Places to go

Looking for somewhere in or around Greater Manchester to take your little one? Here are some of the places Milo and I have rated for baby-friendliness, baby-changing, child-friendly cafes, accessibility (by buggy) and whether the staff look at Milo like he has two heads (or not).

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES & ATTRACTIONS

Albert Dock, Liverpool. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Lots of cafes, or go into Tate Liverpool (see below). Buggy-friendly? Yes, though lots of cobbles so prepare for a bumpy ride. Staff: n/a Baby-friendly? It’s probably not somewhere you’d go on its own, but the Albert Dock is home to the Tate, the Maritime Museum and, soon, a new waterfront museum. It’s got lots of water, jellyfish, the Mersey, cobbles and bits of maritime architecture dotted about and is a nice area for kids to leg it about and see something a bit different. Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool. Babychanging facilities: Yes, separate room with WC. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, with a nice courtyard garden that’s perfect for picnics. Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Bolton Museum, Gallery & Aquarium, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: No. Buggy-friendly? Yes, although there is an awkward flight of steps right in front of the Aquarium. The museum and art gallery are fully accessible. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, lots of hand-on stuff for kids. Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes, just don’t have any high hopes about the (very small) aquarium.

Cornerhouse, Oxford Street, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: No. Cafe: Yes, no highchairs. Buggy-friendly? No. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? No. Cost: Free. Worth it? Not really suitable for kids and not a very accessible building.

FACT, Wood Street, Liverpool. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes, though some of the digital installations can be a bit dark and scary (depending on the artwork). Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Head Over Heels, Albany Road, Chorlton. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Of course! Gets very, very busy during holidays and weekends. Cost: Active babies, £1.20, more for older kids. Worth it? Yes, a good rainy day back-up.

Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston. Babychanging facilities: Yes, but inside the (locked) disabled WC. Cafe: yes, but no highchairs, so difficult to juggle baby and food. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, though nothing specifically for kids. Cost: free. Worth it? Yes, though a better cafe would make for an easier time of it.

John Rylands Library, Deansgate, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: yes, with highchairs. Buggy-friendly? Yes, with lifts, though it’s more restricted in the old part of the building. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes, interactive screens fun for babies to play with; lots to look at, range of textures (wood, stone) to touch. Cost: free. Worth it? Yes.

The Lowry, Salford Quays, Salford. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes. Cost: free. Worth it? Yes.

Manchester Art Gallery, Moseley Street, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes, our favourite in Manchester and available in both the womens and the mens’ WCs. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs plus children’s menu. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Not as friendly as you’d expect. Baby-friendly? Yes, interactive gallery is fab and often has child-friendly exhibitions. Note the mini family art club (under 5s) every second Friday of the month, 10.30am-11.30am, plus story bags on loan for ages 3-6. Cost: free. Worth it? Yes.

Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs and kids’ menu, plus picnic area on the top floor. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, very, with a fantastic ‘play and learn’ area on the top floor, plus loads of activities and child friendly displays. Note that is has ‘Magic Carpet’ activities for the under 5s (last Friday of every month, 11am-Midday) and monthly ‘Big Saturdays’ for older ones (11am-4pm). Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Museum of Science & Industry, Liverpool Road, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs and child-friendly menu. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, the top-floor ‘Xperiment’ exhibition is full of interactive exhibits, plus there’s an under 5′s soft play area. Note the ‘Xperitots’ session, first Wednesday of every month, 10am-11.30am, presumably aimed at toddlers, plus storytelling at 10.30am on weekends. Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though you’ll need to be careful around some of the sculptures – little hands and expensive artworks don’t always mix. Staff: A friendly bunch. Baby-friendly? Reasonably: while there’s no dedicated play area (like Manchester Art Gallery), there are free kids’ activities, particularly at weekends and during the holidays. Cost: Free; around £5 for adults for special exhibitions. Worth it? Yes.

