How beautiful is this picture? Reminds me of our happy break in Salford.
AS a girl who grew up in the city I’ve never been one for ‘city breaks’, writes Tara Cain.
Give me the countryside and a cosy barn and I’m as happy as a frolicking sheep.
But a family weekend break in Manchester? Why? Would be my first response. All they have is a big shopping centre and a famous football team. And, much as I love shopping, I can pop into Birmingham for that, right?
Well it just shows how little I know. Manchester was a revelation.
From the museum with an interactive room encouraging children to join in (building, drawing, writing, pressing buttons) to the dance exhibition with balance games, mask making and dressing up I took two children under the age of 7 around the city centre on two packed days and not an ‘I’m bored’ passed their lips.
We had been invited to discover the city’s ‘urban playground’ by The Creative Tourist website, a group of museums and galleries in Manchester all with a vision of staging intelligent, thought-provoking and outward looking exhibitions and events.
I did have my reservations. My 3 year old can destroy valuables at 20 paces with her take-everywhere doll and the big, open spaces (and the echoing walls) of art galleries are like a red rag to a bull to a little girl who thinks the sounds her shoes makes when it bounces off all 4 walls and the ceiling is just amazing and doesn’t everyone want to hear it?
However, as we showed up at various venues looking sheepish and slightly embarrassed with an ‘we’re so sorry about out children’ expression plastered across our faces, short of actually throwing their arms around us, everyone couldn’t have been more welcoming.
And we packed a lot in to one weekend.
And we walked pretty much everywhere.
Manchester Museum: Free
A great interactive room that we literally had to drag the children out of. We did visit the rest of the museum, however my 6 year old son constantly asking me why all the women had no clothes on was becoming a bit too distracting, so we left.
The café here is also great for families. Children get a free art pack and the food
Urbis – Videogame Nation: £3 (under 5s free)
Hubby and I LOVED this exhibition charting 30 years of British gaming.
From the Spectrum ZX consoles as you walk in to the Manic Miner games and the factoids dotted around the show, we were in nostalgic heaven.
But best of all? You get to play on the games from down the ages on consoles from down the ages.
This interactive exhibition is a must for families and runs until September 20.
The Lowry – Express Yourself: Free
Trying out dance moves yourself, dressing up as a street dancer, making masks and learning the tricks of balance, this is another interactive exhibition that has really tried to engage children.
There are videos, explanatory stories and things to take part in – however we would have liked to have seen more dancing.
When my son asked what breakdancing is, I had to attempt to show him and that is something no one should have to witness.
The exhibition runs until September 27.
The Imperial War Museum: Free
Across the impressive footbridge which spans the waterfront at Salford Quays, this amazing looking building is also a family friendly venue.
Children are encouraged to stamp information cards at booths around the museum as they read about different people’s experiences during the war. They also got to dress up and bash out a coded message using a tin mug and a water pipe.
Outdoor screening of The Incredibles: Free
Thankfully the weather held out for us and the children thought this was the biggest treat ever. However you need to arrive really early to ensure you get a deckchair or else bring a rug and make camp on the grass.
Manchester seems to have really hit the button when it comes to bringing the arts to a younger generation.
And did I mention that the majority of it is free?
We were very lucky to have been put up in The Lowry Hotel, a ‘fashionable’ 5-star hotel just over the River Irwell and perfectly placed to explore the city centre on foot.
Lovely as it was, I very much doubt it would be somewhere this family would ever ordinarily frequent – it is very expensive and you even have to pay to park your car overnight!
We also ate at The Olive Presswhich we loved, a cosy Italian restaurant where the children can create their own pizzas at the table.
Honestly, if you had told me we would have had one of the greatest weekends away as a family in Manchester I would have laughed loud and heartily in your face.
* This article is a review of a paid-for weekend trip to Manchester organised through The Creative Tourist.
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