People’s History Museum (PHM) has launched its Christmas shop with everything you need to top off your Christmas celebrations. The shelves are full of new and exclusive creative ideas for 2026 to brighten up your decorations or gifting. Most of the products are made by independent businesses and all are inspired by the stories that are told at the museum through the historic archive and contemporary collections. You can buy in person at PHM Shop in Manchester city centre or online.
PHM Shop – 2026 Christmas edit
Add a little bit of rebellion to your Christmas gifting with PHM Shop’s picks. All the products listed are priced under £20.
A Christmas tree topper featuring Karl Marx holding a copy of the Communist Manifesto – where else but PHM Shop! Part of a trio of beautifully illustrated characters created in an exclusive collaboration with artists the Rickard Sisters, the fabulous collection includes an Edwardian suffragette wearing a ‘votes for women’ sash and a Pride fairy in glorious maximalist colours. Presented in cardboard gift tubes, these festive creations are far more than just decorations for your tree. They’re keepsakes to treasure whether for yourself, or as a gift with a difference. Each Christmas tree topper is priced at £8.50.
A thread of stitching runs through much of PHM’s collection, with its banners and textiles among the highlights visitors to the museum most enjoy. These artworks, and the symbols they feature, make a collaboration with textile artist Frock Dolly a natural fit. Take home a hand stitched felt bauble featuring either the raised fist symbol or the LGBTQIA+ rainbow flag, available in a range of different designs and priced at £12.50. Alternatively, go floral with a kit to make three felt poinsettias, which can be worn as brooches or hung as festive decorations. Stylishly packaged, the kits contain all the materials and threads you need and templates that will inspire future crafting and costs £15.00.
Add more splashes of colour to the season with a sari fabric wreath, handcrafted from recycled sari fabric. Each brings together an eclectic mix of shades, patterns and textures. Made by artisans in India through Namaste’s fair trade producer network, they celebrate traditional craftsmanship while supporting sustainable production. Give your door a festive welcome with a choice of hoop, star or heart-shaped wreaths, each priced at £12.50.
Doves are synonymous with Christmas and, as a symbol of peace, appear on a number of objects in PHM’s collection, as well as on Michael Lyons’ Doves of Peace sculpture, which greets visitors to the museum. Flying into PHM’s Christmas collection is an exquisitely hand stitched felt dove decoration, combining traditional symbolism with the charm of hand-crafted design. Perfect for hanging on your Christmas tree or giving as a thoughtful gift, it represents a message of peace and goodwill. Each is lovingly created by artist Fern Cooke, whose work uses art to inspire social change. Priced at £12.50.
Also spreading a message of love is a poster that uses word art to add a playful twist to the idea of ‘Revolution’ – revealing that within this powerful word sits the word ‘love’ spelt backwards. It’s a striking piece of art that reminds us that love can be found even within the language of revolution. You could pick up from PHM Shop or send directly to your loved one. Designed by Lune Club, the poster is A3 in size, comes in two colour ways and is priced at £16.99.
For those who hold ‘Deeds Not Words’ close to their hearts, there are two special finds. A china mug proudly bearing the famous suffragette slogan is joined by a hand-stitched decoration, created in rich purple using the traditional zardozi technique. Its design takes inspiration from the Manchester suffragette banner, one of the most iconic objects in PHM’s collection. The deeds not words mug is £17.00 and the deeds not words decoration is £12.50.
And not forgetting Christmas cards that will bring a smile and make a fabulous addition to mantlepieces everywhere. Choose your favourite from a collection that headlines with witty phrases such as ‘hark the rebel angels sing’ and ‘all I want for Christmas is to seize the means of production’. These ingenious creations are the work of the Richard Sisters whose artistry can also be seen on the museum’s best selling tea towel ‘don’t let the b*stards grind you down’ and other design-led products. Each card is priced at £3.25/£4.00.
Winter Makers Market preview evening
Friday 20 November, 5.00pm to 8.00pm
You can shop the PHM Christmas 2026 collection at the PHM Winter Makers Market which takes place from Saturday 21 November to Sunday 22 November and begins with a special preview evening on Friday 20 November.
Upon arrival to the museum a warm PHM welcome is accompanied by a warming glass of mulled wine to get the evening off to a festive start. Live music from the museum’s resident jazz band, Quinta, sets the scene for a night of shopping and socialising, with a full house of stalls to explore in the magnificent Engine Hall and accompanying gallery. There will be candle making demonstrations taking place from Recyled Wax, who will also be collecting pre-loved candles to be recycled into something new. A beautifully wrapped Christmas tree candle is your special gift to take home.
Preview evening tickets are £10, include a glass of mulled wine together with all the activities outlined, and can be booked here.
PHM Shop is open every day except Tuesday from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Thursday 17 December is the final date for pre-Christmas deliveries and a free click and collect service is available until Monday 21 December.
For further information about People’s History Museum, its latest programme of events and visiting the museum visit phm.org.uk, and you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to receive PHM’s e-newsletter.
ENDS
For further information, to arrange a visit or interview please contact Fido PR:
laura.sullivan@fidopr.co.uk / clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
About People’s History Museum
People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the UK’s national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. Through an eclectic and colourful mix of historic and contemporary collections, featuring banners, badges, posters, photography and more, the museum celebrates the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for.
Offering an engaging programme of exhibitions and events, collaborating with communities to create authentic content, the museum is Family Friendly throughout – inspiring the next generation to be active citizens.
People’s History Museum encourages visitors to be empowered by the past to make a change for the future. We are all together in the fight for a fairer world.
About Arts Council England (ACE)
PHM is an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The work of PHM is supported using public funding by ACE, the national development agency for creativity and culture. ACE have set out their strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 they want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 they will invest over £467 million of public money from government and an estimated £250 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.
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