Things to do near Manchester Airport

As the city is home to two of the Premier League’s biggest football clubs, take the opportunity to explore their magnificent stadiums on an immersive tour. Take in the magic of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium or venture to The Etihad, Manchester City’s home. Both experiences allow you to get behind-the-scenes, granting access to areas normally reserved for players and management. Old Trafford’s state-of-the-art interactive museum documents 130 years of the beautiful game and there’s ample opportunity to pose for photos amidst numerous trophies.

Delve into Manchester’s rich industrial legacy at the Science and Industry Museum, which explores the city’s place at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. Machinery, steam engines and locomotives are joined by engaging interactive exhibits that provide fun for all the family. Get to grips with space age technology, fighter jets and the printing press, as well as an extraordinary astronaut virtual-reality experience called Space Descent VR with astronaut Tim Peake.

Home to an incredible 140,000 pieces of footballing memorabilia, of which more than 2,500 are displayed at any one time, the National Football Museum is a celebration of the beautiful game. It’s the world’s largest football museum and you can discover its interactive games and exhibits on a guided tour or explore its many floors at your own pace. Look out for the Jules Rimet trophy and for the football used in the famed 1966 World Cup Final.

Named after famous artist LS Lowry, The Lowry is a contemporary arts centre that is home to an array of performance spaces, bars, restaurants and shops. Situated on the waterfront in MediaCityUK, you can browse 300 of Lowry’s works depicting humanistic urban landscapes in the galleries, discover more on a guided tour, immerse yourself in a workshop or take in a theatrical performance.

With an exquisite collection of British art, as well as pieces from major European artists, the Manchester Art Gallery has a host of galleries and exhibits to keep you busy. It holds more than 25,000 objects of fine art, costume and decorative pieces that have been amassed over the last 200 years. Browse the world’s most extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite art and enjoy a permanent assortment by Dutch and early Renaissance masters, as well exciting exhibitions of modern and contemporary art – there’s something to catch everybody’s eye.

The architecture of Daniel Lubeskind’s aluminium clad Imperial War Museum North is just as impressive as the vast set of exhibitions within. The museum examines war from the beginning of the 20th century and focuses on its impact upon society – what results is an immersive experience that provides a unique look into conflict, examining the role of women, and the influence of science and technology along the way.

Soar like a bird in the heart of Trafford City at iFly indoor skydiving – a 4.3 metre diameter wind tunnel that is suitable for people of all abilities. Experience the feeling of freefall without a parachute as instructors guide you every step of the way. Humans may not be meant to fly, but now you can!

With galleries devoted to everything from archaeology and geology to zoology and botany, the Manchester Museum delivers natural history and social science in abundance. Don’t miss the collection of mummies in the Egyptology section and the work of Dr Richard Neave, who has used pioneering techniques and technology to reconstruct the faces of people that have been dead for thousands of years.

Dive into the world of marine life at SEA LIFE Manchester, an aquarium with a vast number of tropical fish and other incredible creatures. Explore Turtle World, Shark Shipwreck and Seahorse Nursery, get up close to stingrays and sharks and find out more during regular talks and feeding times.