You can usually guarantee one thing over the school holidays in Manchester and that's rain.
But in a city that has its fair share of damp days, there's certainly no shortage of places to take the kids for some indoor fun.
Thankfully, with restrictions easing, indoor venues have been allowed to reopen in time for half term.
But with capacities reduced in line with Covid safety measures, many places are operating with advanced tickets only, so don't hang around if there's something in particular the kids want to do.
We've been taking a look at some of the indoor places you can head to if you need to escape the rain.
Manchester
Manchester Museum
The museum will be back open for half term, with restricted opening times of 11am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday.
All the natural history galleries are open and free to visit, including Stan the T Rex and the Vivarium.
Admission is free but advance booking preferred via the website. Up to six tickets can be booked for groups of up to six people, including children, or two households.
The Printworks
There's loads for families to do inside Manchester's Printworks.
Treetop Adventure Golf is back open from May 19 with its two courses - Tropical Trail and Explorer - and you can grab some handmade pizza from the Pizza Cabana.
The early bird offer is running through half term, to play two courses for the price of one when teeing off before midday Monday to Friday.
See our Manchester Family Facebook page here for a chance to win a VIP experience with 36 holes, pizza and drinks.
Tenpin is open too if you fancy a game of bowling and the place also features table tennis tables, arcades games and more.
Escape Reality is offering half price escape rooms Monday to Friday until June 18 - using the code WEAREBACK50 at the checkout - and the Vue cinema is also back open with films costing from £2.99 for Mini mornings, running throughout the school holidays.
Electric Gamebox
Electric Gamebox, previously Electric Playbox, opened in Manchester Arndale last year.
The interactive gaming attraction is made up of 10 'Playbox' rooms, where games are projected onto all four walls.
Players wear lightweight visors with trackers that allow them to interact with the game through motion sensor and touch screen technology.
There are five adventures to choose from, including a trip back to 1984 to outwit an alien race taking over the globe, or a voyage into the future to rescue a royal family. See the website for more details and to book.
Science and Industry Museum
The museum is reopening in time for May half term and families can book free tickets online now.
It will be the first opportunity for visitors to see the attraction's new £5m gallery space, which will launch with a spy-themed exhibition.
Top Secret: From ciphers to cyber security, explores communications intelligence and cyber security over the course of 100 years.
Find out more in our article and book tickets online here, choosing a time slot you wish to arrive.
Manchester Art Gallery
There's always something to keep the little people happy at Manchester Art Gallery.
Initially the venue will open 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday.
If you’re visiting the main gallery, you won’t need to book a ticket – you can just walk in. See the website for more details of what's happening.
National Football Museum
To coincide with the reopening on May 27, the National Football Museum is celebrating the legends of the game in its first ever dedicated Hall of Fame exhibition.
Opening in the Score Gallery, the exhibition focuses on those players and managers who have contributed significantly to the game of our lives: breaking records, winning trophies, and paving the way for future generations, on and off the field.
You can book tickets now.
Kickair
The indoor freestyle park is back from May 17 with its inflatable-filled Air Zone, football-inspired Kick Zone and lots more.
You can book a slot for an individual zone, or buy a crossover pass giving access to both.
Visit the website for more details and to book.
The Crystal Maze Live Experience
Based on the popular 90s TV show, groups of up to six can book to take on the challenges of The Crystal Maze.
They're all based inside four adventure zones - Medieval, Industrial, Aztec and Futuristic - and they're all against the clock.
There are no mixed teams so you'll only take part with those people you've booked with.
It's open to anyone 13 or over, with a minimum height restriction of 1.2m. See the website for more.
Elizabeth Gaskell's House
There's a free cat-themed trail happening at the home of Elizabeth Gaskell, Manchester’s very own literary house.
In a nod to Elizabeth’s cat Cranford, the activity trail is packed full of jokes and activities for the kids - plus some cuddly cats to spot as you make your way around the house.
Explore at your own pace to find the feline friends and discover each cat adorned by an outfit made by the volunteers, who have all had fun creating their literary inspired ensembles.
The event is running from May 26 to June 6 and must be booked online.
Junk Yard Golf
Junk Yard is home to three mashed up nine-hole crazy golf courses created from 'pre-loved and reclaimed random shizzle'.
Groups can putt their way through all sorts of bizarre holes; think UV garage, scrapyard slides, circus freaks and jungle bathtubs.
It's largely aimed at an older crowd, but children are allowed in Sunday to Thursday before 7pm.
You can book for groups of up to six on the website.
TeamSport Karting
TeamSport indoor karting is back in Manchester in time for half term.
The multi-level track is 550 metres long and is underneath the Manchester Arena car park.
