What's still on this summer: things to do with a baby in Chorlton, South Manchester and beyond
A summer update from The Nest Collective
It's true, the school holidays slow things down but not as much as you might think! Here's what's confirmed as running through July and August 2026, all checked directly against each venue's website so you don't turn up to a locked door.
Always worth a final check before heading out, as things can change at short notice.
Regular sessions still running
Owen's Little Music Makers runs on Mondays only during the summer holidays: three weeks at St Clement's Church, Edge Lane, Chorlton (M21 9AE). 9:30–10:30 and 10:45–11:45. £6 first child, £4 siblings. The website isn't always up to date so follow the Facebook page for the exact weeks.
Pramactive continues through July at Longford Park on Monday mornings at 11am and Tuesday mornings at 10am. It pauses in August — so make the most of the sunny July sessions while they're on. £7. forbabyandmemanchester.co.uk
Dance Like a Mother at Chorlton Central Church runs most Wednesdays through the summer with a couple of gaps in August. Check @dancelikeamother on Instagram for the specific weeks. 10:30–11:30am, £9. First class £8.
Mama & Me Dance Class in Chorlton on Wednesdays at 11:30am. More sling dancing! Classes are still running through the summer. Mama and Me
Storytime at Chorlton Library continues through the holidays on Friday mornings, 11am–12pm. Free, no booking needed.
Bloom Baby Classes and Rhythm and Rhyme are both still running through the summer - check their websites for current dates. bloombabyclasses.com and rhythmandrhyme.co.uk
Walking Mums Club continues across Manchester through the summer, though a few walks were recently cancelled due to the heatwave, so check their Instagram @walking_mums_club before heading out. The walks most local to you are Alexandra Park on Tuesday at 11:30am, Hulme Park on Wednesdays at 10am and Levenshulme (Highfield Country Park) on Thursday at 11am. walkingmumsclub.co.uk/walks.
Little Seedlings at St Margaret's Playing Fields, Happy Cats at St Edmund's and St John's Playgroup on Ayres Road, Old Trafford are all still running through the summer.
Community Day at Platt Fields Market Garden continues every Wednesday from 10am, with a stay and play until 12pm. Free, donations welcome. Check @plattfields_marketgarden for updates.
Sure Start Family Fun Sessions - free drop-in summer sessions across Manchester, no booking needed. Siblings up to 11 welcome. Sessions include arts and crafts, singing, stories, messy play and more. The most local to Chorlton and Whalley Range:
- Whalley Range Sure Start (M16 8HE) — Thursdays 6 August and 20 August, 1pm–2:30pm
- Old Moat Sure Start (M20 1DE) — Wednesdays 29 July and 12 August, 1pm–2:30pm; plus a Southways event on 25 August, 11am–2pm at The Green Space on Old Moat Lane
- Fallowfield — National Play Day at Lakeside Centre, Platt Fields Park (M14 5LL) on 5 August, 10am–11:30am
- Burnage Sure Start (M19 1AG) — National Play Day at Westcroft Community Centre on 4 August, 11am–2pm; plus 27 August, 1pm–2:30pm at Burnage Sure Start
Sure Start centres also run Baby Messy Stay and Play sessions through the summer - drop in, no booking, just bring clothes you don't mind getting messy. Call your nearest centre to confirm dates.
Worth a special trip
PLAYTIME at the Whitworth Gallery 22 July – 28 August · Wednesday, Thursday and Friday · 1pm–4pm · Free
This is the one to make a habit of this summer. PLAYTIME takes over the Whitworth's galleries and outdoor spaces with a packed programme of free family activities for all ages, including a dedicated sensory play area for non-walking babies. This year's theme is inspired by the Entangled and Woven exhibition, with weaving and embroidery activities popping up throughout the building.
There's also a special drop-in event on Saturday 18 July, 11am–3pm, inspired by Hokusai and Hiroshige. Free.
Follow @whitworthfamilies for weekly updates on what's on each day. whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
Things of the Least at Manchester Art Gallery Until November 2026 - Free - manchesterartgallery.org/event/things-of-the-least
A proper exhibition designed for children under three and their families. Three purpose-built play structures based on how babies actually engage with the world: hiding and squeezing into small spaces, scattering things, and gathering together with materials. The result of a three-year research project with Manchester Met, Sure Start and local families.
Play sessions and baby socials run through the week, check the event page for the current timetable, as some sessions are term-time only. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the space is open to the public, 10am–4:30pm. City centre, free, and definitely worth building into your summer routine.
Z-arts Summer of Stories 28 July – 23 August · Tuesday–Saturday · Free
Three weeks of free storytelling and arts and crafts at Z-arts in Hulme, with a different theme each week. For children 0–8 and families. Spaces go quickly - book each week separately at z-arts.org.
