Get a friendly welcome at People's History Museum in Manchester, the national museum of democracy. Explore the museum and be empowered by the past to make a change for the future.
Follow the link below to plan your visit, and find out what to expect when you get to PHM.
Plan your visit
For group visits of over six people, follow the link below to fill in an enquiry form.
Booking is required to guarantee entry.
Group visits are not taken during our dedicated quiet time between 2.00pm and 5.00pm on Fridays.
Book your group visit
The museum is located on the corner of Left Bank and Bridge Street, opposite the Civil Justice Centre, alongside the River Irwell, in the Spinningfields area of Manchester city centre, postcode M3 3ER.
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Follow the link below for information on how to get to PHM.
Getting to PHM
The museum is Family Friendly throughout, from facilities to family favourites including hands-on interactives and activities connecting you and your family with PHM’s unique collections and stories.
Bring your buggies, refillable water bottles and expect a warm welcome, simple signage, accessible toilets, and plenty of picnic places.
The museum has a Quiet Room you can use during your visit and sensory tools can be borrowed from access stations throughout the museum.
Plan your family visit
We are committed to supporting all visitors during their time at PHM. We understand that everyone’s access needs are different.
Please talk to us if you have queries or require any assistance in advance of your visit on 0161 838 9190 or access@phm.org.uk.
For accessibility information check out our Detailed Access Guide on the AccessAble website.
Access at PHM
Explore PHM’s galleries, exhibitions, and hands-on and digital interactives engaging adults and children alike.
Use PHM’s visitor map to familiarise yourself with the museum building ahead of your visit.
Find out what's on
Take a break for brunch, lunch or an afternoon pick me up in PHM’s café Gather
Hot food served until 3.00pm.
For booking please call 01260 543977.
A picnic area is available for visitors bringing their own food and drink to the museum.
View menu
A unique gift shop in Manchester inspired by the museum’s collection, full of books, cards, homeware, souvenirs and great presents for kids and grown ups.
Shop the collection
Join other visitors and make a donation today, helping to ensure the museum remains free for all.
Support PHM
PETERLOO JUG 🩷
Ahead of the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre next Sunday 16 August, we`re proud to unveil one of the newest additions to our collection: a rare Peterloo commemorative jug.
Believed to be the only known example of its kind, this remarkable everyday object was created in the aftermath of the events of 1819, transforming a household item into a powerful symbol of protest, remembrance and the fight for democracy.
Now on display at People`s History Museum, it`s a rare opportunity to connect with one of Manchester`s most significant stories.
📍 Find out more with a visit to PHM. Free Entry.
#PeoplesHistoryMuseum #Peterloo #HistoryMatters #Manchester #Democracy
📅 PHM DATES
Make the most of August with a visit to People`s History Museum, where powerful stories, inspiring exhibitions and free family activities are waiting to be discovered.
Dates for the Diary:
🤖 August | BUILD-A-BOT
Get creative this summer with our free family activity and build your own cardboard robot inspired by Deceptioncon. Perfect for children aged 5+ and their grown-ups.
🚩 Sunday 16 August | Peterloo Anniversary
Join us as we remember Peterloo and reflect on the lasting impact of those who fought for democratic change.
🚩 August | On The Line: 100 years of strikes & solidarity
Explore our major exhibition charting a century of protest, activism and collective action through powerful objects, banners and untold stories.
🏳️🌈 Saturday 22 August | Re/Assemble exhibition guided tour 2pm – 3pm
Discover the stories behind Re/Assemble and explore Manchester`s LGBTQIA+ history ahead of Manchester Pride.
✊ Sunday 23 August | Grunwick Strike: 50 Years On – guided tour 12.30pm – 1.15pm
Join lead curator Mark Wilson for a lunchtime guided tour marking 50 years since the Grunwick Strike, exploring its lasting impact on workers` rights, solidarity and social change
🎙️ August | @findmypast podcast
Tune into our new podcast series exploring family history, hidden stories and the people who helped shape Britain`s democratic past
📚 August | Storytelling Zone
A free family space filled with stories, creativity and imagination
🛍️ August | Shop
Browse books, gifts and unique products inspired by the museum`s collections and exhibitions before taking a little piece of history home
Find out more and plan your visit and make a day of it via link in bio.