The Manchester Victoria site opens from May 17, as does the track at Trafford Park.
Visit the website to book.
Salford
MediaCityUK
The Box on the Docks are back at the Quays which families can hire as a private dining pod.
The 30 brightly coloured sheds and greenhouses have been revamped to give them a summer vibe and are set within MediaCityUK’s award winning gardens.
If the weather is nice enough, the Blue Peter garden is there for little ones to enjoy and there's also a free family art trail to take part in.
Based on the best-selling picture book Luna Loves Art, written by Joseph Coelho, with illustrations by Fiona Lumbers, families are tasked with finding six artworks created by Fiona whilst enjoying the public spaces around MediaCityUK.
Each piece of art is inspired by pieces from the original book and can be found at The Open Centre, through the Gardens and into Quayside MediaCityUK. More information, and trail maps are available online or you can pick up a map from The Open Centre or Quayside MediaCityUK Customer Services.
Ordsall Hall
A Grade I listed Tudor manor house dating back 750 years, Ordsall Hall is a stone's throw from the Quays and popular place to take the kids for a few hours, especially if the weather is warm enough to enjoy the gardens too.
The venue is reopening in time for May half term and will open Monday and Tuesday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm.
The museum shop and café and formal gardens are free entry for walk up visitors, but you'll need to pre-book to visit the Hall’s heritage spaces and museum galleries. See online for more details.
Bounce Central
Trampoline centre Bounce Central is now taking bookings.
As well as trampolines and a giant air bag, it also features a Jurassic jungle soft play area for younger ones.
See the website to book.
Trafford
Namco Funscape Trafford Centre
Another place you can try and get that all-important strike is at the bowling alley inside the Trafford Centre.
Groups of six or two households can book a lane. There's an arcade to enjoy too, as well as dodgems.
Book online.
Play Factore
It's soft play on a mammoth scale at Play Factore, which houses the largest play frame in the UK along with other attractions including a full indoor laser tag arena, four Valojump trampolines, a zip wire and VR.
Bookings are now being taken online.
Chill Factore
The Snow Park is back open at Chill Factore for families to enjoy everything from thrill filled sledging to Downhill Donuts.
Children must be aged four to enjoy the activities, with the Ice Slide limited to ages six and above.
Sessions can be booked here.
Legoland
The 'ultimate indoor Lego playground' is back open for half term featuring the Lego Ninjago City Adventure, Miniland, a Lego 4D cinema and more.
There's a special treat in store for Manchester City fans after the attraction commemorated The Blues' Premier League win with a huge Lego sculpture of the Etihad stadium and the title trophy.
Capacity is limited and tickets must be pre-booked online here.
SeaLife
From sharks to clownfish you can see them all at Sea Life Manchester.
In fact you watch the sharks swimming over your head as you walk through the ocean tunnel.
Tickets are available to pre-book online.
IWM North
Take a step back in time at the Imperial War Museum North.
Explore the timeline from the First World War to the present day in the Main Exhibition Space, or immerse yourself in the Big Picture Show, a series of 360 surround sound projections, including footage from Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old.
Discover the forgotten histories of service personnel and civilians who came to Britain during the Second World War in Mixing It: The Changing Faces of Wartime Britain, or see conflict through the eyes of artists in Reactions.
The attraction is reopening from May 19 - Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm - with tickets available here.
Inflata Nation
The attraction, packed full of inflatable fun will reopen on Saturday, May 22 - with extra health and safety measures in place.
As well as drop slides, the wall-to-wall inflatable features a fun ‘shooting gallery’ - featuring air cannons that fire plastic balls at special targets, a 20ft tall ‘jump off’ platform - where guests can don a harness before taking a leap of faith to freefall to the floor below, and a gladiator podium.
There's also spinning dodgems, a tilting slide, an obstacle course and a huge ‘Inflata Bubbles’ section, designed so that visitors can achieve 'optimum bounce heights'. Tickets can be booked online.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
The home of indoor skydiving, participants are suspended in a column of air which reproduces the feeling of freefall.
Soar like a bird in the first 14ft (4.3m) diameter iFLY wind tunnel to be built in the UK. Book online here.
Total Ninja
There are more inflatables to enjoy at Total Ninja.
As well as a Ninja Academy area to tackle, there's also a Ninja Inflatable Course, for ages four plus, with a smaller soft play area for threes and under.
Sessions can now be booked online.
Paradise Island Adventure Golf
Adventure golf is back inside the Trafford Centre as Paradise Island reopens.
There are two 18-hole courses to complete - the Tiki Hut Trail, with wheelchair and push pram access, and Temple Ruins Adventure.
Bookings can be made for six people but only four people are allowed on at once so you may have to play in separate groups.
