A new Peter Rabbit-themed ‘Secret Garden’ is coming to the Trafford Centre next month, and it’s set to be a “captivating indoor family experience”.
The Beatrix Potter character has been a mainstay of British literature for nearly 120 years, and now the shopping centre’s newest attraction is giving kids the chance to explore a secret garden that brings to life the world of Peter Rabbit, as well as the chance to meet the beloved bunny and all of his friends.
The Peter Rabbit Secret Garden will be at the Trafford Centre from 22 July – 30 August, but what exactly can you expect?
Well, when families arrive on the day, kids will be welcomed by the character of Mrs Rabbit, who needs some help decorating and filling her flower pots and explains that the adventurous Peter has run off to Mr McGregor’s garden.
Mrs Rabbit will ask families if they can go and look for Peter, but are brave enough to sneak past Mr McGregor with a little help from Squirrel Nutkin?
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This “enchanting experience” also includes a wide range of activities for all ages, including flowerpot decorating and seed planting, as well as a Peter Rabbit costume character meet and greet for each family or group – which includes a professional photography opportunity within a charming woodland setting.
That’s not all either, as kids will receive a special treat at the end of their trip, and merchandise and personalised photographs will also be available to purchase too.
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Speaking ahead of Peter Rabbit’s arrival, Zoe Inman – Centre Director at the Trafford Centre – said: “The charming stories of Peter Rabbit are timeless and treasured by all generations, so we’re delighted to be bringing a new indoor summer experience that the whole family will enjoy.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering once again with the Trafford Centre to bring a new summer experience,” added Thomas Merrington, Creative Director at Penguin Ventures.
“Families will love exploring this new installation, especially as they’ll get to meet and greet the official Peter Rabbit costume character at the end.”
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The attraction lets kids explore a secret garden that brings to life the world of Peter Rabbit / Credit: Adrien Welch
Tickets for The Peter Rabbit Secret Garden are now available to get your hands on at £10 for children and £12 for adults, with advanced booking highly recommended.
Relaxed and inclusive sessions will also run every Wednesday at 10am and 4.30pm, featuring smaller groups of visitors and quieter music.
The experience has been designed to comply with current COVID-19 guidelines.
You can find more information via the Trafford Centre website.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
A hilarious and award-winning Star Wars burlesque show is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In a galaxy not so far away, a smash-hit Star Wars parody and burlesque show is coming to Manchester city centre in the New Year.
You may have heard of the funny Star Wars stripper show or even seen clips of it online, but rumour has it that nothing can quite prepare you for the cheekiness of seeing this romp in the flesh.
In case you’ve been completely immersed in the dark side until now, here’s what you can expect:
Now well over a decade into its success and more than 200 Las Vegas shows, ‘The Empire Strips Back’ made its long-awaited transatlantic debut earlier this year.
Getting away at London’s Riverside Studios from May and enjoying a run until this past August, the comedy-driven twist on the classic Star Wars stories and beloved sci-fi characters was an instant hit with us Brits.
It started in Australia way back in 2011 and has gone not only to tour across Europe, but land a coveted residency at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Nevada.
Fast, funny, feisty and by all accounts, fantastic.
Now set to seek out new padawans and storm-strippers all over the cosmos, and by that we mean the UK, ‘The Empire Strips Back: Burlesque Parody’ is coming to Manchester.
Set to land at Depot Mayfield in the New Year – next spring, specifically, we cannot wait to see how this goes down with Northern crowds.
The Manc leg is scheduled to kick off on 6 March and last until 8 May, 2026, with various dates and times of day available.
It’s also worth noting that this two-hour show, including intermission, is a strictly 18+ only event; if you’re interested, you can find out more info and grab your tickets right HERE.
Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent
Emily Sergeant
The biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent is making a much-anticipated return next summer.
Taking place every two years and now in its fourth iteration, Manchester Open exhibition sees the HOME Gallery walls filled with hundreds of artworks selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
The exhibition is open to all and welcomes entries from people of any level of experience, including established professionals, students, graduates, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs, and even first-time artists.
Artists are invited to submit work into eight different categories, with the aim of creating an exhibition ‘rich in variety’ for visitors to explore.
Manchester Open exhibition is set to return in 2026 / Credit: Jason Lock Photography
This means you’ll get to explore works of ceramics, digital/moving images, drawings, prints, paintings, photography, sculptures/installations, and textiles.
Several awards will also be up for grabs throughout the exhibition – which is set to run from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September 2026 – including a prestigious new award in honour of philanthropist and business leader, Kate Voke.
Three artists will also be awarded with artist development packages, managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery.
“Following our 10 year anniversary in 2025, we are looking forward to 2026 and welcoming applications to HOME’s biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s artistic talent,” explained Karen O’Neill, who is the CEO of HOME.
“With a record number of applications to the last Manchester Open, we’re hoping for even more in 2026 and to demonstrate how the city continues to grow as a place where artists and creativity can thrive.”
Manchester Open exhibition is taking place in 2026 from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September, and the application and submission process is now live – with all submissions being reviewed by the selection panel who make the final selection of work to be included in the exhibition.
Artists will only be able to submit one artwork, and the selection panel members will be announced in spring 2026.
Featured Image – Jason Lock Photography (Supplied)
Emily Sergeant -
23rd June 2021 
