Whilst we’d happily state Manchester is the best city in the world to live in we have to admit that the weather can be a barrier to enjoying our favourite city at times. Manchester is affectionately known as the rainy city by locals, making it unsurprising that we are always prepared for when the heavens open.
If you’re looking for fun activities and ways to keep busy when the weather isn’t ideal, take a look at our top-recommended things to do on a rainy day in Manchester below.
Visit an Aquarium
The Sea Life Centre in Trafford is prime choice if you want an easy to get to aquarium experience. Not only indoors, but inside the containment of the Trafford Centre, the centre is perfect for a rainy day.
The Sea Life aquarium is perfect for families, couples and groups of friends to visit. Visitors can see sharks, clownfish and stingrays, amongst other underwater creatures.
Tackle an Inflatable Obstacle Course
Grey skies don’t mean you can’t keep active. Why not pay a visit to one of Manchester’s many indoor activity centres and keep fit whilst doing something fun?
Not just for kids, Total Ninja features an inflatable obstacle course next to the more advanced ninja warrior-esque course. Featuring slides, inflatable trampoline and more, you’ll easily burn some energy on the course. There’s also Inflatanation (both located in Trafford Park). Inflatanation focuses solely on the inflatable course and features both kids parties and adults-only sessions to suit different groups.
See a Movie
Lovers of the silver screen are completely spoiled for choice in Manchester. Vue at Printworks is home to the second largest IMAX screen in the UK and you’ll find a smaller digital IMAX at Odeon Trafford Centre, where they also have the only Dolby Cinema in the North West.
For a more intimate experience, try Everyman either in the city centre or in Altrincham. A well established and still growing chain, Everyman aims to gives guests a chic and cosy at home feeling, combined with an impressive food and drink menu.
If you want to be truly immersed in a film then head over to Mayfield Depot and get yourself a ticket to the Backyard Cinema. These screenings are unique events, featuring hand built sets themed to whichever classic film has been selected. Be sure to keep an eye on Backyard’s website or socials for upcoming screenings.
Go Crazy Golfing
If you love a game of crazy golf you’re spoiled for choice in Manchester for places to attempt a hole-in-one. For family-friendly fun Treetop Adventure Golf in The Printworks is one of the best options at a reasonable price. Offering 18 holes and 2 courses with different themes, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a few hours.
Junkyard Golf has become a Manchester staple activity over the years, catering more to adults with the option to enjoy drinks as you golf. Junkyard is best for crazy obstacles and shorter courses of just 9 holes.
There’s also the newer Urban Playground, which offers a new way to crazy golf with interactive screens. Urban Playground hosts a bar, interactive games and food if you want to make a night of it.
If you’re looking for something outside the city centre, there’s additionally the popular Dino Falls which can be found in Trafford and is easy to get to by car, with free parking available.
Visit the Manchester Museum
Home to decades of history, the Manchester Museum is part of the University of Manchester building. The building itself is set in the perfect location, making use of Manchester’s historic buildings and in itself being a part of our city’s history.
Inside the museum you can enter for free (or donate to keep the museum running for future guests). There are set exhibitions available, with past ones including mummies of Egypt and the history of South Asians. The museum also hosts several remodelings of dinosaurs, including an impressive lifesize T-Rex sculpture.
Take on The Cube
Fans of The Cube will be highly excited to know they can now live out their favourite gameshow in the heart of Manchester city centre. Located in the Arndale, this immersive experience hosts several ‘cubes’ to enter and try a range of activities seen on the hit ITV show.
Not just home to The Cube, the venue additionally features crazy golf and a bar area to continue the fun once you’ve mastered the cube.
Tackle The Crystal Maze
After becoming a staple team event venue in London, The Crystal Maze has since established itself in Manchester as a key activity for families, colleagues and friends to attend. Not just an event for nostalgic game show lovers who remember the 1990s, The Crystal Maze hosts a series of physical and mental challenges that are just as fun in the 2020s as they were back then.
Take a look at our feature review from our visit to the maze.
Head to the Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre is a beloved and unique shopping destination in Manchester, continuing to draw crowds from across the North West. Perfect for wet-weather shopping stints, the whole destination is indoors and allows for handy free parking all over the premises.
Guests can enjoy a strong selection of fashion and lifestyle stores, cinema, food court, activities and more to keep the whole family entertained.
Keep an eye on our Manchester what’s on section for more things to do.
