Arcade games in Manchester

“Nestled in the bustling heart of Manchester Arndale at Unit R3, Halle Place, Market Street (M4 3AQ), Immersive Gamebox transforms a compact room into a high-octane augmented reality playground. This isn't your standard arcade—don lightweight motion-sensing visors, and suddenly, walls pulse with interactive projections, surround sound engulfs you, and every gesture controls the action. Games like Shaun the Sheep's Mossy Bottom Championsheeps or Angry Birds pit teams against puzzles, races, and battles, all in 60-minute bursts of collaborative chaos. For kids' parties around age 8, it's an absolute winner. Tailored for ages 8+, these experiences demand no prior gaming skills—just enthusiasm and movement. My group of eight-year-olds squealed through sheep-herding mini-games and alien invasions, their energy perfectly matched by the physical, team-based fun that builds camaraderie without screens glued to faces. Private boxes for 2-6 players (multiple for larger parties) mean no strangers crashing the vibe, and dedicated birthday packages add pizza, fries, and unlimited squash in a post-game lounge—pure party fuel for £20-£30 per child.”

“What an absolute gem of a place!! 4 floors, FILLED with every kind of arcade game you could hope for, so no waiting in lines to get on the one decent game like in most other arcade places. A bar on each floor, making it really easy to get cold or hot drinks and a restaurant on the top floor selling pizzas, burger and hot dogs at half the price high street places charge. We had such a great day here and we didn't realise 8 hours had past. Will definitely be going again”

“The bowling alley is well maintained. Booking is recommended if you plan to go during weekends as it could get busy.”

“Nice place for people of all ages to have fun, play games, and dine as there is a restaurant in there. My kids love it here, and they can never get enough of the games. You can go along with your coins or change your notes into coins to play the games.”

“Son lost his wallet here with all his Christmas money in. We didn’t have much hope it would be found but I reported it lost to the lovely Shanese. I left my details and within minutes she called to say she found it! She even ran outside to pass it on to my son. Shanese went above and beyond. We are so grateful for her. Happy new year!!!”

“Bottomless brunch was amazing. The Irish waiter was so kind and attentive. Tysm to him ❤️”

“Totally worth the time and the money, it was really great fun for a Saturday afternoon. I would completely recommend this to everyone. The staff are also really helpful and are genuinely kind. Don't hesitate if you're interested!”

“Great little cinema which is made especially enjoyable by the little introduction that the staff do on each film, giving a little insight into how it was made, or other films the director has made. The place is welcoming to everyone, and when my partner and I went to watch The Handmaiden, there were a wide variety of people in the audience, which is always good to see.”

“Used Blast Away a few times now for cleaning the roof of the house, cleaning the drive way and the paving in the back garden. Great guys, always do a fabulous job, definitely recommend.”

“Head Over Heels is hands down the best play area for kids in Manchester. The space is clean, safe, and full of activities that keep children entertained for hours. The food is halal, which makes it an easy choice for families like ours, and the hot chocolate is honestly exceptional — rich, comforting, and the perfect treat after a busy play session. The staff are consistently friendly and attentive, but Maria deserves a special mention. She’s always available, incredibly professional, and her warm smile never fails to put us in a good mood. Her presence genuinely elevates the whole experience. Highly recommended for families looking for a reliable, joyful, and welcoming place for their children.”

“Our little one had the time of his life and loved every minute of it. Even as parents we were impressed with the facilities/ quality of play equipment, they sell a wide range of food and lovely seating area by the cafe that has plenty of high chairs. The tables are spaced out to allow for pushchairs/buggies. They have a role play section with plenty of soft play equipment etc. for under 5’s. Our little one loved the different sensory areas. The whole place kept him entertained for hours! We visited a second time on the way home. We only wish we had one closer to us down south as we are based in Sussex.”

“Fantastic vintage gaming bar! So many options for games and you get soany tokens you are spoilt for choice. The cocktails were fantastic and themed to gaming, with the service behind the bar at the weekend fast, efficient and gorgeously presented. Plenty of places to sit and people watch if you are like me. 10/10 recommend.”

