City Centre Cruises

The Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour offers a behind the scenes look at the world's most iconic stadium: the Old Trafford. Come and sit in the managers' seat in the dugout, walk through the players' tunnel towards the hallowed turf, and find the seat of your favourite player in the dressing room. Get a feel for life in the Premier League and immerse yourself in an unrivalled story, the greatest football story ever told. Manchester United welcomes groups of all sizes, from all over the world every day to the home of Manchester United, from individuals and families to international group tours, providing the same world-class experience to all.

Play Factore is the UK's leading family entertainment centre. With facilities that cater for children from 6 months to 16 years old, Play Factore is the only family entertainment arena in the UK where parents can play with children on age-applicable equipment — meaning you can join in the fun with your little adventurers too! Play Factore's state-of-the-art venue houses the largest play frame in the UK along with a host of other unique attractions that are second to none. Based in Manchester next to the Trafford Centre, Play Factore provides a complete day out for families shopping in the area and planning to entertain the children.

In the 90s, The Crystal Maze was one of the UK’s favourite television shows. Now it’s your turn to be the star of the show. The ultimate team challenge, in which you and your friends face challenges testing your skill, mental and physical ability across four adventure time zones: Aztec, Industrial, Futuristic, and Medieval. For each challenge completed, your team will earn a Crystal. The more Crystals you earn, the more time you’ll get in the final challenge — The Crystal Dome! Build a team of 8 of your friends with a variety of skills to take on the challenge of the Maze.

Manchester’s Chinese district is one of the largest in Europe. Top-class restaurants nestle side by side with real street food establishments. You will also find Korean, Thai and Indonesian shops and restaurants here.

Chester Zoo is home to over 21,000 endangered and exotic animals based in beautiful, award-winning gardens and is the nearest large zoo to Manchester. With over 500 different animal species in their 125 acres, visitors are sure to have an adventure discovering and learning about the amazing wildlife. Conservation and education are at the heart of everything at Chester Zoo. They are committed to providing the highest standards of care for their animals as well as protecting native and international wildlife. Their team of expert and knowledgeable staff work hard to prevent extinction and are passionate about connecting visitors to the natural world. Chester Zoo has a variety of tours and hands-on experiences as well as daily animal talks to guarantee a day full of animal adventure. Stop for a snack at one of their many restaurants, cafes, and kiosks - including their recently refurbished contemporary British pub, The Oakfield. It's a huge zoo, but there are plenty of options for getting around, including the Zoofari Monorail and the Lazy River Boat Trip on the Islands. Don’t forget to stop in at the gift shop on your way out for a souvenir of your trip.

With a storied history stretching back to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the East Lancashire Railway is the steam powered heart of the Irwell Valley, pumping goods and people around the region for nearly 200 years! The line runs for 12 miles through scenic Lancastrian Landscapes, from beautiful rural panoramas and postcard pretty villages to bustling Victorian towns and cotton mill dotted horizons. Each station offers something unique, from historical Heywood to relaxing Rawtenstall, scenic Summerseat and bustling Bury. Make the trip from Grandparent to Grandchild on a journey that spans generations on this heritage railway.

Looking for a family day out packed with excitement and bursting with fun? Look no further than Manchester's indoor real snow centre, Chill Factore. Guaranteed to get the whole family away from their screens, Snow Park is the perfect real snow activity for all the family. Prepare for bumps of the Downhill Donuts, the twists and turns of the Luge Slip ‘n’ Slide, and the Snow Luge. What’s a fun day out without a bit of family competition? Choose your favourite sledge and race to see who’s king and queen of the slope!

The IWM North is about people and how their lives have been, and still are, shaped by war and conflict. The building is by international architect Daniel Libeskind and is a symbol of our world torn apart by conflict.

Hard hats at the ready! Standedge Tunnel is Britain's longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel, hidden deep beneath the beautiful Pennine countryside. One of the seven wonders of our waterways, this must-see attraction is located in Marsden, a charming Yorkshire village. A great day out for all the family, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Discover the history of Standedge in the visitor centre which is free to enter. Learn the stories of the folk that built and navigated this tremendous tunnel. Meanwhile, the kids will be kept occupied in the indoor soft play area and outdoor adventure play area! Feeling peckish? You’ll find the wonderful Watersedge Café in the old Tunnel End cottages. Enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake or visit for lunch on a lovely summer’s day by the canal. You may even see the resident ducks, Jemima and Duncan, float past the picnic tables.

The Victoria Baths complex was designed by Manchester's first City Architect Henry Price, and opened in 1906. No expense was spared — the façade has multicoloured brickwork and terracotta decoration, the interior spaces are clad in glazed tiles and most of the windows have decorative stained glass. At the opening ceremony, the Lord Mayor described Victoria Baths as 'a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester is proud'. For 86 years the baths provided both essential and leisure facilities. Private baths and a laundry were housed there alongside three swimming pools and Turkish Baths. In 1952 the first public Aeratone (Jacuzzi) was installed. Even though the baths were closed in 1993, the Grade II listed building is remarkably intact with most of the stained glass and original tiling remaining. Victoria Baths opens from March/April to October/November each year for weekly guided tours, public open days and special events.

FC United of Manchester is a community benefit society and a not-for-profit organization based on the outskirts of Manchester City Centre. They pledge “to develop strong links with the local community” and our volunteers and supporter base make us what we are and by doing so make a positive difference in Manchester and help change football for the better. Whatever your background, story or beliefs, you are always sure of a warm welcome at Broadhurst Park.

This Grade 1, 16th-century half-timbered hall is one of the northwest’s most important buildings. Visitors can enjoy displays of 17th and early 18th-century furniture, objects and artefacts, learn more about the life and work of Samuel Crompton, and discover all about life in Stuart and Tudor times. The rooms have been accurately refurbished to retain their homely atmosphere. Hall i’ th’ Wood Museum started life as a rich merchant’s home during the mid-17th century. Years later, the building was split into several rented dwellings and, whilst living in one of these with his family, Samuel Crompton famously invented the Spinning Mule in 1779. The mule went on to be one of the most significant spinning machines used by the textile industry. The house and grounds were presented to the people of Bolton in memory of Samuel Crompton and opened to the public as a museum in 1902.