Play time: The best toddler and baby friendly events Manchester City Centre has to offer

With summer in full swing and the little ones out of school, the pressure is on to find new and innovative ways to keep the kids happy and you sane during these long balmy weeks. Don’t worry just yet though – there’s plenty of family friendly events to be found in town that cater for a variety of age ranges. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the best toddler and baby friendly events Manchester city centre has to offer. Enjoy!

Tiny Tots and Toddler Times at Manchester Libraries
Parents of children under 5 will find lots to enjoy at Manchester’s many libraries. Their ‘Tiny Tots and Toddler Times’ feature stories and songs and they’re free to attend, with no booking required. Just turn up to one of their regular slots, settle in and let your little ones enjoy the fun on offer. Find out more via the Manchester Libraries website.

Raver Tots
This one-off event taking place at 2pm on Sat 17 Aug at Impossible Manchester invites kids of all ages (0+) to enjoy an afternoon of multi-sensory fun, soundtracked by DJ Vibes and MC Chalkie White. It’s brought to you by Raver Tots, the UK’s leading rave company for families, allowing everyone to get on the dancefloor and have a boogie. Tickets must be booked in advance and can be purchased here.

My Den & Textures Trail at MOSI
The Textures Gallery at Deansgate’s Museum of Science and Industry hides a free sensory space for families allowing babies and young children to play together. It’s free, open daily and features projections, touch-textured wall panels and comfy mats, making it the perfect spot for taking some time out. The venue also offers a free activity trail for older kids too. Learn more on the MOSI website.

Soft Play Experiment at MOSI
As if the above wasn’t enough, MOSI also feature a Soft Play Experiment area inviting children to become young builders and try out some playful engineering work. This space has bright blocks that can be stacked, demolished and climbed on and the best part is it’s open daily and totally free to attend. Find out more here.

Family Events at The Whitworth
The Whitworth Art Gallery hosts a variety of free family-friendly events aimed to engage children of all ages, including babies. In addition to their daily Playtime sessions, they also run Early Years Atelier sensory sessions for very young children, outdoor art clubs and picnics, and Art Baby, a free sensory art session letting babies learn to paint before they even learn to walk. Explore all of their events here.

Baby Friendly Screenings at HOME
Each month, city centre arts, theatre and cinema hub HOME hosts a baby friendly screening of a must-see new film. These showings are only for parents and babies (Grandparents and carers can attend too) and feature lower sound, added light and no ticket charge for your baby. Find out more here.

Family Events at Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery run a selection of events for babies and young children, including a free interactive space for artistic experimentation in their Clore Art Studio which boasts dress up materials, a giant chalkboard and soft building blocks. Be sure to check their site regularly for details of their various holiday activities and healthy child drop-in clinics too.

Family Friendly Crafts at Manchester Museum
Head to Manchester Museum each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 2pm-4pm to get involved with some free family friendly arts and crafts activities inspired by the book ‘The Lost Words’ and the venue’s various collections. The team at the Museum will be exploring a new activity each week, so there’s lots to discover. Find out more here.