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Visit | Ideas worth exploring

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.

Image of People's History Museum building exterior, from Bridge Street, Manchester.
Image of Visitors sat in People's History Museum foyer
Image of Collection of matchboxes with the Time To Strike! graphic by the Rickard Sisters, 2024.
Image of Exploring the Family Friendly galleries at People's History Museum. Image courtesy of People's History Museum.
Image of Axel Void, Peterloo. mural, 2018, painted on the exterior wall of People's History Museum building, next to the River Irwell.
Image of visitor trying out the Grunwick strike (1976-1978) interactive digital experience in the Citizens section in Gallery Two at People's History Museum.

Visit Open Kitchen's pop up cafe

Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar will be closed for building work from Monday 28 October to Friday 15 November 2024.  Visit their pop up cafe in the museum foyer and enjoy hot and cold drinks, snacks, or a light lunch in the picnic area.

Some of the building work may be noisy – we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

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Plan your visit

  • Open: 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays
  • Closed: 24, 25, 26 December & 1 January
  • Free entry, most visitors donate £10

 

Follow the link below to plan your visit, and find out what to expect when you get to PHM.

Plan your visit
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Group visits

For group visits of over six people, follow the link below to fill in an enquiry form or email learning@phm.org.uk.

Book your group visit
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Getting to PHM

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

Access

People's History Museum, Spinningfields, Manchester

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

What's on

Exploring the galleries at People's History Museum

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

Families

We Love Kids in Museums logo

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

Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar

Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar.

Take a break from exploring to grab a coffee, snack, or light lunch from our sustainable and ethical cafe, managed by Manchester based food and drink social enterprise Open Kitchen.

A picnic area is available for visitors bringing their own food and drink to the museum.

Take a break

Exit through the gift shop

Shop at People's History Museum

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

Free entry

Become a Radical Friend of People's History Museum

Join other visitors and make a donation today, helping to ensure the museum remains free for all.

Support PHM

Follow People’s History Museum on Instagram…

Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆🧨🎇
 
We’re delighted to be collaborating with @therickardsisters on an exclusive range of artwork for People's History Museum.
 
Rickard Sisters, Scarlett and Sophie, are renowned for their graphic novels and activist inspired artwork 🙌
 
Checkout the latest collection #TimeToStrike 🔥 a playful take on the theme of striking which adorns our new decorative matchboxes.

Head to PHM Shop & online – whilst stocks last!

Image: PHM matchbox with Time To Strike! graphic by the Rickard Sisters, 2024.

#PHMShop #museumshop #museumexclusives  #matchboxes #museumexclusives #bonfirenight  #bonfire  #GuyFawkes  #bespoke  #museumgiftshop  #illustratorsoninstagram

Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆🧨🎇

We’re delighted to be collaborating with @therickardsisters on an exclusive range of artwork for People`s History Museum.

Rickard Sisters, Scarlett and Sophie, are renowned for their graphic novels and activist inspired artwork 🙌

Checkout the latest collection #TimeToStrike 🔥 a playful take on the theme of striking which adorns our new decorative matchboxes.

Head to PHM Shop & online – whilst stocks last!

Image: PHM matchbox with Time To Strike! graphic by the Rickard Sisters, 2024.

#PHMShop #museumshop #museumexclusives #matchboxes #museumexclusives #bonfirenight #bonfire #GuyFawkes #bespoke #museumgiftshop #illustratorsoninstagram
...

Capturing the theme of disabled people’s rights is this banner that was made for the Triangle Club in 1985. 

The banner, on loan from the British Deaf History Society, features a pink triangle – a symbol that went from being used to identify LGBTQIA+ people in Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War to being reclaimed by LGBTQIA+ groups and campaigns from the 1970s onwards.

Kloe, PHM’s Conservator giving it a clean in the lead up to PHM’s 2025 Banner Exhibition which opens Saturday 18 January 2025 (and on show until 29 December 2025). 

#LGBTQIA #TextileConservation #Banners #Museum #deafhistory #DisabilityActivism #IdeasWorthConserving #LGBTHistory #LGBTActivism #VisitManchester

Capturing the theme of disabled people’s rights is this banner that was made for the Triangle Club in 1985.

