Babies & Kids in the City 2013 is available to buy now online! It's completely new with some fab ideas on what to do with children aged 0-11years.

Days out in Manchester - Babies & Kids in the city

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Abbotsfield Park Miniature Railway - Flixton

Abbotsfield Park in Flixton looks at first sight like any other small park. It’s a recreation ground the size of a couple of football pitches, with a small children’s play area.   However, just as you’re crossing the bridge to the entrance, you’re drawn to a plume of steam coming towards you at some speed. This is the Abbotsfield Park Miniature Railway, and miniature is the word. It’s the smallest locomotive you’ve ever seen outside of a domestic train set. Our son watched, rapt, as this tiny engine thundered past with half-a-dozen people in tow. He c...

Allostock Junction Railway Station - Knutsford

This miniature train is excellent fun for little ones and adults alike. At £1 per ride (for over-threes) it’s great value for a ten minute spin round the garden centre, past the engine sheds and through the tunnel. The train driver was brilliant and let my little boy and his friend toot the horn for a ridiculously long time. There’s a shop at the station, selling a mix of soft toys and train memorabilia. It’ll be a challenge to leave with just your train ticket!   A recent change in ownership has seen improvements to the garden centre, one of which is that t...

Anderton Boat Lift - Northwich

The Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire is a spectacular feat of Victorian engineering. It’s a 50-foot vertical link between two waterways – the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal. It was the first of its kind in the world when built in 1875.   It’s hard to describe and do it justice, but it makes for a brilliantly different day trip. You can choose a lift trip – where you sit on a large glass-topped boat that sails from its mooring into the lift cradle – you either go from top to bottom or vice versa. Alternatively you can take a river trip; a gentle...

Brookside Miniature Railway - Poynton

  This miniature railway at Brookside Garden Centre is one of our favourite short trips out. The five immaculate locomotives – three steam engines and two diesel – live at their very own station, Brookside Central; a replica West Country station with authentic buildings, sidings, turntable and original signage on the miniature platform. Inside the waiting room (which doubles as a gift shop and museum), you purchase your ticket, then it’s all aboard! The half-mile circuit through tunnels (one of which is 65ft long), over streams and level crossings and around the peri...

City Airport - Eccles

Jo and I just love this place! It is the UK’s first purpose-built municipal airport, dating back to the 1930’s and operates now as one of the country’s busiest general aviation airports. It’s literally on our door step and the fact that it welcomes little visitors, as well as those with wings, makes City Airport a perfect place to touch down...!    A recent facelift to the facilities has also improved the whole experience. The airfield is located just off the M60/M62 not far from The Trafford Centre. The Airfield Lodge is the newly-named on-site bar and rest...

Dragon Miniature Railway - Marple

As we turned into the car park at Marple Garden Centre,  my three-year-old daughter Eleanor got so excited spying the mini Flying Dragon Train tootling past with mini passengers on board! We headed to the platform “Otterspool Junction,” purchased our tickets and waited for our turn.   Just before setting off, the friendly driver invited Ellie to have her picture taken in the driving seat – which she adored. And then we were off, speeding (not really!) down the tracks.   The journey lasts about eight minutes and takes you through a tunnel, over bridges, and ...

East Lancashire Railway - Bury

Arriving at Bury’s Bolton Street Station is like stepping back in time. There are traditional ticket booths, lovely signage, and helpful staff. We decided to go from Bury to Ramsbottom, but for a longer ride you can take the train from Heywood all the way to Rawtenstall. There is a pay and display car park at Bury Station which is free on Sundays.   At Bury Station, The Trackside pub on Platform 2, does children’s meals and they will warm up bottles or baby food. Baby-changing is in the disabled toilets at the end of the platform; there are also facilities at Ramsbottom Stat...

Moss Bank Park - Bolton

This fabulous park in Bolton has a great deal to offer families. The miniature steam railway located there is run by the Moss Bank Model Railway Society and has been in operation since my childhood! It tootles happily round the little wood, giving rides to delighted children and is an absolute must!  ...

Oulton Park - Tarporley

If you have children who like cars or motorbikes, then visit Oulton Park racing track in Cheshire. It makes a good family day out and is bound to be a hit with dads.    On entering the park at the main entrance, we drove to the interior of the track and parked on a grassed bank at the trackside. We were then able to unpack our binoculars, lay out a picnic rug and food and watch the racing.  Formula 3 cars were soon whizzing by. As we were watching time trials, it was difficult to follow who was in the lead; but the speed and appearance of the vehicles were enthralling enough. ...

Runway Visitor Park - Altrincham

The Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport has certainly had a makeover since our first book came out. We visited on a sunny April afternoon which was great for watching the planes from the specially-designed viewing mounds. We learned that there are over six hundred planes on the move every day, so you definitely won’t miss out on the thrill of a massive jet whooshing past you.   The whole park is brilliantly buggy-friendly and has added a play park and climbing frames. The park is set on grass and can get quite muddy if there’s been some recent rain. My kids aren’...

The Airport Hotel - Manchester

From the front The Airport Hotel looks rather like an unassuming pub, but the rear sits just 50 feet from the final approach for Manchester Airport's Runway 23R, and the close-up views of aircraft landing are superb.   The car park at the pub is a small pay and display, but for £3 for one hour you get a £2 voucher redeemable against food or drink purchased inside; £5 for up to four hours' parking entitles you to a £4 voucher. A word of warning: do not park on the road as you're likely to end up with a £60 parking ticket.   At the back of the pub you'...

The Heights of Abraham - Matlock Bath

The long and winding road through the Peaks is a worthy journey to reach this highly unusual destination. The Heights of Abraham begins with a cable car ride to the top of Masson Hill; its flat top aloft in the Derbyshire countryside. The hill is home to caverns, woodlands, adventure playgrounds, a fossil factory, a tower to climb, and an amphitheatre; all complete with spectacular views over the beautiful surrounding countryside and villages.   The journey up in the cable car is thrilling and exhilarating but don’t forget your head for heights; it’s a long way down passing ...

The Yellow Duckmarine, Liverpool

If you are visiting the Tate Liverpool, it is an ideal trip to combine with The Yellow Duckmarine, otherwise known as the Wacker Quacker. This is a fleet of World War Two amphibious vehicles painted bright yellow and used to provide guided tours around the city.   The tour guides are jokey and informal and the vehicle is unusual enough, what with its roll-up polythene windows etc to keep young minds and hands occupied. However, all of this pales into insignificance compared with the moment when children realise the bus is actually going to drive into the river. You hurtle down the gangp...

Walton Park

Just off the Washway Road in Sale, where there is free parking, this is a lovely little park, with a couple of playgrounds and an enclosed area for the under fives. Some of the playground facilities may be a little dated but this park has one special feature - a miniature railway.   The quarter-mile, circular route is run by members of the Sale Area Model Engineering Society and operates on Sundays between 12noon and 4pm. It's 30p a ride for both children and adults and has been running for more than 30 years.   Behind the park is the Bridgewater canal, which has a lovely towpath...

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