Visiting the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Located on the site of the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station, the Museum of Science and Industry focuses on the scientific breakthroughs that shaped Manchester. The museum illustrates how ideas can change the world, tracing that trajectory from the Industrial Revolution to the present day.
A hub of innovation and ideas
This is a site packed with revolutionary objects and concepts. Spread across several galleries, visitors can explore the following:
- Revolution Manchester: A deep dive into the local innovations that rippled out to change the globe.
- Textiles Gallery: The story of Manchester as a global center for the cotton industry. You will see the machinery, the expertise, and the products that defined the design, printing, and finishing of textiles.
- Experiment: A dedicated gallery for hands-on, interactive science tests.
- Cancer Revolution: science, innovation and hope: A global exhibition on the history of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment over the last century.
The digital revolution also takes center stage, featuring a replica of the Small Experimental Machine, which was built at the University of Victoria, alongside the Ferranti Mark 1, one of the first commercially available electronic computers in the world. Even today, the University of Manchester is involved in a project to build a computer with hundreds of thousands of connected processors designed to function like a human brain.
The museum hosts rotating exhibits on themes including transport, energy, urban sanitation and sewage systems, textiles, communications, and computing.
Outdoors, you can explore industrial relics dating back to the mid-19th century and get a sense of the era's factories, railroads, and canals. Both the station facade and the 1830 warehouse are Grade I listed buildings. You can even ride a steam train along the historic tracks.
Renowned scientists such as John Dalton and James Prescott Joule left their mark on Manchester. Dalton is remembered for his atomic theory and his work on color blindness, while Joule is credited with the laws of thermodynamics, Joule's law, and giving his name to the standard unit of energy.
Lots of machines, old vehicles, and mechanical demonstrations. The guides don't hesitate to handle the objects to help you understand certain technologies or physical discoveries.
Other pluses: the old 19th-century train station kept in its original state, free admission, and the kids' area on the top floor. A smart outing to do as a family.