Last Updated on 27 August 2026 by Colette
Keeping the kids entertained through seemingly never ending summer holidays can weigh heavy on your purse strings. For a long while now, Dave and I have set a weekly spend cap for the school holidays – the kids know we have a budget and we have to spend it wisely. Some weeks we manage to spend very little and can roll it over for bigger adventures and days out, other weeks I don’t know where the money has gone. (I use Monzo to keep track of the summer holiday spending)
So, for those weeks when the money has run out or you just want to make it stretch a bit further, I’ve pulled together a list of free or cheap things to do in Manchester this summer. Of course “cheap” is subjective – and what some people would perceive to be affordable, others would think is expensive or unmanageable as such I’ve tried to stick to activities that cost less than £5 per person.
I’ve tried where possible to list the events in chronological order and then I’ve added some more general ideas towards the end of the post. I will continue to update this post over the coming weeks as I find more free or cheap things to do in Manchester through the summer so do keep popping back!
Low cost days out in Manchester this summer
Wild Things exhibition at Lowry Arts Centre – from Saturday 18th July to Sunday 1st November 2026
This free exhibition celebrating animals in children’s books opens at The Lowry Arts Centre just in time for the summer holidays. The exhibition features beloved classics including Elmer, Dear Zoo, Owl Babies, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, to new favourites, including Time for Bed, Fred!, The Steves; and The Great Unicorn Rescue
The exhibition also includes lots of fun interactives and games designed especially for under‑7s including the Bee Calm Spa, Vera’s Veggie Delights Stall, and The Furry Wardrobe.
Although this exhibition is free, you are required to book timed entry slots and of course donations are welcome.
Summer Fair at Trafford Centre – Saturday 18th July to Monday 31st August 2026
This summer, the Summer Fair (previously known as Summer Daze or even Bright Lights, Big Fun) returns to the Trafford Centre outside the Great Hall with a 600 square metre beach and splash pool!
Entry to this summer event costs £2.50 per person (if booked in advance) or £3.50 on the door. Ride tokens are purchased separately and have the potential to change this from a very cheap day out in Manchester to quite an expensive one so if you’re on a tight budget, you’re going to need to stand firm on not adding extra rides or food.
You can pre-book Summer Fair tickets here
Mini Disco with The Pink Doll at Kargo MKT – Sunday 19th July 2026
Fancy dancing the morning away at Kargo MKT with Barbie?
This event is free to attend but you must pre-book your space!
Rhyme and Sound Trail at Ordsall Hall – Monday 20th July to Sunday 30th August 2026
This summer, explore the house and gardens at Ordsall Hall with the Rhyme & Sound Trail, inspired by this year’s Summer Reading Challenge: Read to the Beat.
As you make your way around the trail, you’ll find percussion instruments and interactive sound stations dotted throughout the grounds. Have a go, make some noise and create your own rhythms as you explore.
Each stop also features a nursery rhyme linked to the sounds or instruments nearby. If you can’t remember the tune, you can simply enjoy reading the rhymes together as poems.
The trail is suitable for children aged 0 to 7 years and costs £2 per participating child, with trail packs available to buy on arrival from the Ordsall Hall reception desk.
Bug Hunt at Ordsall Hall – Thursday 23rd July 2026
Join the Head Gardener at Ordsall Hall for a Bug Hunt this summer!
Take part in insect related craft activities as well as the Garden Trails, designed to be accessible for those with SEND.
This event is free to attend however spaces must be booked to manage numbers! Sessions will last around 30 minutes.
Make Your Mark at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Friday 24th July / Friday 21st August 2026
Make your mark with paint brushes, crayons, or even use your hands and feet at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – be prepared to get messy! (Whilst all ages are welcome, this event is particularly suitable for under 5s)
This event costs £1 per child and must pre-booked: Friday 24th July 2026 | Friday 21st August 2026
Manchester Day 2026 – Sunday 26th July 2026
This summer, Manchester Day is celebrating all things music for what promises to be a special summer’s day in the city packed with entertainment, music, dance and shows – all for free!
