Rainy days
The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
Manchester City CentreA popular option for a good-value spa break, The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly is known for its relaxation...
Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment
Albert DockTate Liverpool on the Royal Albert Dock is the northern outpost of the Tate galleries. With an impressive free collection...
The Beatles Story
Albert DockThe Beatles are probably Liverpool’s most famous export and it stands to reason that the city has quite a few...
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
SpinningfieldsIt’s part of the University of Manchester but you don’t have to be a scholar to enjoy this inspiring space. In...
The Walker Art Gallery
Liverpool City CentreThe Walker Art Gallery has housed Liverpool’s world-class art collection for over 130 years and includes everything from Renaissance masterpieces...
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester City CentreMosey down Mosley Street between Piccadilly Gardens and St Peter’s Square, and you can’t miss the Greek columns that flank...
Inflata Nation Manchester
Trafford ParkThis indoor inflatable playground is an excellent way to tire out hyperactive kids on a rainy day and for that...
Royal Exchange Theatre
Manchester City CentreManchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre is an exciting clash of modernity and history and the same can be said of its...
The Ship & Mitre
Liverpool City CentreThe Ship & Mitre is an imposing pub with some lovely Art Deco touches both inside and out. There are...
Thrift Shop Manchester
Manchester City CentreThrift Shop Manchester is an off-shoot of the nationwide Cow vintage brand, aimed at stylish folk who want cheaper togs...
Salford Lads Club
SalfordBoxing has been taught at Salford Lads Club since it opened back in 1903. The founders, the Groves brothers, wanted...
MeetspaceVR Manchester
Trafford ParkMeetspaceVR Manchester is a virtual reality, immersive experience in a huge warehouse at Trafford Park. It's a place where you...
Goodison Park Stadium Tour
EvertonIf you’re visiting Liverpool as an Everton FC fan, make sure the Goodison Park Stadium Tour is on your itinerary.
Sizergh Castle
KendalSizergh Castle, or Sizergh - National Trust as they're calling it nowadays, sits just outside the southern boundary of the...
USwim Salford Quays
Media CityThe idea of voluntarily getting into the oily, cone-strewn waters of Salford Quays would once have filled us with horror....
King Pins Manchester Arndale
Manchester City CentreKing Pins Manchester Arndale is ten-pin bowling royalty, and not just for the good customer service, clean, fresh decor and...
Ordsall Hall
SalfordOrdsall Hall is a piece of Tudor history just a short walk from the contemporary comings and goings of Salford...
Oxygen
Media CityOxygen is the 13th UK park from the runaway active play juggernaut. Inside it’s brightly-coloured with trampolines and crawl-throughs almost...
Breakout Liverpool
Cavern QuarterWork as part of a team with friends, family or work colleagues and try to escape the room you've been...
Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
Trafford ParkLegoland Discovery Centre is Manchester’s ultimate Lego playground. If your children like building and creating with those brightly coloured blocks,...
Waterworld
Stoke-on-TrentWaterworld is Facebook-famous - everyone's been and everyone raves about it. It's not cheap but when you compare it to...
Bionic Seven
Northern QuarterHead to Port Street on the edge of the NQ to find Bionic Seven, a vintage clothing shop where every...
The British Music Experience
Albert DockHead to The Cunard Building, one of the Three Graces that form Liverpool's iconic waterfront to find The British Music...
Z-arts
HulmeZ-arts is the UK's only arts centre and theatre especially designed for children and families. Sitting at the heart of...
Manchester Academy of Gymnastics
SalfordManchester Academy of Gymnastics offers gymnastics to adults and children, boxing for anyone over ten, and parkour.
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Northern QuarterManchester Craft and Design Centre is a fantastic space to stroll around whether you’re there to buy or just to...
Lane 7 Deansgate
Manchester City CentreWith its glowing neon graffiti, low lighting, and hip hop soundtrack, Lane 7 in the Great Northern on Deansgate looks...
Franco Manca Trafford Centre
Trafford ParkFranco Manca is one of the London big boys of the sourdough pizza revolution. Franco Manca Trafford Centre continues its...
Stockport Air Raid Shelters
Stockport Town CentreStockport Air Raid Shelters were the largest purpose built air-raid shelters in the country, originally designed to provide shelter to...
