The best: Free Mother’s Day activities around Greater Manchester

Located in the Courtyard Stables, Heaton Park’s one-off Mother’s Day Market invites families to explore a dazzling selection of independent stalls selling food, ornaments, fabrics and more. Check out the Heaton Park Facebook for more info.

For something decidedly more adventurous, mums can enjoy a free activity session at Zip World with another paying adult.

Click below to book.

Free to enter and explore, Manchester Art Gallery’s fascinating ongoing exhibition Unpicking Couture celebrates groundbreaking moments in the history of fashion with a collection of breathtaking pieces from across the last century, with works by Christian Dior, Azzedine Alaïa, Cristobal Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Bruce Oldfield and Alexander McQueen, as well as a recently restored 1930s silk velvet jacket by Italian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli.

Nine miles east of the city centre, Cockfields Farm is a serene springtime idyll with an extensive array of family-friendly entertainment, including nature walks, duck ponds, animal encounters and even a reptile room, as well as a tranquil cafe where parents can unwind after a fun-filled day.

Throughout Mother’s Day weekend, mums can visit for free when buying a child ticket.

Book your visit below.

For all the mountaineering mums around Manchester, check out our breakdown of the best terrain walks and hiking routes within driving distance of the city. From the rugged ridges of the Pennines to the grand, sweeping vistas of Mam Tor, the breathtaking natural beauty of the North West offers something for nature-lovers of all ages and experience levels.

If you fancy escaping the city for a special Mother’s Day sojourn in Llandudno, Liverpool, the Lakes or beyond, Manchester offers unrivalled access to some of the best day trips in the country with a vast array of destinations within an hour’s drive or train journey.

Check out our guide to the best nearby day trips below.

Commissioned by Irish Mancunian, an organisation that curates cultural events of Irish interest for Manchester audiences, The Irish Nation features a selection of breathtaking mosaics depicting seventeen iconic Irish personalities from the worlds of literature, music, sport and history, including George Best, Sinead O’Connor, Shane MacGowan and more.

Thanks to the support of global art producer Wild in Art, The Irish Nation has been transformed into a free-to-view art trail which stops at various creative and cultural venues across Manchester, from Halle St. Peter’s and the National Football Museum to 53Two and New Century.

Find out more below.

Located in Manchester Museum‘s revamped exhibition hall, a space dedicated to hosting ambitious installations which examine past, present and future, the wildly popular Golden Mummies of Egypt continues to delight families with children of all ages through the fathomless wonder of Ancient Egypt, with over 100 artefacts and 8 breathtakingly well-preserved sarcophagi available to explore for free this Mother’s Day.

While guaranteed to ignite a lifelong love of history for kids around the city, the exhibition also promises to captivate grown-ups with nuanced, thorough explorations of the unique perspectives on the afterlife held during the little-known Graeco-Roman period.