The banner, on loan from the British Deaf History Society, features a pink triangle – a symbol that went from being used to identify LGBTQIA+ people in Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War to being reclaimed by LGBTQIA+ groups and campaigns from the 1970s onwards.

Kloe, PHM’s Conservator giving it a clean in the lead up to PHM’s 2025 Banner Exhibition which opens Saturday 18 January 2025 (and on show until 29 December 2025).

#LGBTQIA #TextileConservation #Banners #Museum #deafhistory #DisabilityActivism #IdeasWorthConserving #LGBTHistory #LGBTActivism #VisitManchester
...

✨ COMPETITION TIME 💫 Book your school workshop at PHM this Parliament Week

Inspired by ‘How To Be A Revolutionary’, by Lucy Ann Unwin @phmmcr  is running a book giveaway with @uclan_publishing 

The new book follows the story of Nat as she gets interested in politics during the run up to a general election.  She’s too young to vote, so what can she do?  And so starts her revolutionary training…

To enter, book a new school workshop at PHM this #UKPW (18-24 Nov).
The competition is open until Wed 30 October.
To book and for all terms & conditions, follow the link in bio.
The winners will be announced on @phmmcr in November. 

We can't wait to welcome your school to the museum!

Image: ‘How To Be A Revolutionary’ book by Lucy Ann Unwin (2024).
ALT: Book cover with a colourful illustration of three children, and text: ‘How To Be A Revolutionary. Lucy Ann Unwin’.

#SchoolsInMuseums #competition #UKPW #giveaway

✨ COMPETITION TIME 💫 Book your school workshop at PHM this Parliament Week

Inspired by ‘How To Be A Revolutionary’, by Lucy Ann Unwin @phmmcr is running a book giveaway with @uclan_publishing

The new book follows the story of Nat as she gets interested in politics during the run up to a general election. She’s too young to vote, so what can she do? And so starts her revolutionary training…

To enter, book a new school workshop at PHM this #UKPW (18-24 Nov).
The competition is open until Wed 30 October.
To book and for all terms & conditions, follow the link in bio.
The winners will be announced on @phmmcr in November.

We can`t wait to welcome your school to the museum!

Image: ‘How To Be A Revolutionary’ book by Lucy Ann Unwin (2024).
ALT: Book cover with a colourful illustration of three children, and text: ‘How To Be A Revolutionary. Lucy Ann Unwin’.

#SchoolsInMuseums #competition #UKPW #giveaway
...

Explore strike action at People’s History Museum this autumn.

Play an arcade style game, use AR technology, and cross the interactive picket line to discover how workers took a stand for their rights across two galleries and three centuries. 

Visit this free museum bursting with banners, posters, photographs, and objects telling the stories of ideas worth fighting for.

Time to Strike illustration by The Rickard Sisters, 2024.

#whatsonmanchester #halftermactivities #manchesterhalfterm #kidsinmuseums

Explore strike action at People’s History Museum this autumn.

Play an arcade style game, use AR technology, and cross the interactive picket line to discover how workers took a stand for their rights across two galleries and three centuries.

Visit this free museum bursting with banners, posters, photographs, and objects telling the stories of ideas worth fighting for.

Time to Strike illustration by The Rickard Sisters, 2024.

#whatsonmanchester #halftermactivities #manchesterhalfterm #kidsinmuseums
...

New on display - Exploring the Legacies of Empire: Some Perspectives from the Global South.

An exhibition in Gallery Two at People's History Museum from @southernvoicesuk about the legacies of vast forced migration and the colonised people’s resistance against imperialism and racism.

Check out link in bio for more info.

Image: Exploring the Legacies of Empire: Some Perspectives from the Global South exhibition (until 12 January 2025)

#BlackHistory  #globalsouth #exhibition #migration #WhatsOnManchester #Heritage

New on display - Exploring the Legacies of Empire: Some Perspectives from the Global South.

An exhibition in Gallery Two at People`s History Museum from @southernvoicesuk about the legacies of vast forced migration and the colonised people’s resistance against imperialism and racism.

Check out link in bio for more info.

Image: Exploring the Legacies of Empire: Some Perspectives from the Global South exhibition (until 12 January 2025)

#BlackHistory #globalsouth #exhibition #migration #WhatsOnManchester #Heritage
...

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