Manchester has a huge range of museums, in and around central Manchester, many of which are award-winning museums. These popular Manchester museums are home to some of Manchester’s most impressive, detailed, historic collections. Displays at Manchester museums range from large to small, local to international and many are situated in stunning Manchester buildings, in the heart of Manchester city centre. Here are some of the top museums in Manchester.

Manchester Museums: Chadkirk Chapel Museum - Vale Road, Chadkirk, Romiley, Stockport, Manchester, SK6 3LE, England

Manchester’s Chadkirk Chapel Museum, in the Stockport area of Manchester, is housed in a historic chapel, which dates back more than 500 years. Attractions at the Chadkirk Chapel Museum include local Manchester artefacts and interesting audio-visuals, explaining the local history of this popular area of Manchester.
Manchester museum open: Saturday and Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester - Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester, M3 4FP, England

Situated in the heart of Manchester city centre, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is particularly popular with children of all ages. Attractions at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester include many interactive exhibits from the world of science, both past and present.
Manchester museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Manchester museum admission: charge, discounts available for children

Manchester Museums: Macclesfield Silk Museum - The Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield, SK11 6UT, England

The Macclesfield Silk Museum, to the south of central Manchester, recalls the history of silk making in Manchester and the world. Other attractions at Macclesfield Silk Museum include a gift shop and a restaurant.

Manchester museum open: Monday to Saturday - 11:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Manchester museum admission: charge, discounts available for children

Manchester Museums: Manchester Jewish Museum - 190 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 8LW, England

The Manchester Jewish Museum is one of the most interesting religious museums in Manchester and is houses in a spectacular synagogue in the Cheetham area of Manchester.
Manchester museum open: Monday to Thursday - 10:30 to 16:00, Sunday - 10:30 to 17:00
Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Museum of The Manchesters - Town Hall, Market Place, Ashton, Manchester, OL6 6DL, England

The Museum of The Manchesters can be found in central Manchester and is a popular military museum, featuring a large and impressive collection of military memorabilia, including historic medals, uniforms and interactive displays.
Manchester museum open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Pankhurst Centre Museum - 60-62 Nelson Street, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, M13 9WP, England

Manchester’s Pankhurst Centre celebrates the life of the famous Emmeline Pankhurst, who once lived in Manchester. Famous for leading the suffragette movement in the early 1900s, attractions at the Pankhurst Centre include exhibitions with historic documents and photographs. Pankhurst Centre is located in the All Saints are of Manchester.

Manchester museum open: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 15:00

Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Portland Basin Museum - Portland Place, Ashton, Manchester, OL7 0QA, England

Manchester’s Portland Basin Museum is situated in a vast canal warehouse and attractions celebrate Manchester’s historic crafts and life, with displays include the impressive reconstruction of a Manchester street in the early 20th century.
Manchester museum open: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: People’s History Museum at the Pump House - Left Bank, Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3ER, England

The People’s History Museum is situated in Manchester’s Pump House, in Manchester city centre. Highlights at the People’s History Museum include reconstructions of Manchester life over the last 200 years, many historic documents and a number of hands-on exhibits, which are particularly popular with children.
Manchester museum open: Tuesday to Sunday - 11:00 to 16:30
Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum - Maclure Road, Rochdale, Manchester, OL11 1DN, England

The Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum, in the Rochdale are of Manchester, celebrates the history of fire fighting in Manchester. With numerous historic fire-fighting relics from the Manchester area and Victorian scenes, the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum is a popular museum with the whole family.
Manchester museum open: hours vary, advance notice often required
Manchester museum admission: free

Manchester Museums: Greater Manchester Police Museum - Newton Street, Manchester, M1 1ES, England

Located in Manchester city centre, the Greater Manchester Police Museum features a vast collection of Manchester police history, which dates back to the mid-19th century. Attractions at the Greater Manchester Police Museum include historic Manchester police uniforms and many historic exhibitions.

