Society and its many sequels is a favourite read for my nine-year-old. Anything with Clarice Bean goes down well with my slightly younger one.

However, staying in all day is not what memories are made of. Full disclosure: I’m shipping the kids out to grandparents for part of half-term, which I feel guilty about, but the mathematics of annual leave and school holidays is an equation I just can’t solve. That means the time I do have is even more important. With that in mind, here are my tips for a day out we’ll all enjoy, with options for fair weather and foul.

Things to do when it’s dry

There’s nothing I like more than pulling on my walking boots on a bright clear day. Here’s hoping. Take a look at these walks near Manchester and further afield.

A walk to Standedge Tunnel

The canalside walk to Standedge Tunnel in Diggle (one of Greater Manchester’s most euphonious place names) is an easy one, away from traffic for almost the entire route. There are a few points where it’s bisected by very minor roads, but as long as kids can be relied upon not to fall in the water, it’s a relaxing stroll.

If you start from Greenfield train station, or park up on Chapel Road, the there-and-back route is a gentle six miles. Make it shorter by starting in Uppermill, or longer by setting off from Mossley.

As the Huddersfield Narrow Canal passes through Diggle, there’s a pretty good circular adventure trail, full of things to balance on and fall off, as well as a sort of towpath board game based on the history of the canal and Standedge Tunnel. It’s an interactive way to soak up a bit of history.

The footpath ends at the tunnel, so you can turn back and be quietly grateful you don’t have to leg your boat through to Marsden flat on your back like in the old days.

You can’t miss Grandpa Greene’s by the canal for lunch and ice cream. Watch out for all the Pancake Day specials too. Diggle Lock is another good shout for stonkingly good toasties and french toast with lots of vegan options and even a menu for dogs.

A National Trust day out

Lyme Park always has something on during half-term, alongside its year-round attractions of fresh air, red deer and space for roaming around.

Walking routes to The Lantern or The Cage are popular with families and there’s also a half-term Wildlife Wander trail. See if you can spot signs that spring is on its way. Look for snowdrops, red deer and even Highland cows whilst splashing through muddy puddles.

Inside the house, an interactive trail lets children help Truelove the butler by acting the part of housekeeper or hall boy in full period regalia.

Arnside

If you’re planning on making a day of it, Arnside is a beautiful place to be. It lacks the razzmatazz of the coastal resorts but it has a blustery charm of its own at this time of year.

Parking is limited but should be do-able in February or you can get the Barrow train from Deansgate. Driving takes around an hour and twenty minutes from South Manchester. The lack of summer crowds also means you might even manage to get a table at Arnside Chip Shop, a must if you’re in the area.

Try to time your visit so you can see the train crossing the viaduct to Grange-over-Sands – it’s an impressive sight. As well as pottering along the pier, take a hike up to Arnside Knott for breathtaking (literally) views across Morecambe Bay, or just wander along the coastal paths looking for oystercatchers, curlews and maybe even a peregrine falcon hunting over the estuary.

Rain-proof recommendations

Sometimes you need a wet weather back up that’s more than playing Mario Kart. Fortunately, you can still have fond memories of a damp day out at these places.

Chinese New Year celebrations

Lunar New Year means brings a real sense of celebration to Manchester on Sunday 15 February, and kids are usually keen to join in with any festival going, especially when food is involved.

The annual dragon parade is always fun to watch but there are plenty of indoor activities too, mainly based at Manchester Central Library. Apart from the face-painting, they’re all free.

Highlights include family craft workshops making lanterns and paper horses to celebrate the Year of the Horse, cake decorating, bracelet-making and a dress-up hanfu photo booth.

Round it off with bubble tea from Ohayo Tea or a trip to a Chinese supermarket for sweets and those bottles of fizzy pop with the glass ball inside. They’re very cool.

The Super Duper Family Festival

The Super Duper Family Festival runs from Wednesday 18 February to Saturday 21 February, filling the city centre with free things to do.

The Printworks hosts a modern take on retro gaming with giant Pac-Man, whack-a-mole and air hockey. Over at Great Northern Warehouse, Graystone is offering free skateboarding lessons on a first-come, first-served basis, alongside Scalextric racing, table football and ping pong.

Aviva Studios is home to a silent disco, a mini roller rink and digital music workshops where you can build your own track with beats and loops.

Climb the walls

If you’re going to climb the walls, Rock Over Climbing Sharston is the place to do it. It’s a friendly, inclusive centre with bouldering routes (general clambering rather than ropes and carabiners) at all difficulty levels. Not that I’ve ever made it past V1.

Climbing is exciting. There’s a heady mix of fear and concentration which can help you find a sweaty Zen mode.

If you’re new to climbing, I can highly recommend the family induction sessions for building confidence. If you prefer two feet on the ground, there are children’s taster sessions on the weekend.

An inspiring museum visit

The Royal Armouries Museum is well worth the trip along the M62 if you have a miniature history prof in tow.

If you think weapons and guns aren’t exactly the sort of thing you’d want to be bigging up, I’d be in total agreement. However, you can always give the more modern galleries a swerve and focus on the medieval suits of armour. All that shiny metal is very impressive, and kids love the interactive demonstrations – make sure you check the times. Where else can you wield a replica sword that’s bigger than you are?