This year’s Manchester Day offers up a Catalan twist as performers from Barcelona head to Manchester to join in the festivities, marking the first time also that Manchester has welcomed international performers to join in with the Manchester Day festivities.
It follows Manchester’s guest city role during Barcelona’s iconic La Mercè festival in September last year, that saw Manchester artists and performers invited to take part in the world-renowned Catalan festival.
This exciting event has been created by Manchester City Council in collaboration with outdoor art specialist Walk The Plank.
Toys Through Time at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Tuesday 28th July / Tuesday 18th August 2026
This summer, pop down to Salford Museum & Art Gallery for a drop in play session with a difference where you can learn more about toys from the past.
This is a completely free event taking place on Tuesday 28th July and Tuesday 18th August. No booking required, just drop in!
Make a Suncatcher at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Wednesday 29th July 2026
Make your very colourful suncatcher in whatever shape or design you like to hang in your window at Salford Museum & Art Gallery this summer holidays!
This event costs £3 per child and must pre-booked.
Salford 100 Collages at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Thursday 30th July 2026
Create a college inspired by the Salford 100 exhibition! You can choose paintings and objects already selected for the exhibition, or you can draw or bring in a picture of something you would want to be displayed personal to you!
This event costs £3 per child and must pre-booked.
In the Garden: Wild Crowns at Ordsall Hall – Thursday 30th July 2026
Make your very own wild crown using natural materials in the gardens at Ordsall Hall.
This workshop is charged at £3 per child and spaces must be pre-booked. Suitable for children age 8+
Patterns and Printing at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Friday 31st July 2026
Create wonderful patterns by trying different printing techniques – children will design their own pattern on polystyrene and try their hand with wooden block printing and experiment with different materials.
This event costs £3 per child and must pre-booked. This activity is suitable for children age 8+.
Little HOME Festival – Saturday 1st / Sunday 2nd August 2026
Little HOME is set to be a celebration of family and creativity with a fun-filled family festival jam-packed with free and ticketed events, taking place at HOME on the first weekend in August.
With both indoor and outdoor events, Little HOME is the ultimate summer festival for the whole family.
Keep an eye on the main event page for more details of what’s happening each day.
The majority of Little HOME Festival events are drop-in and free but please do check the main event listings for further information.
Cosmic Carnival Show at The Trafford Centre – Every Wednesday and Thursday throughout August 2026
The Cosmic Carnival offers a spectacular programme of free live performances taking over the Orient Main Stage area twice a week throughout August.
The Out of Time Circus combines impressive aerial performances, live singing and larger-than-life characters to create a colourful circus show that’s designed to keep families entertained.
Afterwards, the atmosphere shifts with the Zero-Gravity Disco, where families can dance along to well-known chart hits, join in with the routines and get involved with the performers.
At the end of each show, children can take part in free workshops, giving them the chance to learn some dance moves and have a go at simple circus skills with the cast.
This event is free to attend and will take place in The Orient on Wednesdays and Thursdays through August at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Victorian Washday at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Thursday 4th August / Thursday 27th August 2026
You’re invited to learn all about how Victorians did their washing – and about just how much hard work it was (you can even have a go yourself!)
The Victorians is a really popular programme of study at school so if you’re child has been learning about Victorians this year or are going to be learning about them in the new school year, this will be especially interesting.
This is a free event with no booking required. Sessions are held at 11am, 1pm and 2pm on Thursday 4th August and Thursday 27th August 2026
Make a Tudor Bunting at Ordsall Hall – Tuesday 4th August 2026
Make your very own Tudor style bunting at Ordsall Hall this summer.
This event costs £3 per child and must be pre-booked.
Salford 100 Writing Competition Workshops at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Wednesday 5th August 2026
To celebrate Salford’s centenary, Salford Museum & Art Gallery and the National Literacy Trust in Salford are inviting people of all ages to enter a creative writing competition inspired by objects from the exhibition.
Whether you enjoy writing stories, poems, diary entries, letters or something completely different, these workshops will help you get started and develop your ideas. Drop in to explore the exhibition, discover the objects behind the competition, and take part in fun creative activities with support from the team.