Bolton Museum
BoltonBolton Museum is much more than just your standard local history-focused collection. Because of its links with the cotton trade, this...
The Pankhurst Centre
Oxford RoadThe Pankhurst Centre is the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst and her family. Open to the public on Thursday and...
Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool City CentreLiverpool Central Library looks like another example of impressive Victorian architecture at first (the city is full of them) but...
Newsham Scream Park
TuebrookOnce an orphanage and later an asylum, the derelict Newsham Park Hospital has been attracting ghost hunters and urban explorers...
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
RavenglassThe seven-mile, narrow-gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a spectacular way to explore this corner of the Lake District. It...
Chaos Karts
St John'sChaos Karts puts you in the driving seat of an immersive augmented reality experience, bringing real-life karting and gaming together.
Head Over Heels Chorlton
ChorltonHead Over Heels Chorlton is yet another of those giant soft play areas - but it is one of the...
NQ64
Northern QuarterReturn to your youth and relieve the stresses and strains of adult life by whacking baddies Double Dragon-style or jumping...
Roxy Ball Room Manchester Arndale
Manchester City CentreWith its ten pin bowling, pool tables, beer pong, and shuffleboard, Roxy Ball Room Manchester Arndale will keep you entertained...
Chatsworth
BaslowThe classic vista of the grand 17th century house overlooking the River Derwent is the most famous image of Chatsworth,...
Harbour Health and Fitness Club
Princes DockThe Harbour Health and Fitness Club is part of the Crowne Plaza Liverpool hotel but you don't have to be...
Slim Chickens Trafford Centre
Trafford ParkPopular for cheap eats, Slim Chickens Trafford Centre is one of the mall's better options with everything cooked to order...
Openswim UK
SaleIf you want to go swimming at Sale Water Park, the safest way is with Openswim UK. They hold casual...
Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour
Old TraffordEven if it's not a match day, there's plenty happening at the iconic Old Trafford stadium. The best way to...
Hyde Leisure Pool
HydeIf you're looking for a pool with a waterslide in Manchester, you've got two options: Grand Central in Stockport and...
The Museum of Wigan Life
WiganThe Museum of Wigan Life brings together objects from the town’s history in a beguiling collection that’ll delight people who...
Manchester Poetry Library
Oxford RoadWhether you're a reader, a writer, a rhymer or a free-verser, you'll find plenty to inspire you at the Manchester...
DNA VR
Manchester City CentreDNA VR is a virtual reality arcade with three different gameplay options. You can communicate with your friends through the...
Red Brick Market
Baltic TriangleIf you love thrifting, vintage clothes, handmade jewellery, secondhand vinyl, charming curios, retro homeware, old comics, and the like, you...
Pop Boutique Manchester Oldham Street
Northern QuarterFamily-run independent Pop Boutique was the first vintage store to open on retro clothing hotspot Oldham Street. It's been in...
Dunham Massey
AltrinchamDunham Massey is one of the National Trust’s most visited properties, bringing in over half a million people in 2023....
Imperial War Museum North
Salford QuaysThis quayside location in Trafford Park was bombed heavily during WW2 so it’s especially appropriate that it was chosen as...
King Pins Trafford Palazzo
Trafford ParkKing Pins Trafford Palazzo markets itself as ‘the crown jewels of bowling’, but to be honest, they’re selling themselves short....
Knoops Manchester
Manchester City CentreKnoops Manchester is a chocoholic’s dream. Rather than just ordering a hot chocolate, choose the percentage, the origin and the...
Roxy Ball Room Manchester Deansgate
Manchester City CentreOne of two Roxy Ball Room venues in Manchester, the Deansgate bar is an ideal "adult playground" perfect for parties....
ODEON Manchester Trafford Centre
Trafford ParkODEON Manchester Trafford Centre is the shopping mall’s only multiplex with 20 screens including a massive IMAX screen. It’s enormous...
Manchester Cathedral
Manchester City CentreNestled at the end of Deansgate, tucked away behind the main shopping district of Manchester city centre, lies the Grade...
Science and Industry Museum
St John'sThe Science and Industry Museum celebrates 250 years of innovation. Galleries showcase Manchester inventions, bring the noise and the danger...
