[@]Science and Industry Museum

Over two centuries of innovation are explored in one of Manchester’s best-loved museums. Activities for all-ages and some truly ground-breaking developments are explored in the galleries around the museum, as well as travelling exhibitions bringing culturally significant items for all to enjoy.

Youngsters (and bigger kids) with enquiring minds will enjoy Experiment, the hands-on science gallery where you can test your strength to see if you can lift a Mini, send bubbles through different liquids to test viscosity and measure your reactions against the speed of light.

The Textiles Gallery explores not only Manchester’s connection to the cotton trade, but the impact and creation of synthetic materials on the world. In the Revolution Manchester gallery, items such as the 1905 Rolls-Royce car, as used by Henry Royce himself, spearheads a journey through Manchester’s impact on the science and technological world.

Currently undergoing refurbishment are the Power Hall and 1830 Warehouse. The 1830 Warehouse is the site of the world's oldest surviving passenger railway. Globally significant, the building requires substantial renovation to ensure its continued survival for future generations. The Power Hall, due to reopen in 2023, has one of the largest collections of working steam engines in Europe and is filled with the sounds, scent and sight of the engines at work.

Expert Explainers will be on hand to guide you through a series of science-related conundrums at designated ‘Science Stops’ around the museum, whilst there are regular talks and events that further the stories of the exhibits on how they have shaped our society and beyond.

The achievements of one of Manchester’s famous sons, codebreaker Alan Turing, are celebrated in the museum’s display of how computers have evolved over the years including a replica of ‘Baby’, the Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine, the first computer to store and run a computer program.

Elsewhere in the city’s Gay Village is a memorial statue commemorating Alan Turing’s achievements (Sackville Gardens, M1 3HB) whilst the annual Manchester Science Festival features talks, events and activities across the scientific spectrum.

Opening Times: Wednesday-Sunday 10.00-17.00, open Mondays and Tuesdays in the school holidays. Admission free, donations appreciated, charges may apply for some temporary special exhibitions.

Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours