The 30 Best Children's entertainment in Manchester

“It was my first escape room and it was really fun. Our host Sham and all the other staff was super nice and helpful. We got guided through the escape room and eventually managed to solve it with a little help. 10/10 experience would definitely recommend. We did the blackbeard's treasure room, but i'm sure the other ones are fun as well”

“Lloyd was a great host and the escape room was top notch. Went for my sons 11th birthday and we played the scare floor one (great for Monsters Inc fans). Really well set up, some tricky puzzles and Lloyd shouts up when you are going in the wrong direction.. definitely recommend.”

“We booked Sam for our wedding last Thursday. I got to say he was very outstanding. Firstly, so polite and on time. Secondly, all our friends and family spoke so highly of him and absolutely loved the tricks. Was lovely to have him as part of the day. He also did a finishing trick for me and my wife which was a lovely touch as we were busy getting photos and stuff most of the time he was there. Would recommend Sam to anyone 10/10, thanks again”

“An amazing place to bring your child(ren). Each class is different and fun. Becky and Loz do a fantastic job of bringing so much excitement, colourful props. Their cheerful and empathetic personality, makes you feel valued. Me and my girl always looked forward to the classes. Thank you for offering your services which are highly recommended. If you've got a child or children under 4 please do them a favour and bring them to toddler sense. It was the best thing I ever done to bring my girl here. She loved this placed and so did I! ❤️”

“Jeff was amazing!! Highly recommended, children loved their balloons. Thanks again! :)”

“Freddie Fantastic is phenomenal!!! What a star. Charismatic and genuinely funny - my children laughed the whole way through. We initially experienced him online for a school event and just had to have him for my daughter's birthday last March. He gave a brilliant magic class, where the kids were in hysterics and kept engaged the whole time. I cannot recommend Magic4children enough. Thank you!”

“Adventure babies has been fantastic! Our daughter has thoroughly loved them (as have I), and this is by far the best parent and baby class we have been to. Really well thought through and executed sessions, With fantastic toys and accessories, always tailored to that weeks book. Cannot recommend these sessions and Hannah (who organises them) more highly, and we have already signed up for the next term!”

“Fantastic magician! Kept all the kids engaged from start to finish and was very patient with them. Highly recommend!”

“Can't recommend enough this baby sensory! Becky has been amazing in every aspect. My baby started when she was three months old . This week we had her 1 year old birthday party in the sensory area and it has been so great! Thank you for all the precious memories ❤️”

“My daughter has the best time with Jenny at Parsley Pie, she looks forward to every class and comes home filled with inspiration and her many completed projects.”

“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.”

“It was the most positive experience for me, my partner and our son. Staff are supportive and reassuring, with a warm welcoming persona as soon as you arrive. The atmosphere is calming, and an overall positive and comfortable experience. The environment itself is immaculate. Staff's kindness, patience, and helpfulness, shines though as well as their ability to answer questions and deliver information in a gentle manner.”

“Early inspirations is an absolute amazing nursery. My daughter is 2 years old and she has settled in that nursery very well. The daily activities help to develop my daughter's learning and I have seen a massive improvement in my daughter's understanding and learning development. Thanks to the staff, everyone there are soo friendly and helpful, I like this nursery very much. I appreciate all the hard work the staff go through Thank you”

“The teachers here are very supportive and understand each child’s individual needs. My child is happy and always participated in new activities and her confidence has grown tremendously. Thank you so much Manchester learning zone! Highly recommended ❤️”

“We played Space Evaders and Ellen was our host. She explained the game well and only gave clues when we really needed them which was great. The game itself was really fun, we did it as a team of 4 and there was plenty for each of us to do. We've played many escape rooms before and this room offered a loads of puzzles and with varying difficulty, so something for everyone. Would recommend!”

“We did the Dark Ages and it was brilliant! We found it challenging all the way though! Olivia was amazing and very friendly! Highly recommend”

“We have had a wonderful experience here. My daughter loves it! Settled so well in the baby room when she started, and now on to visits in pre school ready for that transition! Highly recommend!”

“The Vault was the perfect amount of difficulty for us (a group of adults on their first time at an escape room) and we had a great time. Highly recommend. Great clues, fun premise and helpful staff. Only issue for me was the music is too loud.”

“Attended a wedding here today. Was lovely set up, food was delightful. All staff with smiles on there face. Service was great. Venue was AMAZING.”

“It’s a must-visit place, especially for true football fans. I highly recommend taking the guided tour, as the guides share fascinating stories and historical moments about Manchester United’s incredible journey. You get to visit the locker rooms, walk through the players’ tunnel, and even sit in the manager’s seat at Old Trafford — “The Theatre of Dreams.” The museum is also very impressive, showcasing trophies, legendary players’ shirts, and multimedia displays that bring the club’s history to life. The tickets might seem a little expensive, but in my opinion, it’s absolutely worth it for the experience and the emotions you feel inside the stadium. However, I would emphasize that it’s most enjoyable if you’re a football fan — especially if you love Manchester United. For anyone passionate about football history and atmosphere, this place is unforgettable.”

“We were in Manchester Saturday 17th so we decided to book our first experience in an escape room. There was me, my husband, daughter and sister. We booked the Creepy Carnival to start with as a two star difficulty rating. We had no idea how to play or what to look for but with the help of some clues from the staff we managed to break out with a minute to spare. It was so much fun trying to solve the clues and move from room to room using our logic and brain power. We enjoyed it that much, we booked another room for later on that evening. Different theme, harder rating. Despite our best efforts we failed to escape this one. We had an absolute blast. The rooms are well thought out, the clues are imaginative and if you're struggling there's lots of help from outside. Innovative and intriguing and the staff are lovely and welcoming, including Conrad who was very diplomatic about our combined efforts trying to decipher the puzzles. All in all a superb day out. Worth every penny. We will be back to try the harder ones in the future.”

“A lovely place to bring little one”

“Great sessions, a lot available to do. Staff always so friendly and helpful. Ann and Justine are a credit to the place.”

“Nice place very efficient staff”

“An absolute godsend! We spent six weeks with Ronald McDonald after our son was born three months early. Rather than battle an hour of traffic every day, we got the opportunity to stay on site near him. My only complaints are about the other guests not cleaning up after themselves or spilling their food across the shared fridge. But I cannot fault the charity for the behaviour of its guests. I'll always be thankful to the team for making us feel welcome!”

“Home to many of my all time favorite rooms. Had some nail biting escapes with the clock literally seconds away. Loved the competitive aspect for the team vs team rooms. Great for a staff night out or events with the on site bar.”

“Very, very good venue. The quayside theatre is very small and intimate, but holds a good crowd. We were there to see the "Ideal" stage show (which was absolutely brilliant) and it was a great trip. Two minor issues were that it was unclear when the doors would open, leaving quite a few people like us standing outside in rain and wind, which was not Ideal (see what I did there) Also the toilet roll dispensers are utterly dreadful, where you have to try and pull it out of a very tight opening and it invariably tears close to the holder. You know the ones I'm talking about... The rosé wine is delightful...”

“I like this learning place it's really nice place”

“Nice place for sensory room, staff are all lovely”

“We’ve just had our son’s 9th birthday party here. It really is a brilliant package. All the kids had so much fun. The staff are accommodating and the pizza is nice too”