Manchester

The Science & Industry Museum explores Manchester’s role in industrial, scientific, and technological history. Highlights include the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station and the first railway warehouse, both dating back to 1830. Visitors can see historic machinery in action, take part in interactive science demonstrations, and enjoy exhibitions that showcase how Manchester helped shape the modern world.

Stoller Hall, part of Chetham’s School of Music, offers unrivalled acoustics and an eye-catching visual setting for live music, performances, and events. Its programme ranges from classical and contemporary concerts to jazz, world music, comedy, spoken word, and student performances.

HOME is Manchester’s centre for contemporary theatre, film and visual art, formed in 2015 from the merger of Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company. It offers independent cinemas, galleries, theatre stages, a bookshop, and a café bar. HOME hosts a mix of international and local work, from cutting-edge theatre and live music to contemporary art exhibitions and independent films.

The Royal Exchange Theatre transforms the way people experience live theatre, staging bold new dramas and fresh takes on classics. Founded by artists in 1976, the company now produces work in its iconic theatre-in-the-round, on tour, and online. The building itself is a striking seven-sided, glass-walled capsule suspended within the historic Cotton Exchange. Every seat is less than nine metres from the circular stage, which creates an intimate connection between performers and audience.

The Working Class Movement Library in Salford preserves over two centuries of campaigning for social and political reform, built from the personal collection of Ruth and Edmund Frow. The archive includes books, pamphlets, visual media, and ephemera that document the stories of activists and ordinary people, from Peterloo and conscientious objectors in WWI to volunteers in the Spanish Civil War and mass demonstrations during the Great Depression.

Contact Theatre is Manchester’s innovative performance venue on the Oxford Road Corridor, renowned for its bold programming and commitment to young people. Teenagers and young adults help shape the theatre’s schedule, which includes theatre, dance, spoken word, music, comedy, and visual art. The building’s distinctive towers make it one of the city’s architectural landmarks.

Gallery Oldham is a public museum and art gallery in Oldham (about 30 minutes by train from Manchester), free to enter and housing a mix of fine art, natural history, social history objects, and contemporary exhibitions. Inside, the permanent exhibition Oldham Stories brings together items from the gallery’s collections, from taxidermy and fossils to industrial artefacts, ceramics, historic photographs, and paintings. The gallery also hosts rotating shows of contemporary art, community-led projects, international exhibitions, and work by local artists. Talks, workshops, and activities for families, schools, and adults are held regularly.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is the restored home of the celebrated Victorian novelist, where she lived from 1850 to 1865. Visitors can explore four period rooms, learn about Elizabeth and William Gaskell’s lives, and discover the Manchester that inspired her novels. The house also features exhibitions, a recreated garden, and a tea room in the old kitchen and servants’ hall, serving cakes and hot drinks in traditional china. Knowledgeable volunteers offer guided tours, sharing stories of the family, the restoration process, and the daily life of the household.

Manchester Museum houses nearly six million objects spanning natural history, anthropology, archaeology, and botany. Highlights include one of the UK’s largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts, a Vivarium with live animals, and displays covering global cultures and local history. The museum also runs regular exhibitions, talks, and activities for visitors of all ages.