HOME
Manchester City CentreWith five cinemas, two theatres, a bookshop, and over 500 sqm of gallery space, HOME is one of Manchester’s biggest...
Radar Festival
Trafford ParkRadar Festival is a three-day celebration of boundary-pushing rock and metal held at Victoria Warehouse. It’s a relative newcomer to...
The Whitworth
Oxford RoadAny art lover’s trip to Manchester would not be complete without a morning or afternoon spent gazing at the walls...
FIX MCR
Northern QuarterLocated in the NQ, FIX MCR is a sauna and ice bath club with a seven-day schedule of guided and...
Albion Farm Shop and Cafe
SaddleworthHead to the hills above Oldham to find this food-lover's gem. Like many proper farm shops, Albion Farm Shop and...
Love Lane Brewery
Baltic TriangleThe name Love Lane Brewery comes from the craft beer, first brewed in a converted railway arch at Liverpool’s Love...
Windermere Lake Cruises
LakesideNot everyone is up for bounding up mountains in search of the perfect view. If you prefer a more relaxing...
The Trafford Centre
Trafford ParkThe Trafford Centre is a palace-like, ever-expanding shopping and leisure destination, just inside the M60. It's the reason why traffic...
Everyman Manchester St John’s
St John'sWith its red velvet seats, waiter service, and ultra stylish bar and cafe, Everyman Manchester St John’s is a far...
University of Liverpool Sports and Fitness Centre
Liverpool City CentreOne of the good things about living in a university city is the sports facilities that go hand-in-hand with a...
The Snow Centre
Trafford ParkWith 180m of downhill skiing and snowboarding, The Snow Centre is the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope. And though you...
Calypso Cove Waterpark
BarnsleyIt's a bit of a drive if you're travelling from Manchester but it's worth it. Calypso Cove Waterpark in Barnsley...
Arcade Club Bury
BuryArcade Club Bury is a gamer’s paradise. Set in a former mill, it is a vast celebration of the beat...
TeamSport Go Karting: Manchester Victoria
Manchester City CentreTeamSport Go Karting: Manchester Victoria is a high-octane experience that'll turn even the mildest contestant into a speed demon.
Archie’s Trafford Centre
Trafford ParkArchie’s Trafford Centre is another of the eye-popping pink burger and shake sites from the wildly popular Manchester mini-empire. The...
Manchester Central Library
Manchester City CentreOfficially, The Lowry is the most visited attraction in Greater Manchester, but only because the official list for some reason...
The World of Beatrix Potter
WindermereThe World of Beatrix Potter is always handy to have up your sleeve if you’re in the Lake District and...
Paws Yoga
CastlefieldTwo things that are guaranteed to release endorphins: puppies and yoga. Paws Yoga combines the two, and was the first...
White Rose Manchester
Manchester City CentreWhite Rose doesn’t describe itself as a vintage store but it certainly feels like one. It’s a charity shop that...
The Lowry
Salford QuaysFlagship arts venue The Lowry was at the heart of 1990s' plans to breathe new life back into Salford Quays....
Suzy Loves Milo
Northern QuarterFans of Japanese fashion and popular culture flock to Suzy Loves Milo, a tucked-away vintage clothing and lifestyle store just...
ReMarket
PiccadillyRemarket, a Manchester-grown multi-vendor vintage store, opened up on the thoroughfare between Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Station in autumn 2024.
Manchester Literature Festival
Manchester City CentreManchester Literature Festival has grown considerably in size and stature since it debuted back in 2006. Held annually in October,...
Staircase House
Stockport Town CentreStaircase House is one of Stockport’s hidden gems. It sits there in the middle of town but many people walk...
Breakout Manchester High Street
Manchester City CentreBreakout Manchester is a live escape room centre on High Street in Manchester. You are locked in a room with...
Clampdown Records
PiccadillyThe shopfront of Clampdown Records must be one of the most recognisable in Manchester, and not just because it’s been...
Sea Life Manchester
Trafford ParkSea Life Manchester is the city's only aquarium. It isn’t enormous – for something bigger you’d have to travel to...
Manchester City Stadium Tour
BeswickEven if you’re not a Blue you can’t help but be impressed with the scale of the Etihad Stadium in...
