Science and Industry Museum

Discover world-changing ideas, and journey through Manchester’s scientific and industrial heritage with interactive galleries and historic working machinery demonstrations.

What We Offer Visiting Schools:

Interactive galleries

Get hands-on in interactive, multi-sensory galleries. From revolutionary wheels and sustainable travel, to mighty machines and engine-driven ideas, students will be inspired by world-changing innovations and see science in action.

Workshops and demonstrations

Join our Expert Explainers for a range of curriculum-inspired workshops and demonstrations that bring learning to life outside the classroom. With activities for all ages, workshops take place on-gallery, surrounded by inspiring stories and amazing objects.

A specialist and supportive team

Our specialist Schools and Skills team are on hand to help make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Supporting resources for use before, during and after your visit are available to help you make the most of your time at the museum and to build on the experience.

Free teacher preview tickets to any of our ticketed exhibitions can be arranged to help you plan your visit.

Regular teacher events and training courses are available to support your own continued learning and career development.

Why Choose Us for an Educational Visit:

The Science and Industry Museum provides enjoyable, unique and memorable experiences, inspiring all visitors through ideas that change the world, from the Industrial Revolution to today and beyond.

It’s a story that we’re uniquely placed to tell – on the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station, in the heart of the world’s first industrial city, today alive with innovative discoveries in science and technology.

Our specialist Schools and Skills team have worked with educators and STEM professionals to develop activities and resources to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Our varied programme will connect students with STEM professionals and support them in recognising real-life science throughout their daily lives.

Subjects and Topics Covered:

• Science
• Maths
• History
• Graphic design
• Coding
• Forces
• Materials
• Engineering
• Energy
• Industrial Revolution
• Space

Accreditation and Awards:

The Science and Industry Museum holds a Learning Outside of the Classroom quality badge. This means we are recognised for our quality educational provision and effective risk management.

Itineraries, Resources, and Workshops:

Choose from a variety of flexible itineraries to create a cross-curricular experience that fits your timetable and curriculum needs. Mix and match galleries, workshops, and shows to suit your class.

Highlights include:

Free, self-led galleries

Get hands-on and see science in action in our interactive gallery, Experiment.
Journey through world-changing ideas that started life in Manchester and are now present in our daily lives, from the birth of modern computing to sustainable travel, in Revolution Manchester.
Meet the people, machines and products that combined to create the world’s first industrial city in the Textile Gallery.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of engine driven-ideas in Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery.

Special Exhibitions

Blast off into the solar system on a cosmic adventure guided by familiar characters from the brand-new BBC Horrible Science TV series with Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, now open until 3 Jan 2027.

Play through 50 years of gaming history in Power Up, a hands-on, fully interactive gaming experience.

Special events

Our programme of special events will support you in engaging with national campaigns such as British Science Week, and in supporting students in discovering options for future education and careers in STEM.

On-gallery workshops

Pack Your Bags with Pender – This interactive, Explainer led story for EYFS and KS1 features the Pender locomotive in action.

Ingenious Engineers – In this hands-on, playful activity for KS2, students will think like an Engineer exploring their creative problem-solving skills.

Wind Power – KS3 and KS4 students will harness the power of renewable energy resources and challenge their design skills by getting to grips with the forces behind wind turbines.

Space Explorers – In this fun interactive session, KS2 students will explore how coding is crucial to space exploration and work together to complete the mission.

Design Detectives: Cotton Creatives – Through hands-on activities and a real-world challenge, KS2 students will use teamwork and creativity to design their own patterns.

Design Detectives: Pattern Play – In this playful, creative workshop for EYFS and KS1, students will discover how cotton is made while exploring shapes, patterns and materials.

Mini Space Explorers – In this hands-on workshop, KS1 students will work in a small team to program a robot working in space and complete their mission.

Shows and Demonstrations

Experience the thunderous sounds of historic working machinery in action in the Textiles Gallery, meet mighty machines in the Power Hall, and enjoy a highly interactive and fun science show with one of our expert Explainers.

Risk Assessment:

Information to help you write a risk assessment for your visit is available on our website.

Pricing Information:

Entry to the museum—including our object galleries—is free but charges apply for some activities and workshop. Please check the individual web pages for details.

Facilities:

Facilities for schools and groups include storage space for coats and bags and indoor picnic area. Outdoor picnic space is available in our cobbled Upper Yard.

Accessibility and Disabled Facilities:

There is step-free access to all floors of our multi-level buildings.

All lifts are wheelchair accessible, have tactile labelling and some have audio announcements.

Dedicated sessions for SEND learners can be booked in our special exhibitions.

For those with sensory needs, we have additional resources available to borrow, including sensory bags and ear defenders. There is a quiet room on site.

Full details of accessible resources and facilities are available on our website to help you plan your visit.

Opening Hours:

Open daily, 10.00-17.00

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