No previous writing experience is needed, just bring your imagination.
Suitable for all ages. The ages categories are: Under 6, 7-12 years, 13-17 years, 18 +.
This event is free to attend and tickets are not required.
Meet the Servant: Tudor Writing at Ordsall Hall – Wednesday 5th August 2026
Fancy learning how to use a quill and ink? The Lady of the Hall is all set to teach you this summer – you’ll practice the alphabet and create a fancy Tudor signature! (Chloe would have loved this when she was younger – she once asked Father Christmas for a quill!)
Sessions are charged at £1.50 per child and booking is required.
Make a Mini Museum at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Thursday 6th August 2026
Design and create your very own museum using the cardboard and art supplies provided!
This event costs £3 per child and must pre-booked. This activity is suitable for children age 5+.
In the Garden: Seedball Making at Ordsall Hall – Thursday 6th August 2026
Using seeds gathered from the gardens at Ordsall Hall to create a seed ball to take home.
Sessions are charged at £1.50 per child and booking is required. This event is suitable for children age 4+
Emergency Services Day at Trafford Centre – Thursday 6th August 2026
Although it’s not something I’ve been to myself, when my kids were little, Emergency Services Day was a staple in our childminder’s calendar!
Emergency Services Day at the Trafford Centre is a free family event celebrating the emergency services. The event takes place on car parks 10 & 11 outside The Great Hall (which is a change to previous years).
Expect to see up to 100 emergency services vehicles with displays and demonstrations, character experiences, bands and a choirs.
Mini Disco with The Princess with the Red Rose at Kargo MKT – Sunday 9th August 2026
Fancy dancing the morning away at Kargo MKT with the lovely Belle from Beauty and the Beast?
This event is free to attend but you must pre-book your space!
Storytelling & Craft at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Wednesday 12th August 2026
Get cosy in the gallery for a story time at Salford Museum & Art Gallery. After the story, children can take part in a simple craft activity where they’ll create their own character from the story to add to the large cardboard dolls house.
This event is free to attend with no booking required. Suitable for children age 2+
Teddy Bears Picnic at Ordsall Hall – Tuesday 13th August 2026
Treat your teddies to an adventure this summer and take them for a picnic to Ordsall Hall where you’ll enjoy fun in the gardens with crafts and other themed activities!
This is a free event with no booking required.
Character Creation Workshop at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Tuesday 18th August 2026
Join the National Literacy Trust for a Storybook Character Creation Session at Salford Museum & Art Gallery. Children are invited to design and create their own unique storybook characters, and pick up a free book! Perfect for kids who love art, stories, and getting creative.
This event is free to take part and no booking is required.
The Big Board Game Takeover at Victoria Baths – Tuesday 18th August 2026
Get ready for a day of games, challenges and family fun as the iconic Victoria Baths is taken over by a giant board game, board game café and playful activities for all ages.
Book your spot – The event is £1 per person, and tickets are available online and on the door but booking is advised to avoid disappointment as spaces may be limited on the day.
Tudor Outdoor Fun and Games at Ordsall Hall – Tuesday 18th August 2026
Try your hand at Tudor dancing and games in the gardens this summer holidays!
This event is free to attend with no booking required!
Meet the Servant: Spice Grinding at Ordsall Hall – Wednesday 19th August 2026
Join one of the servants of Ordsall Hall and learn how they help keep the house running behind the scenes. Grind some spices and make a ‘strong powder’ to take home.
Book your spot at this event priced at £1.50 per child. (Suitable for age 4+)
Design a pencil case at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Thursday 20th August 2026
Design your very own pencil case at Salford Museum & Art Gallery this summer. Children will be provided with a blank fabric pencil case to create an eye catching design in the workshop!
This event is charged at £4 per child and booking is required. This event is suitable for children age 8+
The Big Paper Aeroplane Showdown at Victoria Baths – Tuesday 25th August 2026
Head down to Victoria Baths for a day of crafting, colour and friendly competition as Victoria Baths becomes a giant aeroplane hangar. Build it, decorate it, launch it and see how far your creation can fly.
