Out and About – January

Salford Ice Rink, The Quays
Until Sunday 9 January

Get your skates on and visit the new home for Salford’s festive ice rink. Fun penguin skate aids will be available to hire - these are a great way for kids to gain confidence on the ice. Safety helmets will also be available to hire.

Salford Ice Rink, The Lowry Plaza, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AH, For prices and to book tickets visit www.salfordicerink.info, or call the box office on 0844 815 4866

Under 5s First Steps, The Lowry
Friday 7 and 28 January, 10am – 10.45am, 11am – 11.45am

A fun dance session designed to get everyone boogying. Bring your little movers and join them in exploring their creativity through dance or sit back and relax as you watch your child’s confidence grow as they learn skills like balance, co-ordination and agility.

The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ, www.thelowry.com 0843 208 6000. Suitable for children aged two and a half to four and a half. Capacity 20, Tickets £3.50 (£1.75 Salford residents). For more information please visit the website.

Experiment! at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
Daily, 10am – 5pm throughout January

Stare into the mirror of infinity, spin the turbulence zone, or watch your own skeleton ride a bike. From bubbles to bikes, some of the most amazing facts about science in everyday life are explained in this fascinating interactive science gallery, where you are encouraged to have fun while you see, hear, feel and smell science in action.

The new Experiment! includes old favourites such as the Mini, which can be lifted by a small child thanks to the simple power of gears. Get mesmerised by bubbles passing through giant columns of coloured liquids to demonstrate viscosity, see how many of the city’s homes can be lit by using rubbish as power, and measure your reactions against the speed of light or the flapping of a fly’s wings.

MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester), Liverpool Road, Castlefield,M3 4FP, www.mosi.org.uk, 0161 832 2244, Suitable for all ages, free.

Children’s Tours at Hat Works
Weekends, 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Take a step back in time and learn the story of ‘Nat the Hatter’. Discover how hats were made, experience the noisy machinery floor and learn what it was like to be a hatters apprentice.

Hat Works, Wellington Mill,Wellington Rd,South,StockportSK30EU, www.hatworks.org.uk Suitable for children of all ages. Children £2, accompanying adult £1, booking essential – subject to availability.

Doodle Day at Manchester Art Gallery
Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 January, 12pm – 4pm

Scribble, scratch, and smudge. From giant drawings to pop-up people, drop in to this session for families of all ages, where we’ll be doing something fun and different each month.

Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, M3 3JL, www.manchestergalleries.org, 0161 235 8888. Suitable for families with children of any age. Free.

Discounted entry to Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures night at Museum of Museums, Trafford Centre
Thursday 27 January, 5pm – midnight (last admission 10pm)

Spectacular exhibition, Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures, will host an extra special event on 27 Jan 2011. Museum of Museums Night will celebrate all things Ancient Egyptian to support fundraising for The Manchester Museum’s ancient worlds galleries.The evening will feature guest appearances, music, eye-opener tours and The Manchester Museum’s own artefacts on display, plus much more.

The Museum of Museums, The Trafford Centre, Phoenix Way (Off Barton Dock Road), Urmston, Manchester M41 7TB, tutankhamunmanchester.com or call 0844 249 1000. Booking essential. Suitable for children aged 3-11 years old. Adults: £8, children: £4, family (2 adults, 2 children): £20, students: £4For more information and tickets click here.

Big Saturday - Monsters at the Museum of Manchester
Saturday 29 January, 11am – 4pm

The Museum is home to many monsters, from Stan the T.rex, with his bone-crushing bite, to the myths and monsters found on our ancient Greek pots. Meet these and many more monsters and take part in hands-on monster activities.

Manchester Museum, 250 Oxford Road, M13 9PP, www.museum.manchester.ac.uk 0161 275 2634. Suitable for all ages. Most activities are free and drop-in. Some activities may need to be booked on the day and may cost up to £1.50.