Featuring an array of incredible exhibitions, interactive science, free Halloween entertainment and a mercifully expansive range of child-friendly daytime activities, Manchester has something for families of all ages and sizes throughout the October half-term holiday.
Here are some of the highlights:
Jodrell Bank invites families to blast off on a wondrous adventure this October half term, with an interstellar line-up of science shows, immersive dome experiences, creative crafts, myth-busting experiments and Martian expeditions.
Running daily throughout the holiday period, an all-new science show offers visitors the chance to tackle the biggest mysteries and myths of the universe, with mind-blowing facts and several surprises. Included with admission.
In the Space Dome, visitors can experience One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars, narrated by Richard Armitage, which explores humanity’s challenges and triumphs on the path to the Red Planet, from the Artemis programme to the search for life beyond Earth. Daily screenings are available as a £5 add-on, recommended for ages 5 and up.
On Wed 29 Oct (11am), curious cosmonauts can enjoy Ted’s Space Adventure, a musical, child-friendly journey through the planets, ideal for ages 2-7 (£5 add-on).
Other highlights include daily Telescope Talks revealing the history and discoveries of the Lovell Telescope, outdoor Discover the Dish sessions, live science demonstrations, and the temporary exhibition Gemini and Mercury Remastered, featuring breathtaking restored photography from NASA’s pioneering missions.
Families can also drop in at the Space Craft station for creative activities or enjoy exploring the open Cheshire countryside before refuelling in one of the on-site cafés. Tickets are valid for 12 months, with a 10% discount available when booked online.
Alongside the return of Manchester’s wildly popular Monster Trail, which runs from Sat 25 Oct until Halloween night, the weekend-long Halloween in the City programme stages a fun-filled carnival of spectacular scares around the city centre. From live performances and fancy dress fun to devilish DJs and the spectacular Walk The Plank Monster Procession, this year’s blood-curdling bash promises hair-raising entertainment for families with children of all ages.
Find out more below.
Step into the enchanting world of Victorian literature throughout half-term week at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. Children aged 4+ can explore the Hidden Wonders Trail around the house, enjoy drop-in creepy craft sessions and take part in creative competitions.
To celebrate the release of The Search for Our Cosmic Neighbours, the new book by bestselling author-illustrator Chloe Savage, The Hidden Wonders Hunt challenges younger visitors to find an array of treasures concealed throughout the museum, take on a special drawing challenge, and earn a Hidden Wonders Hunt sticker on completion. There’s also the chance to share creations online for a chance to win prizes, including a Double National Art Pass Plus Kids and a signed book bundle.
As always, families can enjoy the Cranford the Cat family trail and Victorian dress-up activities. Craft sessions are free, drop-in, and run daily from 11am to 3pm, while general admission (£8.50 for adults, valid for a year) grants under-16s free entry and access to the house’s permanent exhibitions.
Billed as a joyful tale of star-crossed aliens, the Olivier-nominated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved book transports audiences on a thrilling space odyssey this week.
Hailed as ‘a tour-de-force family show’ in One4Review’s glittering five-star appraisal, the star-hopping production lands on a distant planet where Smeds and Smoos are constantly at odds with one another. When a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and fly off into deep space, their families have to try everything they can to get them back safely.
Suitable for ages 3 and up.
Explore the world of one of the Cretaceous period’s most famous inhabitants at Manchester Museum with Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat. The immersive all-ages experience showcases the three-horned giant’s unmistakeable skull, impressive frill, and rhino-like body through vivid displays and hands-on activities.
Visitors can learn about the dinosaur’s diet, behaviour, and encounters with predators – including the T-rex – before trying their hand at a fossil dig. The exhibition also highlights how Triceratops has captured imaginations in stories, films, and popular culture as a legend of the dinosaur age.
There’s even a real and exceptionally rare Triceratops skull fossil on display for a very limited time.
The National Football Museum transforms into a petrifying pitch of fearsome footie experiences this week, with a programme of themed activities spanning ghost goals, mascot monsters and more.
Highlights include the Ghoul of Football Past, where visitors can help England break free from the dreaded penalty curse, and Spirit of Football Present, featuring Verona the witch’s football fate cards to predict the season ahead. Phantom of Football Future celebrates the greatest moments in Black heritage football, preserving incredible achievements stolen by a mischievous villain.
Elsewere, football fanatics can get stuck into the action with Alchemist’s Attic, a fourth-floor workshop spilling over with slime, invisible messages and potion-making, and Frankenstein’s Mascot, where visitors can craft their own football mascot from recycled materials.
All tickets provide unlimited entry to the museum for a year, giving families the chance to return and explore the permanent collections alongside the Halloween fun.
Welcome Spooky Season in style at Greater Manchester’s best seasonal pumpkin patches, where families can pick their own grisly gourds while enjoying an endless array of entertainment in the crisp autumn air.
From Dunham Massey and Kenyon Hall to Reddish Vale Farm and Smithills, the region’s festive hotspots combine traditional pumpkin picking with tractor rides, maize mazes, animal encounters and nature trails, alongside a host of Halloween-themed events including fancy dress, interactive games, zombie barns and terrifying trains.
Check out our round-up below.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Mon 27 Oct 2025
This October half-term, the Science and Industry Museum delivers a magical mix of spooky thrills and family favourites across its permanent and special exhibitions. Step into the newly opened Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery and explore the sights, sounds and smells of Manchester’s industrial past, from 19th-century engines to the intricate workings of the 1870s steam locomotive Pender. Visitors can also uncover hidden details using a special half-term ‘Looking Closely’ guide.
Families can join free daily movement sessions from Company Chameleon, where dancers lead playful workshops inspired by the rhythms and motions of the museum’s historic machinery.
For a dose of gleefully gross Halloween gore, Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You invites children and adults to explore the senses inside a giant human body. Venture through gooey ear canals, dodge sticky snot, and discover fascinating facts about how our senses work, alongside seasonal surprises including ghostly optical illusions and historical curiosities.
Get hands-on with the ultimate gaming experience in Power Up, the museum’s wildly popular interactive exhibition which lets you play across the generations with over 150 consoles, classic titles and the latest in gaming technology.
The museum’s permanent galleries remain open throughout half-term, with the Experiment Gallery, Textiles Gallery, and Revolution Manchester offering immersive science, creative play, and insights into the city’s rich history.