People’s History Museum will close on Sunday 31 December 2023 and re-open on Thursday 1 February 2024 so that it can carry out further work as part of the Welcome Project at PHM, which stems from the museum’s vision to be an exemplar for accessibility.
Find out moreGet 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 or phone the Learning Team on 0161 838 9190.
Please note we are pausing all self-guided group bookings from 1 January 2024, back available from 18 March 2024.
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.
Follow the link below for information on how to get to PHM.
Getting to PHM
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.
Access at PHM
Explore PHM’s galleries, exhibitions, and hands-on and digital interactives engaging adults and children alike.
Find out what's on
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.
Plan your family visit
Take a break from exploring with a sustainable, ethical, and delicious food experience at Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar; offering breakfast, lunch and drinks to grab and go, or sit in and enjoy.
A picnic area is available for visitors bringing their own food and drink to the museum.
Take a break
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
Why don’t museums want you eating and drinking in the galleries? Not only are there spill and stain risks to precious objects, but bugs LOVE the smell of food and leftover crumbs will tempt them in,
where they may see the objects as delicacies to add to their plate! Textiles, such as banners, are particularly at risk.
Luckily, PHM’s Conservators do an excellent job of keeping our objects safe and the museum pest free 🐛
#museums #textileconservation #museumconservation #banners
Why don’t museums want you eating and drinking in the galleries? Not only are there spill and stain risks to precious objects, but bugs LOVE the smell of food and leftover crumbs will tempt them in,
where they may see the objects as delicacies to add to their plate! Textiles, such as banners, are particularly at risk.
Luckily, PHM’s Conservators do an excellent job of keeping our objects safe and the museum pest free 🐛
#museums #textileconservation #museumconservation #banners
How did Manchester fight back against an inactive government during the AIDS crisis? #WorldAIDSDay
A pink ACT UP Manchester banner will be on display in PHM’s 2024 Banner Exhibition from 1 February 2024! In this video, PHM’s Conservator Kloë stitches a white cotton sleeve to the top of the banner to hang it safely for display.
#TextileConservation #Museums #ActUp #AIDSCrisis #LGBTHistory #LGBTQI #LGBTActivism #KeithHaring #Manchester #ManchesterHistory #VisitManchester
How did Manchester fight back against an inactive government during the AIDS crisis? #WorldAIDSDay
A pink ACT UP Manchester banner will be on display in PHM’s 2024 Banner Exhibition from 1 February 2024! In this video, PHM’s Conservator Kloë stitches a white cotton sleeve to the top of the banner to hang it safely for display.
#TextileConservation #Museums #ActUp #AIDSCrisis #LGBTHistory #LGBTQI #LGBTActivism #KeithHaring #Manchester #ManchesterHistory #VisitManchester
So sad to being saying goodbye to The Manchester Argonaut by @wilshermills on Monday 4 December 2023! This grinning figure is a positive and authentic figure of disability, which has greeted visitors including Mayor Andy Burnham to PHM since July 2023.
The sculpture is tattooed with symbols representing disabled people’s activism and the history of Manchester, from red roses of Lancashire to an ‘Equality through access to the toilet’ tattoo.
The Manchester Argonaut is leaving us as we start on the install of an accessible Changing Places toilet on PHM’s Ground Floor - we hope the Argonaut would be happy with this development!
#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #Manchester #TheManchesterArgonaut #Sculpture
So sad to being saying goodbye to The Manchester Argonaut by @wilshermills on Monday 4 December 2023! This grinning figure is a positive and authentic figure of disability, which has greeted visitors including Mayor Andy Burnham to PHM since July 2023.
The sculpture is tattooed with symbols representing disabled people’s activism and the history of Manchester, from red roses of Lancashire to an ‘Equality through access to the toilet’ tattoo.
The Manchester Argonaut is leaving us as we start on the install of an accessible Changing Places toilet on PHM’s Ground Floor - we hope the Argonaut would be happy with this development!
#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #Manchester #TheManchesterArgonaut #Sculpture
A cost of living crisis, low pay, threatened redundancies and rapid inflation: this year workers have chosen to fight back for fair pay and better conditions. After a year marked by strike action, take a look back at forty years of picket lines through five objects in PHM’s collection. Read more about them at the link in our bio.
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Left to right: Manchester Deliveroo strike leaflet, 2020; Fire Brigades Union Cap, 2002-2003; Royal College of Nursing Fair Pay for Nurses badge, 2023; National Union of Journalists (NUJ) picket armband, 1986; Miners’ Strike fact sheet leaflet, 1984.