Bury
Bury Transport Museum
Free tickets can be booked online for the popular Bury Transport Museum where the industrial heritage of the North West is brought to life.
Through stunningly restored vehicles, original artefacts and interactive exhibits, families can explore the lives and jobs of people in the early 20th Century.
There is plenty to keep both adults and children entertained, from discovering the horse drawn tram that was once a chip shop, learning about how 'Hilda' the steam roller almost met her end, meeting the bus with a history in movies or taking a look around the smallest museum inside of a museum in the UK.
Tickets can be booked online for half term and are valid for one hour.
Bury Art Museum
The art museum is back open with holiday workshops running over half term.
Themed craft sessions for children aged 4-11 are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 10.30am til noon throughout the school holidays. £3 per child and siblings under 4 are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The museum's tea room is family-friendly and all floors of the building are accessible via a lift.
Bolton
Amazonia
Amazonia is an indoor play centre which features climbing frames, The Lost Valley Adventure Golf and its very own Jungle Express train.
Hidden away in The Vaults at Bolton's Market Place, there's also a cafe there selling ice cream, drinks and more.
It's back open now with tickets available online.
Bolton Library and Museum
The Museum and Library are a big hit with families, especially the free aquarium where you can meet exotic fish, creatures and wildlife from all over the world, including flesh eating piranhas from South America.
Bolton's Egypt exhibition is always popular with kids of all ages, especially if they've been learning the subject at school.
Families can see the 'Land and People' gallery, which is the largest and brightest gallery space there, and offers 'a vivid celebration of life in Ancient Egypt'.
Five large glass archways are filled with artefacts relating to the everyday lives of Ancient Egyptian people.
For younger ones there's a Bear Hunt taking place from May 29 to June 5.
There will be eight bears hidden around the museum in a special sensory trail. All you need to do is find the bears, follow their instructions and find the Bear Selfie Station to receive your “I Survived the Bear Hunt” certificate and sticker.
See the website for more details on opening times.
Air Vault
Greater Manchester’s first combined inflatable and trampoline park features a new airbag and jump tower, an obstacle course, slides, ninja run and climbing wall.
There's a new entrance and one-way system to minimise contact and a refurbished mezzanine with cafe area.
Bookings - including Toddler Time sessions - can be made online.
Bolton Steam Museum
The visitor attraction displays the largest collection of working mill engines in Europe.
Entirely volunteer run, the museum has been developed over 20 years and showcases many of the manufacturers that powered the North.
Its popular Steam Days are returning this May bank holiday - for Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 31 - for the first time since August last year.
There is no charge for admission but a donation is always gratefully received. Keep an eye on the website for more details.
Jump Xtreme and That Fun Place
There are two venues in one at Jump Xtreme as it also houses That Fun Place inside it.
Jump Xtreme has stunt air bags, tumble tracks and more than 118 trampolines. There's also a dodgeball court and slam dunk hoops.
That Fun Place is for younger ones - primarily toddlers through to 12-year-olds - and is an adventure play zone featuring three levels of activities including swinging donuts, a spiral slide, a rope course and more.
Tickets for both can now be booked online.
Oldham
Stonerig Raceway
Stonerig Raceway is a Scalextric fun venue with seven large themed tracks to race on.
There's also a life-size Formula One simulator which tests your skills in a realistic environment.
The place is reopening from May 22, operating Wednesday to Sunday with advanced bookings only. Call 0161 4782184 or 07562 753999 to book a slot.
Visit stonerigraceway.co.uk for more details.
Gallery Oldham
The gallery is welcoming visitors back from May 18 with new opening times of 10am to 5pm Thursday to Saturday.
Super Saturday events aren't yet back in person but there are activities to join in with online here.
Stockport
Stockport Nerf Centre
The Nerf Centre is one of only two licensed Nerf combat centres in the country.
Aimed at six year olds and above, participants can have a go on the 'heavy gun' Blaster Range and enjoy the combat area.
Sessions can be booked online here.
Stockport Air Raid Shelters
Carved into the natural sandstone cliffs, Stockport's intriguing network of underground tunnels offers visitors an unparalleled insight into life in wartime Britain in the 1940s.
The tunnels, which date back to the Second World War, once held thousands of people as they sheltered from Nazi bombs.
You can learn about the experiences from the displays in the tunnels and from the state of the art audio-guides. You can also to find mementos of the 1940s in the shop.
They're reopening from May 20 and tickets can be booked online.
Tameside
Cockfields Farm
The farm is now back open inside and out and it's expanded with a new giant indoor sandpit so that kids can play whatever the weather.
On the border of Oldham and Tameside, there are lots of animals for children to meet and feed including sheep, reindeer, Gloria the pig and the new baby goats.
