Photo of Manchester Museum in North West1 / 3
Museums & Landmarks

Manchester Museum

πŸ“ Manchester, North West

β˜…4.7(10,445 Google reviews)πŸ’°FreeπŸ‘ΆAll ages

Award-winning university museum with free permanent galleries covering Stan the T. rex, Egyptian and Sudanese collections, South Asia Gallery, and The Vivarium with live animals. Special exhibitions are free and require advance booking.

βœ“ Free entryβœ“ Stan the T. rexβœ“ Egyptian mummiesβœ“ Live animalsβœ“ Educationalβœ“ Award-winning

πŸ† Funzaroo Verdict

Best for families with children who engage with natural history and ancient civilisations β€” the dinosaur galleries and Egyptian mummies are the most reliably captivating sections for school-age children. The Vivarium adds a live animal element that younger visitors respond to strongly. Budget at least two hours for a thorough visit.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

πŸ’‘Book special exhibition tickets in advance even and they're free β€” timed entry fills up
⏰Plan at least two hours to cover the main permanent galleries properly
🎟️Leave a donation at exit if you can β€” the museum is free and donation-funded
πŸš—The museum shop is reasonably priced compared to most museum shops

πŸ’¬ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews β†’
4.7
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

10,445 Google reviews

G Reviews from Google

F

Fragrance White

a month ago

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

β€œI had a fantastic visit to Manchester Museum! It’s an incredible place for anyone who loves history, culture, and science. The museum has such a wide variety of exhibits β€” from fascinating ancient Egyptian artifacts to natural history displays and beautifully curated cultural collections. The dinosaur skeletons and wildlife exhibits were especially impressive and well-presented. Everything is thoughtfully organized, making it easy to explore at your own pace. The atmosphere is welcoming, educational, and perfect for families, students, or even solo visitors. I also appreciated how informative and engaging the displays were β€” you can really learn something new in every section. The building itself is beautiful and adds to the overall experience. If you’re visiting Manchester, this museum is definitely worth your time. A truly enriching and enjoyable experience!”

M

Mumma And her 3 explorers

a month ago

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

β€œWe visited Manchester for the weekend and managed to squeeze in a trip to the museum. It’s a great space, thoughtfully divided into three main sections, which made exploring really enjoyable. However, I did feel that the African section seemed to lack resources or materials compared to the others β€” though it’s possible I may have missed something. Overall, it was still a worthwhile visit.”

S

Stephen

2 months ago

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

β€œHad a great time visiting here today. Was free but booked the triceratops exhibition in advance. I recommended leaving a donation if you can afford it though. Egyptian room was excellent, lots of dinosaurs as well. Lot of exhibits on multiple topics. The South Asia gallery was interesting and thought provoking as well. I spent three hours there but I read everything πŸ˜€β€

πŸ’¬ What parents mention

Excellent dinosaur and fossil exhibitsFree admission with varied collectionsEgyptian and cultural galleriesSome sections less well-resourced

Overview

Manchester Museum houses Stan, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found, alongside extensive Egyptian and Sudanese artifact collections, a South Asia Gallery, and The Vivarium featuring live reptiles and amphibians. Regular workshops including Clay Play run for families. The main Exhibition Hall rotates special displays β€” all free and advance booking required for timed entry. Museum shop is reasonably priced. Parking available nearby.

πŸ• Opening Hours

Tuesday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 21:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday08:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00

πŸ“ Other Museums & Landmarks in Manchester

View all β†’

πŸ“ Similar Activities Nearby

View more in North West β†’
Free to use

Find more Museums & Landmarks nearby

Explore 3,000+ family-friendly places across the UK β€” wherever the day takes you.

  • Nearby activities

    Find great places close to you

  • Directions in one tap

    Get there easily with maps & navigation

  • Free to use

    No sign up. No cost. Ever.

Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store

Safe, secure and 100% free β€” no account, no ads. Learn more

Our app β€” venues near you, sorted by distance
Our app β€” venue detail with directions, website and call