Book your spot – The event is £1 per person, and tickets are available online and on the door but booking is advised to avoid disappointment as spaces may be limited on the day.
Clay Play at Salford Museum & Art Gallery – Wednesday 26th August 2026
This is your opportunity to get hands on with some clay (without worrying about the mess at home!) You are invited to make weird and wonderful creations using the clay provided!
This event is charged at £3 per child and booking is required. This is always a really popular event so expect it to sell out.
Proud Fest, Great Northern Warehouse – Saturday 29th August 2026
Taking place at the Great Northern Warehouse on Deansgate, Proud Fest is a free, family-friendly celebration of LGBTQ+ families, friends and allies.
Running from 12pm until 6pm on Saturday 29th August, Proud Fest is organised in partnership with Proud 2 b Parents and will feature live entertainment, creative activities and plenty of family fun throughout the afternoon.
The event is completely free to attend and offers a more family-focused way to get involved with Manchester’s Pride celebrations over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Find out more about Proud Fest at Great Northern Warehouse
Museums and Galleries in Manchester
Keep an eye on all the museums and galleries – most of the museums in Manchester are free to visit and some will have summer holiday specific events and exhibitions and I’ve listed as many of those as I can in this post but it’s still worth checking directly with the venues in case I’ve missed anything!
Treasure Trail around the city centre
A Treasure Trail is a great way to explore Manchester and the surrounding area and at only £9.99 for each Treasure Trail, the cost per head makes it a really cheap activity to do in the summer holidays.
There are 6 self-guided Treasure Trails to choose from in Greater Manchester (of which we’ve done three now), and hundreds more across the UK. There’s no need to pre-book – simply choose your trail, print it out and you’re ready to go explore! Use code RaF-5233635590189Ra to earn 10 footsteps on your Treasure Trail account if you’re a new customer.
Each Treasure Trail is a carefully planned adventure (usually covering a couple of miles) packed with clues, challenges and clever stories to keep you entertained. Our three love to get into character as sneaky spies to solve the mysteries – and you’d be surprised how much fun they are for adults too! (There’s even the chance to win a prize once you’ve completed your trail and solved the puzzle!)
Enjoy a day out at one of Manchester’s many parks
Don’t under estimate the value of visiting a new park! Manchester and the surrounding areas have so many fantastic free parks and the novelty value of seeking out a new park to explore is always a win for a cheap summer holiday day out. We especially love Heaton Park because it’s just so big! Remember that some of the parks will charge for parking so if you’re being extra frugal, you’ll need to check that out ahead of your visit.
(Don’t forget to pack a picnic too!
You can read more about Manchester’s parks here:
The best parks and playgrounds in Manchester
The best parks in Manchester for riding your bike
Try a new walk!
There are so many really lovely places to walk around Manchester – both in the city centre and further afield. Again you might need to spend a few pounds on parking but pack a picnic and stretch your legs, you might even find somewhere for a little paddle!
You can find details of our favourite walks around Manchester here:
Our favourite family friendly dog walks around Manchester
The activities listed below are from last year and I’m just waiting on updated details for summer 2026! I’ll keep updating this list of things to do in the summer holidays so make sure you save it to come back to!
Festa Italiana, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester – No event confirmed for August 2026
The information below relates to a previous event and will be updated as soon as information becomes available.
Festa Italiana is a free festival in Cathedral Gardens with music, talks and demonstrations – of course this could become expensive if you decide to treat yourself to an Aperol or some Italian food!
Read more about Festa Italiana here:
What is there to do in Manchester for free this summer?
Hopefully this list of budget friendly activities in Manchester will give you a bit of a helping hand when it comes to making your money stretch a bit further this summer holidays.
I will continue to update this lists as I spot different things, but it you know of an event or activities that should be on this list – please let me know so I can add it in and we can help as many people as possible enjoy their summer without breaking the bank!
Check out these posts next:
Cool things to do in Manchester this summer
Outdoor theatre in Manchester this summer
Pop up and outdoor cinema in Manchester
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