Manchester museum open: Tuesday - 10:30 to 15:30, other days by arrangement
Manchester museum admission: free

Manchester Museums: Rochdale Pioneers Museum - 31 Toad Lane, Rochdale, Manchester, OL12 0NV, England

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum, in the Rochdale area of Manchester, was founded more than 150 years ago. Celebrating the success of the Rochdale Pioneers, which became an enormous world-wide business, the Rochdale Pioneers Museum features many interesting exhibits dating back many years.
Manchester museum open: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 14:00 to 16:00

Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Ellen Road Engine Museum - Elizabethan Way, Milnrow, Rochdale, Manchester, OL16 4LG, England

Located in Rochdale, close to central Manchester, the Ellen Road Engine Museum is one of the most popular museums in this area and is home a several enormous steam mill engines, which are still in working order. The Ellen Road Engine Museum is within easy reach from central Manchester city centre and other attractions include seasonal exhibitions and events.

Manchester museum open: Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00
Manchester museum admission: charge

Manchester Museums: Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum - Wellington Barracks, Bury, Manchester, BL8 2PL, England

Sited in the Bury areas of Manchester, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum celebrates the history of Manchester’s Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, with interesting artefacts and exhibits dating back more than 300 years.

Manchester museum open: Monday to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - 09:30 to 16:30
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Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

This huge complex is set at the site of the oldest passenger railway buildings in the world, and is a great place to learn more about the city’s industrial beginnings and scientific achievements.

People’s History Museum

Housed in an old Edwardian hydraulic pumping station, the museum is the national centre for material relating to the history of working people in Britain and provides a fascinating insight into the often harsh working conditions of those employed in the city’s cotton industry. Also part of the museum, an Archive and Study Centre is located a short walk away on Princess Street.

Manchester Cathedral

The Cathedral is actually the third to have been built on the site since the ninth century and boasts the widest nave of any church in England. A hi-tech visitor centre at the site includes interesting interactive displays covering the history of the Cathedral and mediaeval Manchester.

Urbis

Close to the Cathedral, Urbis is a striking glass-panelled building that is worth a visit even if only to view the groundbreaking triangular architecture that takes on a different appearance on each side. Epitomising Manchester’s pioneering spirit, the unique exhibition inside explores urban culture and the way we relate to cities. (more…)

Located on England’s culturally distinct northwest coast, Manchester is a lively, bustling city that is defined by its place in history as the hub of Britain’s cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution. Manchester grew from an average sized settlement in 1750 to become one of the most important industrial cities in the world. So significant was the city that by the time of the Industrial Revolution 100 years later, Manchester had been dubbed ‘Cottonopolis’.

And it is this period of incredible growth and industry that dominates the feel of the city and forms the basis of many of its great attractions with numerous buildings, exhibitions and museums relating to this incredible boom period. But modern day Manchester is also a very progressive city that is leading the way in urban regeneration with eye-catching buildings such as the Urbis center (see Key Attractions). Manchester is also proud of its status as a style icon and the city has a well deserved reputation as a great place to shop, with plenty of independent shops as well as big name retailers (see Shopping).

This is the only Visitor Information Center in the city center and it is located in the Town Hall Extension, just a couple of minutes’ walk southwest from Piccadilly Gardens. There are more Visitor Information Centers at other places of interest in Greater Manchester including at the airport (see Getting There By Air), Altrincham.

Passes

As part of a citywide initiative, many of the museums and galleries have free admission so there are no tourist discount passes currently available.

Key Attractions:

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
This huge complex is set at the site of the oldest passenger railway buildings in the world, and is a great place to learn more about the city’s industrial beginnings and scientific achievements.

People’s History Museum

Housed in an old Edwardian hydraulic pumping station, the museum is the national center for material relating to the history of working people in Britain and provides a fascinating insight into the often harsh working conditions of those employed in the city’s cotton industry. Also part of the museum, an Archive and Study Center is located a short walk away on Princess Street.

Manchester Cathedral

The Cathedral is actually the third to have been built on the site since the ninth century and boasts the widest nave of any church in England. A hi-tech visitor center at the site includes interesting interactive displays covering the history of the Cathedral and mediaeval Manchester. (more…)