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Families | Ideas worth sharing

People's History Museum is Family Friendly throughout, with hands-on stuff in every gallery for all visitors to enjoy.

Image of People's History Museum Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 opening times.
Image of Children drawing with coloured pencils.
Image of children playing in the Co-op shop in Main Gallery Two at People's History Museum.
Image of young child in suffragette dress up at People's History Museum.
Image of toddler opening display drawer in the main galleries at People's History Museum.
Image of visitors enjoying the juke box in the Time Off? section in Gallery Two at People's History Museum.
Image of Exploring the interactive digital experience Grunwick strike (1976 1978)
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Family favourites

  • Explore hands-on activities and digital interactives for all ages in every gallery
  • Visit the suffragette kitchen to play the Pank-a-Squith board game
  • See how fast you can work at the Bryant & May match factory through an arcade style game
  • Go back in time at the Co-op shop
  • Play your favourite songs on a vintage jukebox

Find out what's on
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Facilities

  • Take time out in the family break area, which is perfect for those with younger children
  • Pick up a pocket money friendly souvenir from PHM’s shop
  • Enjoy a sustainable, ethical, and delicious food experience at Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar
  • Enjoy a packed lunch in the picnic area
  • Baby changing facilities and gender neutral toilets are available – if you get caught short ask for a free emergency nappy!
  • Breastfeeding welcome throughout the museum and cafe

Plan your visit
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Access

  • PHM’s visitor map (also available from the welcome desk) and Visual Story will show you what to expect in each space in the building
  • You can also take a 3D tour of the main galleries
  • There is a Quiet Room by the welcome desk
  • Get in touch if you have queries or require any assistance in advance of your visit on 0161 838 9190 or access@phm.org.uk

 

We are committed to supporting all visitors during their time at PHM.  We understand that everyone has different access needs.

Click the button below for further information on access at PHM.

Access at PHM
What to see and do at PHM

Exhibitions and events

Family Friendly activities at People’s History Museum

PHM offers an engaging programme of Family Friendly exhibitions, installations, events, workshops, and activities, to connect you and your family with the museum’s unique collections and stories.

Suitable for a range of ages, see individual event information.

What's on for families

PHM shop

the gift shop at People's History Museum.

PHM shop is filled with books about inspiring people from history, to inspire little radicals for the future.  Pocket money friendly souvenirs and gifts such as jigsaws and playing cards inspired by the museum’s collections are perfect for keeping little ones entertained.

Recurrent winner of the Toymark Good Practice Award, PHM shop is recognised for its inclusivity and for challenging gender stereotypes by the Let Toys be Toys campaign.

Browse PHM's online shop

Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar

Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar at People's History Museum

Take a break from exploring and enjoy a hot or cold drink, snack, or light lunch from our sustainable and ethical cafe, to grab and go, or sit in and enjoy.

Managed by Manchester based food and drink social enterprise Open Kitchen.

Take a break
Ideas worth exploring at home

Doodle Den

Doodle Den with People's History Museum

 

 

 

 

 

Make your own Doodle Den at home, pick up a pencil and explore PHM’s collections through sketching, scribbling and silliness.

Suitable for ages 5+

Get doodling!

Create a multi-ended story

'Stories are a way we can empathise with someone else's experience ... feel connected and know that we could be similarly understood.' Storytelling at People's History Museum

 

 

 

 

 

Discover the power of storytelling in addressing climate grief and create a multi-ended story where the reader chooses the destiny of the planet.

Suitable for ages 7+

Create your story
Family Friendly throughout

Family Friendly Museum Award winner

We Love Kids in Museums logo

PHM is proud to be a previous winner of the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award, Britain’s only museum award where families pick the winner.

‘The museum staff were amazing.  They were friendly, welcoming and informative.  They came and chatted to the girls (not just to me!) and asked if we needed any help, and gave great feedback to the art work they were creating.’
Comment on PHM from Kids in Museums family judge.

Find out more

Kids in Museums Manifesto

We've signed up to the Kids in Museums Manifesto

The Kids in Museums Manifesto is a set of simple guidelines for museums created with children, young people and families.  It sets out what they feel makes a museum a great place to visit.

PHM is pleased to be one of over 1,000 museums, heritage sites and cultural organisations signed up in support of the Manifesto, and we are committed to following the guidelines and welcoming visitors of all ages and families of all shapes and sizes.

Find out more

Family Arts Standards

Family Arts Standards

PHM follows Family Arts Campaign’s Family Arts Standards, helping families to find arts activities that are suitable for all ages, covering the basic considerations for families visiting an arts experience.

‘Each time we go, we find something different and as my children get older they see and engage the exhibitions differently and get different things from the experience.’
Family feedback on PHM.

Find out more
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