Family Day Out at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester

The Science and Industry Museum, in Manchester, is one of our favourite destinations for a family day out. It’s ideal for a rainy day because pretty much everything is indoors. It’s also perfect for children who love seeing how things work for themselves, thanks to the variety of hands-on activities located throughout the attraction. Plus, entry is free!

Here’s our review of our most recent trip…

Our verdict

We visited on a Saturday in mid-January with our son Ewan, aged eight, and our nephew Fin, 13. We travelled by car and paid £7 to park in a privately-run car park a few minutes’ walk away (the museum doesn’t have its own car park).

Although admission to the Science and Industry Museum is free, visitors are encouraged to make a donation to support its work to inspire the scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators of tomorrow.

At the entrance, we were given a map and a guide to the events taking place that day. Children’s activity trails are also available.

Before exploring the galleries we watched the Revolution Manchester Show, in the museum’s New Warehouse. The show tells the fascinating story of when science met industry and the modern world began.

We then walked upstairs to the popular Experiment gallery. Here, Ewan and Fin (and the grown-ups) enjoyed trying out the hands-on exhibits and experiments – including watching our own skeleton ride a bicycle!

For lunch, we opted for the museum’s own bistro, where we couldn’t resist the family deal. The four of us shared three freshly-baked pizzas, house salad, chips and drinks – all for £30 (quite reasonable). If you prefer, the museum also has a café and picnic areas.

After our tasty meal, we walked outside and across the upper yard to the Power Hall, which was once a railway transit shed. The building is home to one of the largest collections of working steam engines in the world.

From here we strolled to the 1830 Station – the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station. Standing in the first-class booking hall, we could almost imagine being surrounded by the great and the good of 19^th-century Manchester.

Sadly, one of our favourite sections, Underground Manchester, has now gone. Located in the cellars of the Station Building, the now permanently-closed gallery had featured the ‘history of the toilet’ with exhibits including a real Victorian privy.

But despite the closure of Underground Manchester, there is still plenty to keep a family entertained and enthralled for hours – or even a whole day. Plus, the museum has been granted planning permission to build a new Special Exhibitions gallery. It will be built in the basement of its 1830 Warehouse and beneath the arches of the 1830 viaduct.

We also explored the Electricity: The Spark of Life exhibition, in the New Warehouse. The intriguing display tells the story of our quest to understand, unlock and master the power of electricity. Again, it was the hands-on activities that proved a particular hit with the boys, especially the ‘dynamo dominoes’ and ‘lightbulb moment’ activities.

During our visit, we caught the Science Showdown: Electricity show, featuring experiments and audience participation (I even took part in an experiment involving magnets!).

Elsewhere in the museum is Connecting Manchester, which explores how we communicate, from the printing press to modern computing. There is also the Textiles Gallery, but the Air and Space Hall is closed for maintenance.

It’s safe to say the Science and Industry Museum is still one of our top places to visit.

About the Science and Industry Museum

Situated on the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station, the museum cares for a globally-important heritage site made up of five listed buildings. The site was the original terminus of the world’s first inter-city railway, and the museum’s 1830 Warehouse epitomises Manchester’s 19th-century reputation as the ‘warehouse of the western world’. The attraction combines the distinctive appeal of its historic site with a vibrant, contemporary science programme. This programme makes connections between the past and the present, between scientific theory and real-world applications.

Where is it?

Science and Industry Museum

Liverpool Road

Manchester

M3 4FP

The entrance is in Lower Byrom Street. The nearest rail and Metrolink station is at Deansgate, a 10-minute walk away.

The free city centre bus service stops at all city centre railway stations. The museum can be reached on both Route 1 (closest stop, Opera House) and Route 2 (closest peak-time stop, Opera House; closest off-peak stop, Deansgate, near the junction with Quay Street). Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website for more information about the free bus service.

How much is it?

Entry to the Science and Industry Museum is free, but the museum welcomes donations. Some of its exhibitions, experiences and events may require tickets.

When is it open?

It’s open daily, from 10am to 5pm, but is closed December 24-26 and January 1.

What’s On at the Science and Industry Museum:

• Electricity: The Spark of Life runs until April 28, 2019. Recommended for all ages and entry is free.
• Stephenson’s Rocket Returns is a free, temporary exhibition that celebrates the return to Manchester of the iconic locomotive for the first time in more than 180 years.

Things to note:

• All the galleries are suitable for visitors with disabilities. The museum offers a range of services and aids to make visiting as comfortable as possible. Anyone with special requirements should call the museum on 0161 832 2244.
• Anyone who plans to visit the museum with more than 10 people should contact the museum in advance. Visit the website to fill in a group booking form.
• There are no parking facilities on site. There are limited council-run, pay-and-display, on-street parking spaces on Liverpool Road and Lower Byrom Street. There is also a selection of private and council-run car parks in the local area.
• A small locker can be hired for £1 or a large one for £2. The charge is non-refundable.
• There is a buggy park next to the main entrance, but visitors are advised to take valuable items with them because this area isn’t secured.

To find out more about the Science and Industry Museum click here or call 0161 832 2244.

Review by: Colette Warbrook

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