8 Great Activities For The Elderly In Manchester

Manchester is a brilliant city for visitors of all ages, and it’s undergone significant redevelopment in recent decades. The city has plenty for visitors both old and young to enjoy, making it a great location for a multigenerational family day out, including plenty of attractions and activities for seniors.

Age UK has a great guide to activities for elderly people in Manchester, including craft groups and other social groups. But if you’re looking for ideas for days out when visiting a loved one in a care home, check out our recommendations below.

1. Take In Some Local History

Manchester is home to some fascinating history, so exploring its many museums is one of our top recommended activities for seniors visiting the city. 

Just a short bus or car ride from the city centre, you’ll find 84 Plymouth Grove, also known as Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. This property was home to the Gaskell family during the Victorian era, and was visited by the likes of Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens. See the Gaskell’s study, living room, dining room, and recently restored bedroom. There are also beautiful gardens, a tearoom, and a second-hand book sale every month.

A mere few streets away is The Pankhurst Centre at 62 Nelson Street, which was home to Emmeline Pankhurst and family from 1898 to 1907. This house (now a museum) is where the first meeting of the group later to be known as the Suffragettes took place. See the Pankhurst’s living quarters for yourself and learn all about the Suffragette movement.

2. Enjoy Afternoon Tea In A Beautiful Setting

If you’re looking for indoor activities for seniors, you can’t go wrong with an afternoon tea, and Manchester has some beautiful experiences on offer in stunning surroundings. 

Dating back to 1903, The Midland Hotel is an iconic Manchester site, with its grand architecture and gorgeous decor. Visit The Tea Room for afternoon tea, where you’ll find vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available, and you’ll have the chance to try the hotel’s very own tea blends, including Midland 1903 and Midland Jubilee.

For a more modern setting and breathtaking views across Manchester and beyond, visit Cloud 23, located on the 23rd floor of Beetham Tower, which was built in 2004. Tuck into traditional finger sandwiches, scones, and a selection of cakes 23 floors above the ground, and marvel at Manchester laid out before you.

3. Visit One Of Manchester’s Many Museums

Museums make fascinating activities for elderly and young family members alike, so they’re a good choice if you’re planning a day out with multiple generations. 

See L.S. Lowry’s much-loved paintings of industrial Manchester and Salford at The Lowry in Salford Quays. The Imperial War Museum North is just across the way from The Lowry, so it’s worth combining the two into one day out. Here, you’ll find exhibits telling the story of the First World War, Second World War, and Cold War, and their impact on society.

The People’s History Museum also makes for an incredibly interesting day out. Learn all about the history of democracy and workers’ rights, including through some fascinating recent history. Don’t miss the banner exhibition, which is steeped in local working class history.

4. Go On A Stadium Tour

Whether you’re a red, a blue, or neither, Manchester is steeped in footballing history, and a stadium tour of either Old Trafford or the Etihad makes for a brilliant day out for sports fans of all ages. You can easily travel to both stadiums via tram from the city centre, which also happens to be home to the National Football Museum, an excellent indoor activity for seniors.

Manchester City have played at the Etihad Stadium since 2003, but United have played at Old Trafford since 1910, so there’s plenty of history to discover. See the teams’ trophy cabinets and walk in the footsteps of your favourite players – tickets to a tour would make a great gift idea for a big birthday.

5. Sample Some Proper Northern Grub

If your loved one has moved away from their area to a care home in Greater Manchester to be closer to you, they may not be familiar with traditional northern fare. Eating out has to be one of our top activities for the elderly in Manchester, with so many wonderful restaurants throughout the city centre and its surrounding suburbs, including Altrincham and Didsbury.

Annies on Old Bank Street serves traditional dishes like hotpot and cheese and onion pie in smart, modern surroundings. Its dessert menu is irresistible, with classics such as jam roly poly and sticky toffee pudding. 

Just around the corner on Cross Street, you’ll find Mr Thomas’s Chop House. Since its opening in 1867, this traditional pub has been serving hearty grub to the people of Manchester. Go for a Sunday roast, or sample traditional fare like bacon chops, corned beef hash, or steak and kidney pudding.

6. See A Show

Indoor activities for seniors don’t get much more fun than a trip to the theatre, and Manchester has several wonderful venues to choose from. Catch a matinee at the Palace Theatre or the Manchester Opera House, which opened in 1891 and 1912 respectively, and still have many of their original period features. These theatres play host to musicals, plays, and comedians throughout the year, so there’s something to suit every taste. Make sure you get a treat from the traditional ice cream sellers during the interval.

Tickets to a show make a thoughtful gift idea for older relatives; if classical music is more their cup of tea, check out the programme at the Bridgewater Hall, which regularly hosts concerts.

7. Take A Boat Trip Through The City

Hop on board a boat at Spinningfields and travel down the Manchester Ship Canal towards the ultra-modern Media City complex, taking in Manchester and Salford’s industrial history along the way. Enjoy a round trip back to your starting point or get out and explore Media City. If boats aren’t for you, you can also easily get a tram to the area from the city centre.

If you’re looking for activities for elderly passengers once you disembark, there’s plenty to discover, including the Blue Peter Garden and the Countdown clock, and you’ll even find the Coronation Street Studio Tour just across the water – the perfect day out for soap fans.

If you visit Media City on the last weekend of the month, you’ll find the Salford Quays Makers Market, featuring stalls from independent traders selling everything from slices of cake to homemade candles. 

8. Explore Greater Manchester’s Stately Homes

If you have access to a car for your days out, venture a little further afield to explore some of Greater Manchester’s stately homes, such as the National Trust’s Dunham Massey, which has a beautiful rose garden and deer park. Lyme Park is also not too far away, just over the border into Cheshire, and provided the setting for Pemberley in the 1996 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. 

Gardens are some people’s favourite part of a stately home visit, so if that’s the case for you or your loved one, head to the new RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford for beautiful gardens at every time of year. It’s accessible via wheelchair, and has a great onsite cafe and garden centre – it’s also situated very close to our Worsley care home, Bridgewater Manor.

Greater Manchester Care Homes

New Care has a number of care homes in Greater Manchester, including Bramhall Manor, Cheadle Manor, Ashlands Manor Care Home in Sale, and Bridgewater Manor Care Home in Worsley. 

All of our care homes are equipped with stylish, luxurious facilities, and they’re all within easy reach of some fantastic attractions for days out with your loved ones. Contact us today to arrange a visit to one of our care homes, or if you have any questions for us at all.