If you want to experience the Christmas tingles – that cosy, excited, nostalgic feeling that comes with this time of year – these Christmas days out in and around Manchester should deliver.
They’re the places that make a special effort for the festive season – whether it’s with a magical light trail in the woods, a twinkly Christmas market, fun activities for little ones, or sometimes all three.
They’re for families and chosen families (your friends) because you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a Christmas day out. (Though maybe don’t sit yourself down on Santa’s knee unless you’ve cleared it with him first.)
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Manchester City CentreFreight Island
More detailsFood hall meets music festival is how we’d describe Freight Island to anyone confused about what they’ll find at this regenerated rail depot beyond Piccadilly Station.
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NorthwichBlakemere Village
More detailsBlakemere Village is the Cheshire one-stop for shopping, outdoor activities and family-friendly events.
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BaslowChatsworth
More detailsThe classic vista of the grand 17th century house overlooking the River Derwent is the most famous image of Chatsworth, but this Peak District visitor attraction offers much more than a stately home tour. Its parkland, gardens, farm, adventure playground, shops, restaurants and places to stay bring more than 600,000 visitors a year to this beautiful corner of Derbyshire.
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OldhamCockfields Farm Park
More detailsCockfields Farm Park, in the countryside between Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne, is a young child’s idea of the perfect day out.
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AltrinchamDunham Massey
More detailsDunham Massey is one of the National Trust’s most visited properties, bringing in over half a million people in 2023. We reckon at least 80% of them were Mancunians escaping the city for their nearest bucolic country park.
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WarringtonGulliver’s World
More detailsGulliver’s World is a theme park that’s perfect for smallsters. It has rollercoasters and upside-downy things for tweens but these stomach-churners are vastly outnumbered by gentle planes, water rides, teacups and rollercoasters of the introductory variety.
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PrescotKnowsley Safari
More detailsKnowsley Safari is an exciting day out for all animal-lovers – not just for kids. Who wouldn’t want to watch their car’s windscreen wipers being expertly deconstructed by some cheeky little baboons?
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Manchester City CentreManchester Christmas Markets
More detailsYou don’t have to walk far in Manchester city centre to find one of the many Christmas markets that pop-up in November and December.
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WorsleyRHS Garden Bridgewater
More detailsThe 2021 opening of this new 154-acre garden was greeted with much excitement and long queues, and rightly so. Once a derelict and overgrown site, it’s now a major visitor attraction with plenty to offer all year round.
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KnutsfordTatton Park
More detailsTatton Park is a historic estate on the edge of Knutsford, home to an opulent neo-classical mansion, landscaped gardens, woodland, a farm, a huge deer park and a medieval Old Hall.
