Bubble Planet Manchester Review – What’s It Really Like - Marvellous Mrs P

If you’re wondering what Bubble Planet Manchester is really like and whether it’s worth the money for families, here’s my honest review with tips and advice at the end.

We got some really good news this week. The sort of news that lets you drop your shoulders and breath a huge sigh of relief and then grin from ear to ear. The sort of news that deserves a treat.

So off we popped (see what I did there?) to Bubble Planet Manchester – me, Dorothy who is ten and Thomas who is very nearly two.

And honestly, it was tremendous. We would have stayed all day, all week! Only Thomas’ eventual tiredness stopped play, but we managed two fun-filled hours before that happened.

What did it cost?

Asking the important questions eh? This wasn’t a PR trip – I paid just over £30 for Dorothy and I. Thomas was free as he’s under three. There were still tickets available on the day, so if you find yourself in Manchester with some time to kill, it’s worth checking availability.

For a fully immersive experience in Manchester, the price felt like good value to me, especially considering how much there is to see and do once you’re inside. We’ve paid similar for soft play, a brew and snack and left wondering what just happened! This felt different. It felt special.

We “popped” over to Bubble Planet Manchester

As you arrive, there’s a pram parking area and a cloakroom for coats and bags and I strongly recommend offloading as much as physically possible before you begin.

This is a very hands-on experience. You’ll be climbing into ball pits, interacting with digital displays, posing for photos and generally getting involved. It’s much more enjoyable when you’re not juggling a handbag and three coats.

What is bubble planet actually like?

It’s a series of immersive, bubble-themed rooms, each completely different from the last.

And here’s the best bit – there is no best bit, because there’s no worst bit! There’s no filler. You know when you go to one of these ‘experiences’ and there’s always that one (or more) room where you think, “Oh… is this it?” Not here. Every single space was exciting.

It felt like a fever dream… but a good one.

There were HUGE inflatables, LED light rooms, interactive projections, mirrors, rubber ducks, giant balls, balloons and of course, bubbles everywhere!

Immersive doesn’t quite cover it. It felt like a fever dream… but a good one.

At one point I genuinely feared I’d lose Thomas underneath a sea of giant balloons. He of course was oblibious and was busy living his best life.

Dorothy would happily have moved in and her face was utter joy from beginning to end.

I saw teenagers having an absolute ball (pun fully intended), and even a couple who looked very much like they were on a date. It really did feel like a whole-family experience – not just “for little ones” or “for Instagram”. There’s something about it that appeals across ages.

But first, let me take a selfie

If you enjoy refreshing your camera roll, you’re sorted! Every room is colourful, playful and so beautifully designed that it’s impossible not to take 38251419 photos, especially when everyone looks so happy.

Yes Dorothy did tear a hole in her knee. Yes it was worth it.

And right in the middle is a room filled with selfie opportunities, including one where you get to stand inside a real bubble! This space was a little more congested than the others but still not too bad. Luckily everyone was being quite polite, but I can imagine that during busy periods, this room could be a bit challenging.

The VR bit (that caught me out)

There’s a section where you can use a VR headset, while swinging in bubble shaped seats. It looked brilliant. What I didn’t realise until we got there is that it’s an extra £3 per person.

Ordinarily, that wouldn’t have been an issue. But because I’d (very efficiently) offloaded everything into the cloakroom (including my purse), we couldn’t take part.

So just a heads up, if VR is a must for your visit, keep your payment method handy.

Food and drink

You can’t bring food or drink in, and there isn’t a café on site. That’s absolutely fine, but it’s worth considering your children’s mealtimes (and snack times) when booking your time slot.

Exit through the gift shop

Because of course you do! But, and this genuinely surprised me, the prices weren’t outrageous and there were actually some cool things in there. Dorothy spent her money on themed socks and stickers rather than some landfill fodder and I didn’t feel fleeced. Everyone’s a winner.

I only have one bit of negative feedback and it’s around access.

You have to go up and down stone steps to get in and out. With a pram, that’s not easy.

At the entrance there were staff helping, which I really appreciated. But at the exit they kind of just let me struggle, and Thomas nearly toppled out of his pram on the steps, which wasn’t the best end to a great visit. Inside, one or two of the spaces are accessed via a steps which wasn’t an issue for us, but may restrict the enjoyment of a wheelchair user. Hopefully the staff had solutions ready should someone need them, but if you have mobility challenges, perhaps get in touch with them beforehand.

The staff throughout were friendly and helpful, and seemed to really enjoy being there. Everything felt clean, well organised and immaculately designed and finished. It’s one of those experiences where you can tell a lot of thought has gone into the details. Nothing felt lacklustre or thrown together.