Rainy Day Activities in Manchester

Black and white photo of three people walking in the rain with umbrellas. The person on the left has a large two-tone umbrella, the child in the center has a smaller umbrella, and the person on the right holds a plaid-patterned umbrella. They walk on a wet sidewalk. — Image © Dimitri de Vries on Unsplash

Make the best of British weather with our favourite things to do on a rainy day in Manchester…

Let’s face it, Manchester can get a little gloomy from time to time with the amount that it rains, and it can also be tough to think of things to do when your plans have been foiled by the rain. Fear not! - We’ve compiled a list of things to do when this occasion arises. This ever-prepared city has plenty to offer for when the heavens open so read on to discover our favourite indoor activities.

National Football Museum

Visitors walk around a modern indoor football museum with colorful exhibits and large electronic screens displaying messages like For the Game of Our Lives and Football Could Save Society. Some people are taking photos, while others are engaging with the displays. — Image © National Football Museum via Facebook

Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, M4 3BG

Home to six floors of football memorabilia, this huge (indoor) museum is a great choice for a rainy day activity. You’ll certainly find something interesting here, regardless of whether you’re a football fan or not! Featuring retro football games, an introduction to football in the media and kits from teams through the years, all angles of ‘the beautiful game’ are covered. There are heaps of fun interactive elements, including jumping into Gary Lineker’s shoes and commentating ‘Match of the Day’. This day out will cost a small admission fee, but the museum is free for residents of Manchester!

Click here for more info.

Science and Industry Museum

A vintage car is on display at a museum. The car features a beige exterior, large spoked wheels, and a license plate reading AX148. A family of four, including a child wearing a mask and a stroller, observes the car closely. A Science and Industry Museum sign is visible above. — Image © Facebook via @scienceandindustrymuseum

Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP

Manchester was once known as Cottonopolis, owing to its rich history in cotton production during the Industrial Revolution. The city has also been home to some of the UK’s greatest scientific minds, inventors and engineers. This long history is celebrated at the Science and Industry Museum, a fabulous day out for visitors of all ages! Located in one of the UK’s oldest surviving passenger railway stations, a heritage site with two Grade I listed buildings, the entire museum is steeped in Manchester’s great history. Head down with the family for a free day out, perfect for a rainy afternoon. Visit the Air and Space Hall to find out how Manchester’s minds got us on the roads today, or head to the Revolution Manchester exhibition to learn more about the industrial Manchester that built the city’s legacy. The museum offers daily demonstrations and shows, and a gallery devoted to Experimenting, an ideal activity for a drizzly day!

Total Ninja

A vibrant indoor recreation center with glowing neon lights and various obstacle courses. The scene includes climbing walls, hanging obstacles, foam pit areas, and padded beams. It's designed for active play in a colorful, illuminated environment. — Image © total.ninja.co.uk

Tenax Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M17 1JT

Ever watched the popular TV show and thought “I’d like to try that”- well… you now can! Total Ninja is fairly new to Manchester and is one of our absolute favourite rainy day activity ideas. This indoor obstacle course is the perfect place for kids AND adults alike to unleash their inner warrior.

Satisfy your inner adrenaline monkey on one of 3 obstacle courses of varying difficulty. From monkey bars to a warped walls there are challenges for every ability, so get ready to show everyone your Total Ninja skills.

Theres also a Ninja-Fit gym training facility to help improve strength conditioning. For more information click here.

Legoland Discovery Centre

A man and a young girl are playing with a LEGO castle structure. The man holds the LEGO creation while both of them blow imaginary smoke from their mouths. The girl is seated on a circular blue table filled with LEGO bricks. The background is colorful and playful. — Image © Facebook via @ldcmanchester

Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS

Lego lovers big and small will adore a rainy-day activity trip to the Legoland Discovery Centre, where you can train as a Ninjago, enjoy VR Lego racing and build and test your Lego creations (amongst many more activities). The Master Model Builders at Lego HQ have built a vast Mini-land, creating Northern attractions such as the Blackpool Tower and even the cobbles of Coronation Street out of thousands of Lego bricks. There’s plenty of space to make your own Lego or Duplo creations, race Lego cars and even visit the 4D Lego cinema! This immersive Lego experience is all under one roof, making it perfect for the wet and windy weather. You can also upgrade your ticket to include access to Manchester’s Sea Life, costing only £5!

For more information click here.

The Crystal Maze Experience

A group of people in blue jackets are inside a geodesic dome with a metal floor, participating in an activity where they are trying to catch floating confetti. The scene is brightly lit with a purple hue, creating an exciting and lively atmosphere. — Image © Facebook via @TheCrystalMazeLiveExperience

Lower Byrom Street, Manchester, M3 4FP

The Crystal Maze Experience is the ideal afternoon out. The retro-90s show has undergone a huge revival; not only has the show returned with Richard Ayoade as the presenter, but now, there’s also the chance to do it yourself in Manchester and London locations! Don a jumpsuit and team up, you have four adventure zones to face, all testing your physical and mental skills. Beat these immersive rooms to win time in the final Crystal Dome! This experience is open to everyone older than 13 and requires teams of 8. What better way to put a twist on a rainy day in Manchester?