Families
From free workshops to exciting exhibitions, discover what's on for families at Aviva Studios.
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Football City, Art United.
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Experience the exhibition of the summer at Aviva Studios! Best of all? Kids go free.*
Both artists and footballers are known for their flair and their imagination, on the pitch or in the studio. Football City, Art United. brings together 11 pairs of artists and footballers in a playful group exhibition.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy – from experiencing the walk through the tunnel out onto the pitch to seeing paintings, sculptures, animation, and even having a kick about!
From icons of the game from years gone by to today's legendary Lionesses, see artworks from Bárbara Sánchez-Kane and Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos, Keiken and Lioness Ella Toone, Paul Pfeiffer and Netherlands legend Edgar Davids, Rose Wylie and Lioness Lotte Wubben-Moy, Ryan Gander and Man United icon Eric Cantona, Suzanne Lacy, Man City star Vivianne Miedema and New Zealand captain Ali Riley, Alvaro Barrington and Brazilian icon Raí and Jill Mulleady inspired by the one and only Diego Maradona.
*Up to 3 free tickets for under 16s per one paying adult.
Discover more
Free family events
How to get here
There are a number of rail and tram stations within the city centre which are just a short distance from Aviva Studios. The closest stations are:
- Salford Central rail station: 10-minute walk via Red Rose Way and Irwell Street.
- Deansgate rail station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop: 12-minute walk via Liverpool Road.
- St Peter’s Square tram stop: 15-minute walk via Quay Street.
- Manchester Oxford Road rail station: 25-minute walk via Oxford Street/Quay Street.
- Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria rail stations: Both stops have frequent trams operating to and from Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop.
By Bike
There are 40 bike parking spaces at Aviva Studios including space for two accessible bikes.
National Cycling Route 6 passes close to the venue and this TfGM webpage can help with route planning.
You can also hire bikes from on-street docking stations across the city centre. The closest docking stations to our venue are currently on Deansgate by Liverpool Road and (400m from the building) and by King Street (500m from the building). Take a look at Transport for Greater Manchester’s webpage for advice on cycle hire.
By Walking and Other Active Means
Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street via Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).
If you're coming from Quay Street, the safest route to avoid construction works is via the cut-through opposite Gartside Street and past Booking.com.
All footways in the surrounding area are well lit and there are appropriate crossings across all main roads.
Pedestrians with visual impairment are recommended to approach the building via Water Street, from Liverpool Road. This route has traditional carriageway and footway design with fixed street furniture which should help with navigation to the entrance.
A footbridge at Left Bank in Spinningfields provides an accessible link across the River Irwell to Salford Central station, and a further footbridge also links Aviva Studios with the Salford area of Middlewood Locks.
Free bus
The free bus 1 service connects Piccadilly Station, Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, as well as other areas of the city centre to Aviva Studios.
The service stops on both Liverpool Road and Quay Street, close to the venue. Buses operate every 10 minutes during the day from Monday to Sunday and they are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus 1 route and timetable, please visit the Bee Network website.
Bee Network services
Piccadilly Gardens is situated in the heart of Manchester and there are a number of bus services that will take you on to Aviva Studios. The 33 bus which starts at Shudehill, calls at Piccadilly Gardens and will take you straight to Liverpool Road. Services operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every hour on Sunday.
Alternatively, you can board either a 35, 36 or 38 bus to Bridge Street bus stop which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.
Coming into Manchester Victoria rail station? Head on over to Shudehill Interchange (which is a seven-minute walk via Hanover Street) where you can catch the 33 bus to Liverpool Road.
Alternatively, you can board either an 8, 67 or 100 bus from Manchester Victoria to Bridge Street bus stop, which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.
There is a car park approximately 0.2 miles (350m) from Aviva Studios at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.
There is also a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.25 miles (400m) away from Aviva Studios at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.
There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.
For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.
Plan your visit
Opening Hours
With a venue like ours, every night is different. Make sure to check our opening hours ahead of your visit to get the most up to date times.
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Wednesday 21 May10AM – 8PM
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Thursday 22 May9AM – 10PM
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Friday 23 May10AM – 10PM
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Saturday 24 May10AM – 10PM
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Sunday 25 May10AM – 10PM
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Monday 26 MayClosed
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Tuesday 27 May10AM – 6PM