9 fabulous free things for your kids to do in Manchester this school holiday

School holidays are almost upon us and parents and guardians everywhere are wringing their hands at the thought of the cost of keeping their little ones entertained. But fear not.... here at Manchester World we are committed to bringing you a weekly round up of things to do on a budget - or better still, for absolutely nothing - and this week let us help out with ideas for the coming holidays.

School may be out for summer - but your wallet can stay inside.

The Science and Industry Museum

The Science and Industry Museum has interactive exhibitions that kids love to get involved in and they’re also running a free holiday programme for children of all ages.

The permanent galleries and displays give kids the chance to learn more about why Manchester is named the world’s first industrial city, while getting involved in science.

The summer programme of activities is all based around the museum’s blockbuster exhibition “Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You”, so kids can learn more about how our bodies work and how to take care of them with expert explainers and a teddy hospital all for free.

Entry to Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You exhibition is charged at £10 for adults and £9 for children but kids aged 3 and under get to go in for free and family discounts are available.

The rest of the museum is free to explore.

Manchester Art Gallery

A visit to Manchester Art Gallery has a family gallery called The Lion’s Den which provides a free and welcoming space for families all year round, running a varied programme of events and activities such as fun making sessions.

There are even baby sensory sessions for babies to get involved.

There is lots of dazzling art and families can explore the craft and design, fashion or costume galleries as well as over 2,000 oil paintings.

A great way for kids to get inspired.

Free pizza making for kids

HOME Bar and Kitchen at HOME are kicking off the summer holidays in style, as kids will be able to eat completely FREE in the restaurant throughout the whole of August when dining with any paying adult. HOME Bar and Kitchen’s free Kids Pizza Masterclass is also back, returning on Sunday 6th August.

When parents dine in HOME Bar and Kitchen this August, kids can choose any main dish and a scoop of ice cream from the children’s menu for FREE throughout all of August. The kids main menu, which has been cleverly designed to be transformed into a paper aeroplane, includes classic, quality dishes for little food lovers such as tomato pasta, a mini burger, chicken nuggets, and battered fish. Kids can then choose from a variety of flavours of ice cream scoop for dessert, including strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, and vegan vanilla.

Meanwhile, the Kids Pizza Masterclass is a completely free chance for kids to try their hand at becoming little Pizzaolios as they join the HOME Kids Pizza Academy.

The kids pizza masterclasses will take place on the first Sunday of every month from August 6. The masterclass is free and includes kids’ pizza making and pizza - the places at the masterclass are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. The offer is available only to kids accompanied by adults dining from the main menu.

The People’s History Museum

Recent winner of the national “Kids in Museums” award, the People’s History Museum is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain and the brave and brilliant people that fought for it.

Every Wednesday in the school holidays the museum will be hosting creative activities, bring your own tote bag or t-shirt to personalise using screen-printing, stamps, pens and more.

Kids can also play banner bingo while they explore the museum looking out for different images on the vast array of protest and political banners featured in the main two galleries.

The Lowry Exhibition: Julia and Axel 30 Years of Favourite Stories

This Summer Salford’s landmark theatre The Lowry is working in collaboration with publishers Macmillan Children’s Books and Scholastic to host an exhibition celebrating the works of much loved authors Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Starting on Saturday 22 July, this free family-friendly exhibition will feature notebooks, illustrations, sketches and fun opportunities for kids to be creative.

A chance to see how all of their favourite stories including The Gruffalo, Room and the Broom and Zog originated. Learn more.

Greater Manchester Police Museum.

Manchester’s Northern Quarter is home to the fabulous Greater Manchester Police Museum. Housed in a former Victorian police station, with resplendent bright blue front doors, you’ll be able to wander around fascinating displays of police uniforms and transport, stand in the dock in a courtroom and experience the creepy feeling of being in a real Victorian cell. Open on Tuesdays and additional days in school holidays.

The Whitworth

Kids are bound to enjoy the free and creative family activities at The Whitworth Gallery.

Get stuck in at Outdoor Art Club complete with a mud painting studio and potions stations.

The Feel Good Arts Club for 6 – 12-year-olds offers a fun, expressive art and mindfulness session in the Whitworth’s Art Garden and Quiet Mornings, a multi-sensory play session for families with additional needs.

The animal sanctuary at Heaton Park

Visit the animal sanctuary at Heaton Park for free and let kids have tons of fun trying to catch a glimpse of the snout of a cute little piglet or spot an elusive peacock strutting its stuff.

You can meet many common farmyard animals and there are also more exotic species such as alpacas, peacocks and Sulcata tortoise. Out in the park there is Highland cattle with their long horns and Shorthorned cattle in one of the fields along with horses and donkeys.

The park also has a play park and tons of outdoor space for a picnic.

Many, many parks for outdoor fun

From the new Mayfield Park in the heart of the city to the aforementioned Heaton Park in Prestwich, in the North of the city, to Fletcher Moss and its beautiful botanical plants in Didsbury in the South of the city - Manchester has a number of impressive parks.

Parks are great for throwing a ball, playing games, picnics, walks and looking for nature - let the kids(and their imiginations) run wild .