Manchester Museum

Manchester has one of the largest university museums in the UK, Manchester Museum. It is over one hundred and thirty years old and is located a short taxi ride from Deansgate train station. You’ll find this family attraction in the heart of Manchester’s city centre, with loads of activities and events for all the family and it’s Free to enter.

Take the kids on a wonderful day out in Manchester, where they will be astonished at over 4.5 million items all under one roof. Manchester Museum has a range of collections including: Egypt and Sudan, Archaeology, Earth Sciences, Entomology, Archery, Botany, Living Cultures, Zoology, Numismatics, and the Vivarium

They will learn about the museum’s incredible stories and our free activities made for families will help you take a deep dive into some of the most fascinating objects on display.

The outstanding collection of Egyptian and Sudanese objects – one of the largest in the UK – illustrates both everyday life and preparations for the afterlife. The homes of the ancient Egyptians do not generally survive, but the museum’s collection includes exceptionally well-preserved everyday objects from a pyramid-builders’ town known as Kahun which are nearly 4,000 years old and give a glimpse into how ordinary people lived. Be sure to check out the important collection of gilded mummy masks and realistic painted images known as ‘Faiyum Portraits’, dating back to the Graeco-Roman Period (around 300 BCE to 300 CE).

They have a collection of around 100,000 fossils, including one of the most important collections of Ice Age animals in Europe, particularly from Creswell Crags, which has helped transform our understanding of climate change.

Gasp at the shear size of the skeleton of a sperm whale, or the giant Japanese incense burner and be sure to visit one the rarest frogs in the world, the Harlequin Toad, and with over 2.5 million specimens, the museum’s Entomology collection is thought to be the third largest entomological depository in the UK.

Getting to know the objects and asking questions can help children to make sense of the world around them and spark big ideas. Being close to culture can also offer an escape from the pressures of modern life and provide a space to reflect and bond.

At Manchester Museum you will find unmissable events, creative resources and the important stuff to make your family’s visit one to remember!

Make a day of it in the Picnic area, a new ground floor area offering a welcoming environment where you can eat your picnic lunches. It is beautifully decorated to complement the Museum Café and includes tables, microwaves, work surfaces, a sink, and bins. It is free to use and does not need to be booked in advance. Or why not try the Museum Café where the family-friendly café can be accessed through the Main Hall or from Oxford Road. It serves delicious vegetarian food and drinks all day.