The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes, plus one highchair and kids’ menu. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Like MAG, a bit distant. Baby-friendly? Reasonably: there’s an ‘art cart’ in one of the galleries plus lots of weekend/holiday activities. Note the under 5s activity workshops every second, third and fourth Monday of the month (why can’t they just have it every Monday?!), 10.30am-11.30am; ‘Colourful Sundays’ for all ages, 1.30pm-3.30pm, and ‘Arty Picnics’ for the under 5s, bring your own grub, every first Tuesday of the month, 11am-12.30pm (every week during the school holidays). Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Urbis, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs (though they’re pretty big and not suitable for tiny babies). Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, though all activities for kids are aimed at the over 2′s. Still lots to look at though not much to touch. Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

PARKS, COUNTRYSIDE & OUTDOOR

Arley Hall, Cheshire. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though some rough ground. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs and kids’ menu. Baby-friendly? Fabulous semi-formal gardens with lots of space for legging it about, plus a woodland, an art trail and towering scones in the cafe. Cost: Adults, £5.50, under 5s free (+ £2.50 if you want to visit the Hall). Worth it? Yes, though take a picnic (or just do tea and cake) as the cafe’s on the expensive side…

Dunham Massey, Cheshire. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though it’s better if you can ditch the buggy. Cafe: Yes. Baby-friendly? Great gardens with lots of legging it about space, and a load of deer (which is nice). There are ponds, too, so keep an eye on roaming children. Cost: Adults, £6, children £3 (plus car parking), £8.50/£4.25 if you want to go to the house as well. Worth it? If you’re on a budget, just pay for the car park and you can walk around the deer park for free (the gardens are no great shakes).

Fletcher Moss Gardens, Millgate Lane, Didsbury. Buggy-friendly? Yes, although the tiered rock garden isn’t. Baby-friendly? Yes, a good woodland trail is entertaining for kids. Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Lyme Park/The Gritstone Trail, Disley, Cheshire. Buggy-friendly? No. Baby-friendly? Yes, lots to see (including herds of deer and a folly). Cost: Free. Worth it? Yes.

Saint Luke’s, Leece Street/Berry Street, Liverpool. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Baby-friendly? It’s a sweet park/garden in the centre of Liverpool. A bit close to thundering traffic and we did spot a random rat in the undergrowth… it’s also the site of a Yoko Ono artwork during Liverpool Biennial. Cost: Free. Worth it? Only if you’re passing.

Tatton Park, Cheshire. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Cafe: Yes, though hideously overpriced (and the food ain’t that great). Take your own picnic. Baby-friendly? Lots of open space, different gardens to explore, a play area near the car parks, working farm…. Cost: Car park £4.50, plus separate fees for the gardens, house and farm. Worth it? Again, a bit on the steep side, though the gardens are well worth the additional entrance fee.

SHOPS

Busy Bee, Wilbraham Road, Chorlton. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Baby-friendly? It’s a toy shop, so yes. Worth it? Yes, friendly staff and a good range of toys. Note that the shop is currently closed but hopes to re-open as a co-operative soon.

Hamleys at Kendals, Deansgate, Manchester. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Baby-friendly? Another toy shop, but as well as the stuff on sale there are a few activity tables kids can get busy at. Sadly, the slide is now out of bounds. Worth it? Yes, if you’ve got money to burn (or a kid to bribe).

Little Nut Tree Toys, Manchester Road, Chorlton. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though the shop is small. Baby-friendly? Another toy shop, one that has an emphasis on wholesome, wooden toys and crafts. Worth it? Yes, good value for quality toys, and staff who are very, very friendly (and don’t seem to mind much when your toddler decides to get all the balls out of the trunk and roll them, one by one, underneath the shelves. Ahem).

Topshop, The Arndale, Manchester. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Absolutely lovely – offering to fetch and carry items of clothing and suggesting a booking with the style advisor to make shopping with baby even easier. Baby-friendly? Yes, as long as you don’t mind letting the little one touch things! Worth it? Yes.