#PeoplesHistoryMuseum #WhatsOnManchester #OnTheLine #ManchesterMuseums #Peterloo
🤖 Planning a visit to People’s History Museum this weekend? Make sure to say hello to Deceptioncon.
Created during the Amazon workers’ industrial action in 2023, this cardboard robot costume became a symbol of solidarity and collective action. Today, it’s on display in On The Line: 100 Years of Strikes & Solidarity, connecting today’s movements with a century of protest.
Feeling inspired? Join our FREE Build-A-Bot activity and create your own cardboard robot to take home. It’s perfect for children aged 5+ (under 12s must be accompanied by an adult)… and just as much fun for grown-ups too! 🤖✨
We’re open every day (except Tuesdays), 10am–5pm, and admission is free.
#OnTheLine #PeoplesHistoryMuseum #BuildABot #FamilyFriendly #WorkersRights Solidarity
🌈 As Manchester gets ready for Pride, we`re reflecting on the stories of protest and solidarity that helped shape LGBTQ+ rights.
This banner was created by the Northwest Campaign for Lesbian & Gay Equality for a march through Manchester in 1988, in protest against what became Section 28.
Today, it stands as a powerful reminder of the people who came together to challenge discrimination and fight for equality.
See it for yourself at People`s History Museum and discover the stories behind the movements that changed Britain.
#ManchesterPride #PeoplesHistoryMuseum #LGBTQHistory #Section28 #Manchester Solidarity
On The Line exhibition | Guided Tours
Join lead curator Mark for a guided tour of On The Line: 100 years of strikes & solidarity, and discover the stories behind the objects, the people who shaped history, and the moments of solidarity that continue to inspire today.
From the 1926 General Strike to the Grunwick Strike and beyond, Mark will share unique insights into the exhibition, revealing the research, decisions and remarkable stories behind one of PHM`s landmark exhibitions.
🎟️ Sunday 26 July 12.30pm - 1.15pm
🎟️ Sunday 23 August 12.30pm - 1.15pm
*Spaces are limited
*BSL interpreted and Audio Described tours are also available on selected dates.
#PeoplesHistoryMuseum #OnTheLine #ManchesterMuseum #GuidedTour #Tours
✍🏽 Lines of Thought
Some of the most powerful stories in On The Line: 100 Years of Strikes & Solidarity have been written by our visitors.
From memories of picket lines to reflections on solidarity, these handwritten notes are becoming part of the exhibition itself.
"The right to strike is one of the last powers we have."
"As a striking teacher, two of my pupils joined us on the picket line. It meant the world to me."
Visit the exhibition, read the thoughts left behind and add your own.
#OnTheLine #PeoplesHistoryMuseum #Solidarity #Strike #MuseumExhibition
🤖 BUILD-A-BOT
This summer your little ones can get creative and build their very own robot to take home at People`s History Museum.
Inspired by the museum`s Deceptioncon robot costume, which once stood on the picket line in support of workers` rights, BUILD-A-BOT shows how something as simple as a cardboard box can become a robot changemaker.
This free, drop-in family activity runs daily from 18 July to 31 August, 10am–5pm. Suitable for ages 5–12 (under 12s must be accompanied by an adult), no booking required.
Find us located at 📍 Left Bank, Manchester
#PeoplesHistoryMuseum #BuildABot #ManchesterWithKids #FamilyFun #FreeThingsToDo
🇬🇧 As the country prepares to welcome a new Prime Minister, we’re revisiting one of the defining political moments that helped shape modern Britain.
Andy Burnham’s iconic ‘King of the North’ jacket, worn during his landmark speech outside Bridgewater Hall in October 2020, is part of our collection.
As the national museum of democracy, we collect the objects that tell the story of Britain`s democracy, from historic moments to the events shaping our lives today - including Andy Burnham`s original speech notes from that day.
See the jacket for yourself. We’re open every day (except Tuesdays), 10am–5pm, and admission is free.
#PeoplesHistoryMuseum #AndyBurnham #KingOfTheNorth #HistoryInTheMaking
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