“Had a couple of beers here on a Friday evening. The guest beer was in great condition and the bar staff were really friendly. Plenty of parking next to the pub. Sports were being shown on multiple screens. Would recommend and visit again.”

“The staff are all really friendly, helpful and will do anything to make sure that the visitors have the best time. Special thanks to Sharon,Mike, Jack, Cat and Elliot. We all love visiting Escape. Keep up the good work. Xxx”

“I recently stayed in this studio apartment and it was exactly what I needed for my short stay. The space was clean, well-maintained, and well-equipped. The location was also great, with easy access to public transportation and plenty of nearby amenities. I would highly recommend this apartment to anyone looking for a convenient and comfortable stay”

“Loved this place. We sat outside as the sun was shining and the outdoor vibe is beautiful in a lovely location. Our server was brilliant so friendly and he was very good. I had the bbq chicken pizza which was delicious, and the coffee was good too - they have a good drinks menu Cinnamon swirl was amazing too!”

“Decent place to take the kids. We visit all the tike and had my kids 5th birthday there. Price is fairly cheap and you only need 2 hours before the kids are worn out. Parking is free. They do coffee, drinks and food for kids. Some nice food.dor adults too. Toilets are clean and they look after the place.”

“Went for grandsons birthday party. The place was a bit cold upon arrival but once it filled up and the heating kicked in it was ok. The girls looked after all the kids at the party with games and provided some nice food. Worth the visit and all the children who were invited seemed to enjoy the time at the venue.”

“I went to the cinema to watch a live National Theatre Production. The cinema was very organised. I went straight to the screen and waited for the show. As it was live, everyone made it to their seat before the start. The performance was excellent and I will be returning to watch another show. Living in Manchester I’m not going to travel to London for these shows. What a great opportunity to see real theatre. I loved it.”

“Went to Crazy Pedro’s and honestly, while it’s a bar, the real star is their amazing pizza. Great vibe, fun atmosphere, and seriously some of the best pizza I’ve had. Definitely worth a visit!”

“Amazing service, the manager did a great work helping me!”

“Very well equipped and clean play facilities, a very welcoming atmosphere and fair variety of food available. My 20 month old granddaughter loved it and we are both looking forward to going again.”

“Great experience! We took 5 kids bowling for my daughter’s 7th Birthday. The staff were great. We asked to switch lanes to give us a bit more space and they did so happily. We ordered drinks for all of the kids and 2 coffees for us, all great. Sharon was especially friendly and helpful. Thanks for a great time!”

“Found Calcio by accident, but so glad we did. Staff are really friendly, the place is clean and so much fun, but on top of ask that the food is absolutely excellent. Really, really excellent. Highly recommended. Will be going back for sure.”

“My daughter had her 4th birthday party 19th October. The staff and especially the owner was so friendly and made the whole experience stress free. Been bringing my daughter here since she was a baby, definitely the best play centre in the area. Thank you to all the staff, Ashleigh aswel for being the best party host for my little girl. You’re all amazing and will no doubt be seeing you soon. Xx”

“Why don't the parents understand the "No outdoor shoes" rule? Bringing dirt and germs into young children's play areas. Otherwise lovely. Lady on reception very friendly. Excellent prices. Far cheaper than others. Lots of interactive equipment - out of this world.”

“Fantastic service,staff and beer”

“We held our 4yo's birthday party there on a Sunday afternoon. The staff made the day so easy and carefree; we didn't have to worry about anything and could just enjoy the party with our boy. Staff were friendly, and helpful. All details were seen to, and for a reasonable per-child cost. All we had to do was provide a cake. Can highly recommend, though be sure to book well ahead of time to get your preferred party slot.”

“Took my partners two children to interactive play had a great time playing with all the equipment would definitely be returning again”

“Can't fault this place it is very clean . so much to do and the staff keep an eye out on the little area for babies so bigger children don't enter it . Which is big win for me . Food prices are fair not expensive at all. And TOILETS AND CHANGING AREA is clean smells nice and is always fully stocked up . Will be returning”