March

Spring is in the air but winter doesn’t want to go away yet.
Here is a selection of outdoor and indoor activities for the whole family. You won’t be bored whatever the weather.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 March 2024, 10am for 0–1, 11am for 1–2
Babies Playtime
These classes are led by a professional early years practitioner and are an opportunity to have fun, sing, dance and make new friends. Classes last 45 minutes and are free for all. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 0 to 1 and 1 to 2.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

2 March 2024 18.30 – 20.30
Astro Night – Kids
Calling all budding young astronomers! You are invited to join join Jodrell Bank staff for an unmissable opportunity to get started in astronomy at Jodrell Bank home of the famous Lovell Telescope.
During our fun-packed evening you will enjoy a journey around space in awesome Space Dome and you’ll be able to get hands on with telescopes and binoculars as you learn to navigate the night sky. You’ll also have the opportunity dress up as an astronaut taking your first steps on the moon and make your own comet to take home with you!
Note: observing the night sky is weather permitting
This event is recommended for families with children aged 7 – 13.
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centrer
The University of Manchester
Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 9D
Tel: 01477 571 766
Book online: www.jodrellbank.net

2, 9, 16, 23, 30 March, 11am – 11.45am, 12noon – 12.45pm
Crafty Families
An exciting and engaging art class for families and under 11’s. With a different theme each week you’ll leave the session having created their own pieces of art. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-11.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 March, 10.15, 11.15 and 12.15
Mini Movers
Bring your sense of wonder and be prepared to get silly as you join the Science Museum Explainers on a fun and creative journey as they roll, clank, whirr and clack their way around the Textiles Gallery. Especially for the younger visitors aged 5 and under, this Makaton-friendly adventure will have you whirring like a cog and turning like a crank to find out how our bodies work like machines.
Suitable for ages 5 and under.
Textiles Gallery, Level 0, New Warehouse, Science and Industry Museum
Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4FP
tel: 033 0058 0058
www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk

3 March, 9am – 10am
Lowry Galleries Relaxed Hour
This is an hour for individuals and families with access requirements who would prefer to experience our Galleries in a calmer and less busy environment. Relaxed Crafty family workshops take place in the Gallery. This workshop is ideal for families who would prefer a quieter, more relaxed session and specifically for those with additional needs, autism, neurodiversity or anxiety.
Free, booking essential
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0161 876 2183
www.thelowry.com

6, 13, 20, 27 March, 10am – 10.45am, 11am – 11.45am
Little Creatives
A weekly creative session for toddlers and their adults! Includes music making, storytelling, dance and creative play. Sessions are 45 mins, are free for all and all attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-5.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

8 March 2024 10.30am – 2.30pm
PLAY days at Whitworth
A space for under 5s and their grown-ups to come together to play, be curious and be creative with simple, open-ended play resources. Whitworth’s School of Creativity space will be packed full of huge tubes and pipes, big boxes, crates, large reels, tyres, and lots more, creating a world of endless possibilities to explore and create.
The Whitworth,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
Tel: 0161 275 7450
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved/families/playdays/

16 March 2024, 09.30am – 11.30am
Who let the dads out?
This is a free monthly group for dads or father figures and their children aged 0 to 8 years old. There will be toys and activities for you to enjoy with your kids, as well as a bacon or sausage butty and a brew. It’s a place where you can meet other dads, make new friendships and share the ups and downs of the parenting journey.
Cale Green Life Centre
71 Adswood Road
Cale Green,
Stockport, SK3 8HR
Contact Helen on 07532 781061 or at helen.eadie@360life.church to find out more.
www.stockport.gov.uk/events

18 March 2024, 11am, 12noon for toddlers, 13.45pm, 14.45pm for babies
Music Makers
Monthly music and sensory play sessions for babies and toddlers. Celebrate the magic of Christmas with your little one!
For parents with both baby and toddler, babies may attend toddler sessions. The same does not apply in reverse, as toddlers tend to be more boisterous and we want to keep the baby sessions more relaxed.
Tickets: £4.00, 1 ticket admits 1 child plus accompanying adult
Barbirolli Room,
The Bridgewater Hall,
Lower Mosley Street,
Manchester M2 3WS
Tel: 0161 907 9000
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

18 March, 10am – 11.30am
Experitots sessions in Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, Special Exhibitions Gallery.
Discover the science at work with your little ones. On this session you can enjoy a voyage of discovery through the digestive system with Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You special exhibition.
Tickets: free for ages 3 and under, £9 for 4 years and older and £10 for adults.
Location: Operation Ouch!, Special Exhibitions Gallery
Level -1, New Warehouse
Science and Industry Museum
Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4FP
tel: 033 0058 0058
www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk

23 March – 7 April, 10am – 4pm
Easter Adventures at Lyme
Discover over 600 years of history at Lyme, from the medieval deer herd to the extraordinary mansion. Inside, transport the kids back to Regency times where they can dress up in brilliant costumes and play with toys in the Edwardian nursery. Or venture into the parkland to spot deer from The Cage and run off some steam in Crow Wood play area. This Easter, there are three play zones to explore. Go on an egg hunt with activities and games for all ages in the garden, take a walk on the wild side for adventurous play on Green Drive or venture around Crow Wood for nature themed activities. With so much to do, choose your own adventure; from short bursts of fun to all-day escapades, there’s plenty to fit your family’s needs
Price: £3 per trail
Lyme Park
Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR
Tel: 01663 762023
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme

23 March – 14 April, 10am – 4.30pm
Easter Bunny Mill Trail
Enjoy a free indoor trail around the historic mill this Easter holiday.
The Easter bunny has been busy putting up decorations, but has got confused and lost some of them! Can you help count the eggs as you explore the mill, so that the Easter Bunny can find them?
Hop along to the Mill Shop to find more Easter fun. And you’ll find tasty Easter treats in the Weaving Shed Restaurant and Upper Garden Café.
Quarry Bank
Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank

23 – 24, 29 – 31 March, 11am, 11.45am, 12.30pm, 1.15pm, 2pm, 2.45pm, 3.30pm
Leeds Young Film Festival at Eureka!
Leeds Young Film Festival are bringing a cinema takeover to Eureka! as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations. With screenings of super short, animated films that celebrate our natural world as well as offer you and your little ones a chance to take a break from the outside world
Screenings are in the theatre, book on arrival for 20min sessions
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road,
Halifax HX1 2NE
Tel: 01422 330069
play.eureka.org.uk/event/easter

23 March, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Climate Action Trail at Eureka!
Dinosaurs didn’t know there was a meteor coming and even if they did, they wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it. But human beings, we know all about the climate challenge and we know what to do about it. And we are doing tons of stuff about it, but we need to do more, and we need to do it faster.
Location: Imagination Space
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road,
Halifax HX1 2NE
Tel: 01422 330069
play.eureka.org.uk/event/easter

31 March, 2024
Peter Rabbit™ Family Fun Day
That mischievous bob-tailed bunny, Peter Rabbit™, is coming to visit us at the Bury Transport Museum.
Come and see Peter Rabbit at intervals throughout the day. There will be even more family fun with theme park rides, face painters and craft activities.
Complete your day out with a ride along one of our heritage steam or diesel trains through Irwell Valley. Ticket price includes a ride on any train services on the day of your visit.
General Admission tickets must be purchased online, so don’t miss out.
The East Lancashire Railway
Bury Bolton Street Station,
Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY
Tel: 0161 764 7790
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

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(for Manchester & Cheshire area, please)