Also on 5 August: National Play Day in Hulme Park, a free outdoor celebration of play right outside Z-arts. No booking needed.
MOSI summer programme Throughout the summer - Free with museum entry
The Science and Industry Museum has a full summer programme of free interactive events: live space shows, giant rockets, tinkering sessions and a Martian discovery trail. Good for a rainy day with a baby who's starting to take things in. msimanchester.org.uk
Little HOME at HOME Manchester 1–2 August 2026 - Free (some events need booking)
HOME's annual family festival is back on 1 and 2 August with a packed programme of free activities: theatre performances, storytelling, circus workshops, craft sessions, family dance with Afrocats, film screenings and drop-in creative sessions. Some events will need advance booking so keep an eye on the full programme when it goes live at homemcr.org. Even outside the festival dates, HOME's Creativity Corner runs regular baby and toddler drop-in sessions through the summer.
The Great Northern Giant Sandpit Throughout summer - Free - Great Northern, Deansgate, Manchester city centre
50 tonnes of sand in the heart of the city centre, with buckets and spades to borrow and wooden logs to sit on. Free, no booking needed — just turn up. Better suited to babies who can sit up and explore rather than very young babies, but a brilliant excuse to head into town with a friend and enjoy the surrounding bars and cafés. thegreatnorthern.com
Parktastic Throughout the summer - Various parks across Manchester - Free, no booking needed
Free play sessions every week in parks across Manchester, run by Manchester City Council. Worth knowing: activities are mostly suited to children aged 6 and over, so better for older siblings than small babies, but a good reason to get to the park if you're already heading out. Find your nearest session at childfriendlymanchester.co.uk
When it's too hot outside - soft play and play cafés
Sometimes the weather tips from lovely into unbearable, and you need somewhere cool and enclosed that isn't your living room. These are the best options near you.
Tiny Teds at Stretford Chester Centre · traffordleisure.co.uk/facilities/softplay-tiny-teds
A gentler option than a big soft play: baby and toddler sessions for under 5s at Stretford Sports Village, Monday to Thursday, 10am–11:30am. Soft play equipment, toys, books, music and a sing-along, with juice and biscuits for the children. Adult and child ticket £3.45; under 1s £1.50. Book in advance if you can as sessions can fill up in the holidays.
Head Over Heels - Unit 1A, Albany Trading Estate, Albany Road, Chorlton, M21 0AZ · headoverheelsplay.co.uk
Air conditioned with pollen-free filtered air, one of the best places to be on a hot day. Has a dedicated gated baby and toddler area (under 3s only) with a Space Sensory Room, two cafés including a rooftop Sky Terrace, a private feeding room and pram storage. Book in advance as it fills up quickly in the holidays. Open daily 9:30am–6:30pm. A minute's walk from Chorlton tram stop. Cashless only, socks required.
Let Loose - Stanley Square, Sale · letlooseplay.co.uk/sale
A 10-minute drive or easy tram ride from Chorlton. Has a toddler area and sensory room alongside the main frame. Free parking in the Stanley Square multi-storey. Check their website and social media for a current summer offer. Weekday morning Littlies on the Loose sessions include music and dance and are worth booking in advance for under 3s.
Little Explorers - Flixton Road, Urmston · little-explorersmcr.co.uk
A play café in Urmston town centre with multiple imaginative play areas, a dedicated sensory corner for small babies, and a café with clear sightlines so you can actually relax while they play. Open 7 days a week, free parking on site and nearby. A gentler option than a large soft play, compact enough to feel manageable with a very young baby.
What's paused for the holidays
The Lowry Babies Playtime - not available during school holidays. Back in September.
Bridgewater Hall Music Makers - no summer sessions. Next baby sessions are Monday 28 September (1:45pm and 2:45pm) and Friday 30 October. Book early — they sell out fast. bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Most regular playgroups - the majority of term-time playgroups pause over summer. Little Seedlings, Little Werbs, Bizzy B's, Meeting Place Playgroup and The Bethel Centre are all likely to be on a summer break. Check directly before going.
Swimming - a summer staple
If you haven't taken your baby swimming yet, summer is the perfect time to start. Two great local options:
Hough End Leisure Centre - 480 Princess Rd, Chorlton, M20 1HD. Has a leisure pool and runs parent and baby swimming sessions.
Moss Side Leisure Centre Library & Leisure Centre - Hulme High St, Hulme, Manchester M15 5NN. Recently refurbished pool close to Alexandra Park. Parent and baby sessions available
Remember that babies can go swimming from birth - there's no need to wait for any specific age or number of vaccinations, though a warm pool is more comfortable for very young babies.
Check better.org.uk for timetables.
One more resource worth bookmarking
Loads to Do - loadstodo.co.uk
A Manchester-based website listing free and low-cost activities for families across Greater Manchester, updated regularly. Useful for finding one-off events and anything we might have missed here.