What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 17 – 23 February 2025
Emily Sergeant -
13th February 2025 
Now that Valentine’s Day has been and gone, it’s all about half term.
Schools across the region are now out for February half term, so as you can imagine, there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester throughout this week – both free things, and those that’ll set you back a few pennies too.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though?
We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, so here’s some of our recommendations.
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Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 17 February – onwards
You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition that’s now arrived at the Science and Industry Museum.
Back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! is giving you the chance to journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Tickets to Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are now on sale, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
Find out more here.
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NEW OPENING – Oxygen Activeplay
MediaCityUK
A brand-new indoor activity park is opening in MediaCity this week, just in time for half term.
Salford was chosen by Oxygen Activeplay as the location for its next venture, and the brand-new park has descended on Quayside MediaCity, just above bustling food hall Kargo MKT, following a £2.5 million investment – with state-of-the-art equipment and activities to help local families stay active whilst having fun at the same time.
The new park features more than 30 trampolines, a mega-air bag, a high ropes course, a ‘Rollglider’ aerial ride which flies over the facility, and Oxygen’s signature illuminated sensory experience ‘Excite Tunnel’, along with even more “epic” activities.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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Junkbots
People’s History Museum
Monday 17 – Sunday 23 February
Parents and cares can take their little Mancs down to the People’s History Museum throughout this week so they can build their own robot, inspired by the Deceptioncon robot costume which has recently made its home at the museum.
A whole host of colourful junk will be waiting in the museum’s Playful Protest Space, ready to be recycled into your own characterful junkbot that you can either take home or add to the imaginary picket line.
This family-friendly activity is suitable for those aged five-12 years old, making it the perfect half term activity, and it’s free to attend.
Find out more here.
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Six Nations Fanzone 2025
Freight Island
Monday 17 February – onwards
Freight Island’s Six Nations fanzone has returned for 2025.
The iconic international tournament is now underway, and so is Freight Island’s fantastic fan experience, providing an unparalleled level of excitement beyond being inside the stadium.
Already proving to be even bigger and better than last year, it’s the largest of its kind anywhere in the country, with everything from free pints and prosecco, live music, top-notch scran from Freight’s in-house vendors, and so much more.
Find out more here.
Looking for other places to watch the Six Nations?
We’re absolutely spoiled for choice with places showing all the sporting action across Greater Manchester, so if you’re looking to get together with your mates, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to head to here.
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The Super Duper Family Festival
Manchester City Centre
Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 February
A brand new festival full of free activities for all the family has arrived in Manchester, and you only have a couple of days left to get involved.
The new event, which is called The Super Duper Family Festival and is free to attend, is featuring a series of pop-up play zones at a variety of outdoor spaces and popular venues across the city centre, all of which will be free to use and ready to explore.
There’s six play zones providing unique experiences for all ages.
Find out more here.
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Fancy designing your own Rudy’s pizza to be in with a chance of getting added to the menu?
Oh, and getting free pizza for a year too if yours is chosen?
Yes that’s right, you can leave your mark on the Manc pizza world in one of the biggest ways imaginable by taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – the chance to get your pizza creation on the official menu of Manchester-born pizzeria Rudy’s for all to enjoy.
To be in with a chance of winning, budding pizza aficionados just need to roll up their sleeves and submit their pizza creation by 9 March, when entries will be judged on creativity, adherence to Neapolitan style, seasonality, taste and marketability.
As well as your creation being chosen, there’s plenty of other prizes to be won too – including pizza ovens, and of course, that year’s supply.
Find out more here.
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Dear Evan Hansen
Palace Theatre Manchester
Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 February
Smash-hit musical Dear Evan Hansen is currently out on a UK tour for the first time ever, and it’s making a stop off here Manchester this week.
Known for being one of the most beloved new musicals of the last decade, having scooped up dozens of coveted awards after it first debuted on Broadway and the West End, Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of Evan – an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in.
But the only thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth, and now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have.
Find out more and get last-minute tickets here.
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The Wizarding Adventure
East Lancashire Railway
Wednesday 19 February
The hugely popular wizard-themed steam train will be back travelling through Greater Manchester once again this week.
Aspiring witches and wizards for all ages are invited to enrol in the spellbinding school of sorcery on the East Lancashire Railway this summer as they take a “wacky and wonderful whistle stop tour” of the Wizard Academy.
They’ll get to learn to become a master of mystery and magic during this immersive interactive experience through the Irwell Valley of wonders that’s hauled by a genuine steam – and spell – powered train.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Did you see that Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 free tickets to kids this year?
The UK’s largest charity zoo is on a mission to help nature to “survive and thrive”.
And so, in a bid to do just that, has announced that it will once again be handing out tens of thousands of tickets to schoolchildren for completely free of charge, so that they can explore the zoo up close and learn all about the inspiring work the conservation charity does.
With the hopes of empowering as many youngsters as possible, and sparking their passion for saving species once again, the zoo has now opened the scheme back up for the 2025/26 season – with a whopping 33,000 tickets available for schools, nurseries, and colleges to claim.
Those who secure tickets will have the opportunity to visit the zoo between this November and February 2026.
Find out more here.
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Flight Academy
Runway Visitor Park
Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 February
Little Mancs can try their hand at becoming a pilot, as the popular Flight Academy is returning to Manchester Airport.
After proving to be massively popular with families during plenty of school holidays in recent years, the Flight Academy programme is back at Runway Visitor Park later this week, just in time for half term across the region.
During 90-minute sessions, curious kids will get the chance to learn all about the different job roles that help keep Manchester’s airport in action throughout the year.
Find out more and book tickets for £14 each here.
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Bottomless Pizza Brunch
GRUB
Saturday 22 February
GRUB is teaming up with Pizza Mutt to host a Bottomless Pizza Brunch this weekend.
We’re not just talking bottomless drinks either, you can also tuck into an unlimited number of Tavern-style pizza slices, choosing from toppings such as marinara, double cheese, and pepperoni (with vegan cheese available) – within each 90-minute session.
You can then wash it all down with a selection of drinks, including Aperol spritzes, lager and ales, cider, and both non-alcoholic and soft drinks.
Book tickets here.
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90s Brunch
Brickhouse Social
Saturday 22 February
Brickhouse Social’s 90s-themed brunch is back by popular demand.
The Manchester social hub is inviting music lovers down to enjoy 90-minutes of bottomless pizza slices, fizz, bottled beers, and select cocktails on its ooftop terrace every Saturday over the nexr couple of months – with a resident DJ playing all the best tunes from the nineties.
There’s two brunch sittings available, so you can opt for 1-3pm or 3:30-5:30pm, and you can get booking your table now.
Find out more and book here.
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Looking to book a last-minute half term staycation?
Well, Cheshire’s premium country estate, the beautiful Carden Park in Chester, could be just the place you’re look for, as it’s offering kids the chance to stay there for free alongside their families on selected dates this half term.
Families visiting Carden Park this half term can enjoy countless on-site activities for completely free of charge.
Think scenic trails around the estate’s luscious gardens, championship golf courses, vineyard and sculpture garden, as well as adrenaline-fuelled experiences like ziplines, climbing, archery, mini quad biking, and more for the thrill seekers.
Find out more and book your stay here.
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Featured Image – Chester Zoo | The Manc Group | ELR
