Free Things to do with your Bored Teen this Summer

The summer holidays are finally here, and the hardest part is finding things for your sulky teen to do. Either bored or glued to their phones, this blog will give you some ideas about how to inspire them to leave the house. While there are plenty of activities that cost a fortune, finding things that they can do that don’t break the bank is harder. So here are some ideas that are either free or very low cost.

Museums and Art Galleries are always a good bet, and of course are free. The main art galleries are the Whitworth Art Gallery; the Manchester Art Gallery; Salford Art Gallery and Home Manchester. All the galleries offer some summer activities, but go to their websites to see what may be right for your family – links below. If you have a teen that actually loves art, there are some smaller galleries as well so don’t forget about Castlefield Gallery; Esea Contemporary.

www.manchesterartgallery.org

Whitworth Art Gallery (manchester.ac.uk)

Salford Museum & Art GalleryHOME Manchester (homemcr.org)

HOME Manchester (homemcr.org)

The museums are also free and offer a really good day out. If some of the more well known museums are getting them to down the phones, then maybe try one of the smaller ones: these are still free:

Police Museum –  open Tuesdays only 

57a Newton Street, Manchester M1 1ET

https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/

Here you can see some of the history of local crimes. You can see the genuine Victorian prison cells, as well as the courtroom upstairs. There is riot gear to try on, and evidence on show of some horrible murders!

The People’s History Museum

Open every day 10-5pm except Tuesdays

Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3ER

https://phm.org.uk/

If you have a budding politician, or someone who cares about social justice, this museum is a must.

The Pankhurst Centre

If your teen is keen on the history of women’s rights a visit here might be just the thing. The only  museum dedicated to the story of women’s fight to vote, this is a lovely little museum which was the home of the famous Pankhurst family. Book tickets by clicking the link below..

The Pankhurst Centre (pankhurstmuseum.com)

Open Thursdays and Sundays 11-4pm

The Hat Works

Yet again a museum unique to Greater Manchester, this one is all about…yes you guessed it..hats! In the past when everyone wore hats everyday, Stockport was one of the largest hat producing communities. You can explore the effects of this industry both good and bad in the museum; check out the manufacturing processes; and try on a load of hats!

Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 10am to 4pm

Booking is advised, admission is free, click the link to learn more and plan your visit.

Hat Works Museum – Stockport Council

The Great Outdoors

Parks are great to visit for free, and we have a lot of fantastic parks in Manchester. Heaton Park offers a huge variety of interests, as does Wythenshawe. Activity is vital for mental health, so if you can get them outside you will all be happier. But if they resist here are some outdoor places to visit that might catch their imagination.

If your teen is interested in Green values or just loves gardens then a visit to

Castlefield Viaduct is definitely worthwhile. The National Trust have converted a steel Victorian viaduct into a ‘sky garden’. Open everyday from 12.30 – so teenager hours already. Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester, M3 4LG. You can just wander round or book a tour at:

Castlefield Viaduct | Manchester | National Trust

Ordsall Hall in Salford is another great place to visit for free. It is the oldest building in Salford dating back more than 820 years, and has some lovely gardens. But what is going to make the teenagers more interested is that the hall reputedly has at least 3 ghosts! A great trip out and also has lots of activities for younger children for a small fee. Very worth checking out at:

Summer Holidays at Ordsall Hall – Ordsall Hall

Street art is definitely a cool thing, and you can get your teens walking(!) around the Northern Quarter checking out all the great artworks. Totally free, good exercise, and you can encourage them with an idea of dropping into Afflecks Palace while they are there. Click the link below to get an idea of where to go and plan a route.

Manchester Street Art: Self-Guided Walking Tour – Where Goes Rose?

Another thing that is always fun are car boot sales. Here at Burnage Rugby Club we host Burnage Rugby Club Car Boot Sale every Sunday! Again it gets those teens up and moving, free to attend, and if they want to spend some money it’s a lot cheaper than buying new. Tempt them with a budget they can spend, and you’ll get them there in a nanosecond. Find details at the link below.

Car Boot – Burnage RFC

Sport

Running can be done in any park, but if you want something more organised then for a small fee of £2 per session you can joining training sessions with the Sale Harriers at:

Wythenshawe Park Athletics Track, M23 0AB

Wythenshawe Tuesday and Thursday 6 – 7

And 

Sportcity Manchester, M11 3FF

Sportcity Monday and Wednesday 7 – 8:30

Swimming is free at council run pools for under 16s in their general sessions if you have registered. Register by going to the pool with proof of age and address. Visit Manchester Citz Council for details

Swimming in Manchester | Swimming in Manchester | Manchester City Council

Tennis. Apart from Wythenshawe Park where there are 8 courts and you can just turn up and play without booking or any fee, most other parks have some booking and fees.There are some free court sessions in a number of parks, but you must book in advance and you must join the LTA (Lawn tennis association) to do so. This is also free to join and they are trying to encourage more tennis in the country. Most sessions require a small payment, but there are some free on every court at the least popular times. Register here and book here:

Find & book a tennis court near you | LTA

Ebikes

For over 16s who are competent cyclists there is the opportunity to try out an ebike for an hour! Manchester is the European Capital of cycling 2024, and the money for this scheme has come from that. Visit the link below for more information.

Manchester Making cycling e-asier booking | Cycling UK

Sports Tasters

At Wythenshawe park on Saturday July 27th for 11-19 year olds between 4 and 7pm there is the chance to try a range of sports for free including archery, orienteering, climbing, weight-lifting, and gymnastics.

Wythenshawe Games | Sports & Activities for all ages in Wythenshawe

Get Active at Burnage Rugby Club:

If you have a group and some money to spend your teens can go play footgolf at BRC. It’s really good fun and can be very funny. Or hire out a pitch for a game of anything from football to frisbee.Check out the links 

Footgolf – Burnage RFC

Pitch Hire – Burnage RFC

Tips:

Talk it Out: Get your teenagers involved in planning some of their summer activities. This gives them a sense of ownership and allows you to discover their interests.

Be Flexible: Teenagers can be fickle, so be prepared to adjust plans and embrace spontaneity.

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