For the first time, these strike-related objects are now on display in PHM’s Collections Spotlight case in Main Gallery One.
#AutumnBudget #AutumnStatement #Strikes #UKStrikes #CostOfLiving #NursingStrike #MinersStrike #PicketLine #StrikeAction #Museums
A cost of living crisis, low pay, threatened redundancies and rapid inflation: this year workers have chosen to fight back for fair pay and better conditions. After a year marked by strike action, take a look back at forty years of picket lines through five objects in PHM’s collection. Read more about them at the link in our bio.
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.
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Left to right: Manchester Deliveroo strike leaflet, 2020; Fire Brigades Union Cap, 2002-2003; Royal College of Nursing Fair Pay for Nurses badge, 2023; National Union of Journalists (NUJ) picket armband, 1986; Miners’ Strike fact sheet leaflet, 1984.
For the first time, these strike-related objects are now on display in PHM’s Collections Spotlight case in Main Gallery One.
#AutumnBudget #AutumnStatement #Strikes #UKStrikes #CostOfLiving #NursingStrike #MinersStrike #PicketLine #StrikeAction #Museums
Is it too early to get the Christmas tree up? Because these adorable Xmas Bee decorations from @themagpiesdaughter have us ready to start decorating now 🎄 🐝
Available in PHM shop!
#MuseumShop #ManchesterIndependents
Is it too early to get the Christmas tree up? Because these adorable Xmas Bee decorations from @themagpiesdaughter have us ready to start decorating now 🎄 🐝
Available in PHM shop!
#MuseumShop #ManchesterIndependents
A fairer world for everyone - at People’s History Museum we celebrate those who have fought to achieve this. We tell authentic stories of the protests, strikes, campaigns and policies that have shaped Britain. Thank you for following us and helping us share these stories!
#IdeasWorthFightingFor
A fairer world for everyone - at People’s History Museum we celebrate those who have fought to achieve this. We tell authentic stories of the protests, strikes, campaigns and policies that have shaped Britain. Thank you for following us and helping us share these stories!
#IdeasWorthFightingFor
UK #DisabilityHistoryMonth starts today!
PHM’s next The Fabric of Protest workshop will take inspiration from Chilean #Arpilleras to create quilted, appliqued and embroidered squares representing disabled people’s activism.
Join us and @helencmather in person at PHM on Saturday 25 November from 1.00pm to 3.00pm for the last @fabricofprotest workshop of 2023. Book your place via the link in bio.
Be sure to share yours on Instagram and tag @phmmcr using #fabricofprotest
Image one: Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) banner, 2015. On loan from DPAC. On display in PHM`s 2023 Banner Exhibition.
Image two: An example of a textile piece inspired by Chilean Arpilleras.
UK #DisabilityHistoryMonth starts today!
PHM’s next The Fabric of Protest workshop will take inspiration from Chilean #Arpilleras to create quilted, appliqued and embroidered squares representing disabled people’s activism.
Join us and @helencmather in person at PHM on Saturday 25 November from 1.00pm to 3.00pm for the last @fabricofprotest workshop of 2023. Book your place via the link in bio.
Be sure to share yours on Instagram and tag @phmmcr using #fabricofprotest
Image one: Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) banner, 2015. On loan from DPAC. On display in PHM`s 2023 Banner Exhibition.
Image two: An example of a textile piece inspired by Chilean Arpilleras.
5 wines expertly paired with 5 festive snacks. Kick off your December with Festive Chips and Sips at PHM`s resident ethical cafe and bar @openkitchenphm.
A wine tasting evening with the expertise but without the snobbery, pairing sustainable wines with snacks like a yule log and a pineapple and cheese hedgehog.
Friday 1 December, 6.30pm to 11.00pm. £29.50, link in bio to book.
#WhatsOnManchester #ManchesterChristmas
5 wines expertly paired with 5 festive snacks. Kick off your December with Festive Chips and Sips at PHM`s resident ethical cafe and bar @openkitchenphm.
A wine tasting evening with the expertise but without the snobbery, pairing sustainable wines with snacks like a yule log and a pineapple and cheese hedgehog.
Friday 1 December, 6.30pm to 11.00pm. £29.50, link in bio to book.
#WhatsOnManchester #ManchesterChristmas
Are you more independent or community-focused? Experimental or measured? Prefer work or play?
Take our quick quiz to find out which radical you are! At the end we’ll offer you access to our free e-newsletter which matches your interests to what’s on at PHM.