The Crystal Maze Manchester
St John'sIt’s a dream come true for kids of the 90s: a chance to show off your skills on the legendary...
Greater Manchester Police Museum
Northern QuarterGreater Manchester Police Museum is housed in an 1879 police station with original cells and charge office. Downstairs, you can...
Curzon Knutsford
KnutsfordIf big, brash multiplexes aren’t your thing, and you don’t want to trek into the city just to see the...
Tenpin Manchester – Printworks
Manchester City CentreAs the name suggests, TenPin Manchester - Printworks is a bowling alley in the Printworks. It’s family-friendly by day and...
The Pelican Centre
TyldesleyWhen Wigan Council announced it could no longer fund the leisure centre and pool in Tyldesley, local people took matters...
Splash World
SouthportSplash World in Southport is an inclusive family-friendly water park. It offers a range of attractions but is perhaps more...
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Oxford RoadManchester Aquatics Centre is open once again, following an 18-month closure for an extensive refurbishment and upgrade. The new centre...
Gorton Monastery
GortonIts proper title is Manchester Monastery but most people in the city know it as Gorton Monastery. This Grade II...
Urban Playground Manchester
Manchester City CentreUrban Playground Manchester is the place to go for an adrenaline-fuelled, ultra-competitive night out. Located in Manchester Arndale, it brings...
Manchester Museum
Oxford RoadManchester Museum reopened in February 2023 following a £15m transformation to make it more inclusive and more imaginative in how...
Victoria Baths
Victoria ParkOnly open on Wednesdays (and closed entirely during the winter months), Victoria Baths isn’t fully geared up as a visitor...
Pear Mill Vintage Emporium
StockportThe beauty of this place is that you never quite know what you’ll find, from ancient artefacts to military uniforms...
Pavilion Gardens Buxton
BuxtonIt's the variety of attractions and things to do that make Pavilion Gardens Buxton special. This elegant Victorian park and...
Kickair
Green QuarterKickair, an “indoor freestyle park” behind Victoria Station, is the kind of place that fills kids (and big kids) with...
Kontrast
Cheetham HillHidden underneath the railway arches between Red Bank and Dantzic Street, Kontrast sauna and ice bath cafe isn't in the...
Coast to Coast
Trafford ParkCoast to Coast is a casual American restaurant at the Trafford Centre. If you’re looking for something that feels more...
TeamSport Go Karting: Trafford Park
Trafford ParkTeamSport Go Karting: Trafford Park has 450 metres of adrenaline-fuelled GP circuit and a new fleet of Biz Evo3 adult...
Immersive Gamebox Manchester
Manchester City CentrePut down those phones, switch off your screens, and, er, stand in front of another one . . . but...
Museum of Liverpool
Albert DockThe Museum of Liverpool on Pier Head is an eclectic and diverse collection of Liverpool stuff and stories. Part of...
Doctor Duncan’s
Liverpool City CentreDoctor Duncan’s is named after Britain’s first Medical Health Officer, William Henry Duncan, who was born and raised in Liverpool....
iFLY Manchester Indoor Skydiving
Trafford ParkIf you like the idea of skydiving but not so much the idea of jumping out of a plane, this...
The Resonance Centre
ClaytonIf you're interested in exploring holistic therapies and alternative ways of treating stress, The Resonance Centre in Clayton is well...
Gravity MAX Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreHome to two floors of immersive activities, Gravity MAX is Liverpool’s biggest multi-entertainment venue.
Sandcastle Waterpark
BlackpoolSandcastle Waterpark is almost as much of a part of Blackpool’s South Shore scenery as the Pleasure Beach with primary-coloured...
Play Factore
Trafford ParkPlay Factore is like a super-sized version of the traditional indoor play centre. It’s enormous; crawling through tunnels, clambering through...
Junkyard Golf Manchester
Manchester City CentreJunkyard Golf is Manchester’s original crazy crazy golf. There are imitators and imposters but this was the city’s first day-glo,...
Gallery Oldham
OldhamGallery Oldham in the town’s Cultural Quarter features artworks and items from Oldham’s diverse collections alongside newly commissioned art, international...
Pace Health Club & Nu Spa
Green QuarterThe Pace Health Club & Nu Spa sits inside the Park Inn by Radisson hotel, on the edge of the city...
