Manchester’s Summer Guide 2025

National World - LocalTV

Here are some of the best things that you can do with family or friends over the summer in Greater Manchester.

Transcript

00:00Hello and welcome to Manchester World. My name is Theo Houstonbets and summer is well and truly here now.

00:04And this city, I genuinely believe, is one of the best places on earth to spend the summer.

00:08So here's a little guide for you so you should be able to revisit whenever you're looking for fun things to do with friends

00:13or a perfect way to keep the kids occupied over the summer holidays.

00:16Now, focusing on family events first and foremost, we have some amazing interactive exhibits that are incredibly entertaining

00:21as well as sneaking in some education too.

00:24Firstly, there's a few sports-centric offerings for the kids who are sports mad.

00:27The National Football Museum is genuinely always brilliant. It's got awesome exhibits but also some brilliant little mini-games.

00:33I personally have very fond memories of losing at the penalty shootout game to a bunch of children.

00:37There's also a football exhibit at Viva Studios that's been put on by Manchester International Festival.

00:41To the North Warehouse, kids get in for free and there's some awesome sound and visual installations

00:45and some pieces that have been done with stars such as Juan Mata.

00:48There's also the 100 cricket tournament which kicks off on the 6th of August.

00:52You'll be able to watch the matches fairly cheaply with kids only costing a fiver

00:54and it's a great opportunity to get your kids into a brand new sport if cricket isn't already for them.

01:00In terms of more educational, interactive things, the House of Illusions opened last year in the city

01:04and has already made its name as a brilliant place to keep families entertained.

01:07Tickets buy you on limited time and it's well worth a visit.

01:10Operation Ouch Brains, Bogers and You is also on at the Science and Industry Museum

01:14with great brains to dance in, some bogey facts and some brilliant exhibits.

01:18It represents a great way to fall in love with science.

01:20Starting on the 19th of July, there's a Quentin Blake exhibit at the Lowry

01:23with some of the famous illustrator's best works being displayed.

01:26Obviously famous for his work with Roald Dahl, the art should be really engaging for little ones

01:30and bring up more than a little nostalgia for parents too.

01:32Over at the Trafford Centre is our last purely family-based suggestion

01:35with the Summer Fair offering a great opportunity to splash around in the Sun.

01:38It only costs £3.50 to get in and should keep the kids occupied while parents get around the centre.

01:42On to more generic offerings now, a screen on the docks is back in the city

01:45and will be a place to focus on for warm days.

01:48The screen's set up in Media City, it'll be showing some awesome films all for free

01:51and providing the perfect spot for chilling with family or having a few drinks with friends.

01:55The Manchester Jazz Festival is back in the city starting this week.

01:58It celebrates its 30th anniversary and will see artists across the whole spectrum of jazz

02:02turning out to perform some brilliant pieces.

02:04The Rylands Library is turning 125 too.

02:06They've got two new galleries to celebrate, one of which is showing stuff like

02:10a first edition folio from Shakespeare, a Koran manuscript

02:12and Alan Turing's notes on the Mark I computer

02:15and there's also a special exhibitions gallery

02:16focusing on the influence of queer community on mainstream culture

02:20between 1955 and 1985.

02:22Finally, some festivals.

02:23Manchester Pride is the obvious one, kicking off between the 22nd and the 25th of August.

02:27Tons of great events.

02:28There's going to be some brilliant performers

02:29and obviously the parade will be the centre.

02:32It's going to be a great opportunity for the queer community

02:33to show why they're so important to the make-up of Manchester

02:37and why it's such a period of celebration for us here.

02:41And finally, on the 2nd and 3rd of August

02:43the Food and Drink Festival is taking place at Heaton Park

02:45with some brilliant music and local vendors promising a great day out.

02:48Students are getting 25% off tickets too

02:50so it's definitely worth booking in.

02:51Now I know I've peppered you with a lot there

02:53but hopefully it gives you a good idea of the sheer range of great things to do.

02:56Let us know what you're going to do over your summer

02:57and follow Manchester World for more.

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