All activities are included in the admission price and bookings must be made online in advance.
Portland Basin Museum
The museum is reopening from May 19 with slightly reduced hours of 10am to 3pm Wednesday to Sunday.
This half term it is launching the museum’s first ‘Make, Do and Play’ activity bag that will contain everything needed to make a nature inspired craft activity, as well as walking booklets and activity sheet.
You can book your visit to Portland Basin Museum and get your craft bag via the website here.
Adventure Medlock
Clip n Climb and high ropes are returning to Adventure Medlock from May 22 for weekends only.
For Clip n Climb there's a maximum of 20 spaces per time slot, with eight allowed on the high ropes.
Sessions must be booked in advance online.
Wigan
Velocity Wigan
There's another Clip n Climb at Velocity Trampoline Park, as well as a new inflatable section.
Children can enjoy the assault course, jump tower and an interactive slide as part of their jump session.
If they want to do it all then you can book an hour's jump session and an hour's Clip n Climb for £18.
Visit the website to book in advance.
Atherton Gun Range
Children from the age of eight can have a go at shooting at Atherton Gun Range, which boats the largest public indoor air gun range in the UK.
Rifles can be hired and there's full tuition to make sure that novice shooters know what they're doing.
During lockdown bosses installed fully electric, interactive, robotic recall targets, which means people can send their targets to the distance of their choice, whenever they like, all at the touch of a button on their phone.
Visit the website to book.
Ninja Warrior
If you fancy a challenge then you can put your stamina to the test at Ninja Warrior UK Adventure.
Based on the concept of ITV's prime time show, children and adults can tackle the ninja obstacles, take on the gladiator or enjoy the huge inflatable zone, which features foam pits, slides, a ball pool and climbing walls.
It features two ninja runs for children aged five to 14 and two for over 14s. The big inflatable zone is for ages five and over.
For under fours there's a smaller inflatable area as well as a soft play frame.
Swipe right through the gallery below to see more images of Ninja Warrior UK Adventure
To find out more, or book a session, visit the website here.
Rochdale
Puttstars
There's mini golf and an amusement area to enjoy at Puttstars at Rochdale Riverside.
Puttstars promises customers 'mini golf with a unique and modern twist, thanks to three interactive and fun filled nine-hole courses'.
Gone are the days of pencil and paper scoring. Instead, scores are digitally calculated using high-tech screens at each hole and totted up as players make their way around.
There's a bar and diner at the venue selling food and drinks including pizzas, hot dogs and shakes.
Visit the website to book.
Flip Out Rochdale
Rochdale's biggest indoor trampoline and adventure park is back open with a ninja warrior course, laser maze and lots more.
There's a viewing gallery and cafe upstairs, so parents can watch and admire as their kids are perfecting their flipping skills - unless you want to show them how it's done that is!
Visit the website to book online. Or see the Manchester Flip Out here.
Cheshire and elsewhere
Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield
Space craft activities are being planned at Jodrell Bank over half term.
Simply drop by the new giant tipi and have a go at some family craft activities on offer.
The Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition features many different types of objects which can be found in space.
Youngsters are invited to find out more about some of these objects and set their creativity to work by making their very own space craft to take home.
Sessions run from May 29 to June 6. See the website for more details.
Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool
Another popular attraction in Blackpool is the waterpark and sessions can be booked online for half term week.
It features the Master Blaster, the world’s longest Indoor Roller Coaster waterslide, Aztec Falls, Sidewinder and more.
Families and younger guests can enjoy the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool, Treetops water chutes, the Caribbean Storm Treehouse and Fort Riptide.
Visit the website to book.
Quarry Bank, Wilmslow
The mill is open from May 17 with 25 people being admitted every 15 minutes and a one-way route in place.
While your ticket allows you to explore the gardens and estate as much as you like on the day you visit, they can't guarantee everyone will be able to visit the mill, particularly on very busy days.
The Apprentice House is back open too from 11am to 4pm. Visitors can discover where Quarry Bank's child workers lived, ate and slept, or explore the gardens they tended after long shifts in the mill.
There will be a limited number of daily tours, so ask at Visitor Reception on arrival if you'd like to visit the Apprentice House.
The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Preston
Situated next to the Barton Grange Garden Centre, The Flower Bowl houses everything from crazy golf and bowling to curling sessions and a cinema - on sofa style seating.
It's perfect for a rainy day as everything is inside.
Crazy golf is in the Secret Garden, which is outdoors yet still under cover and takes you round flower-filled borders, water features and garden statues.
There's eight lanes of bowling open during the same hours and on certain days you can book on an hour-long Try Curling session, for which the minimum age is 11.
Visit the website for more details.
