Manchester Museum — Attraction in Manchester

The Manchester Museum – A great culture hub telling stories about different countries and traditions

What is the Manchester Museum?

The Manchester Museum is a museum that is located on Oxford Road that presents a variety of exhibitions and galleries. In August 2021 it closed in order to undergo a 15 million pound renovation including a new exhibition hall, Asia Gallery, café and other facilities.

As part of its re-launch in February this year it has decided to open with the Golden Mummies of Egypt exhibition and an Asia Gallery.

What is the Golden Mummies of Egypt exhibition about?

This exhibition explores the afterlife during the unknown Graeco-Roman Period. This was because Egypt was ruled by a Greek royal family followed by Queen Cleopatra and then by Roman emperors. At the museum there were some beautiful objects from that era including the Greek and Roman helmets.

We also witnessed the different traditions that Egyptians, Greeks and Romans would have when it came to death and afterlife. Greeks and Romans had low expectations when it came to life after death. However the Egyptian afterlife gave them the chance to be born again. There were numerous masks, coffins and mummies that were bright and eye-catching. This portrays that the dead can be reborn.

All the objects at this exhibition were full of detail and it was incredible giving you an insight into Egyptian life. In addition, the portraits of both women and men mummies and pharaohs were stunning to look at. Also the descriptions were great giving you a story behind each object.

What is the Asia Gallery?

The Asia Gallery is on the First Floor. It looks at different cultures and traditions in different parts of Asia including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Japan.

It was beautiful that when you entered you would hear lovely Asian music which really transports you to the heart of that continent.

There was a mixture of art, music, and other items on display. It featured a Rick Shaw which was the main mode of transport in the old times. The Asian pottery was beautiful which was used to nurture plants and gardens.

It also included some elegant items of Asian Jewellery and the popular Indian drums tabla from the 1980s . It also highlighted how Asian people have opportunities for work and so there was a military uniform and documents from a man that was a Doctor from years ago. The Kimonos that were on display were full of colour and had lovely patterns on them.

This was a fun and interesting insight about everything that is associated with Asia.

What was good about the Golden Mummies of Egypt Exhibition?

The variety of objects on offer were great to look at

It gave an interesting insight into the history of Egypt

The Mummies were incredible and had lots of detail

The Masks and coffins were intriguing.

There were great descriptions next to each object giving you a story behind each one.

What could have been improved?

There could have been some music in the background

Adding an interactive element could have made this exhibition more energetic.

What was good about the Asia Gallery?

The Indian music was great

There was a diverse range of objects showcasing the different traditions from Asia.

It was interesting about culture, music and work opportunities.

I loved the Kimonos on show

What could have been improved?

The descriptions were good but they could have included additional detail.

It could have included some games or an interactive element to...

Most recent review - September 2024: Really enjoyed the new Wild exhibition which has replaced the mummies. Good activity stations to engage the children (and adults) too. 🌳

*Updated review - (1st re-visit since the pandemic).

Lots of fantastic changes!

The new mummy exhibition was amazing, been waiting for what feels like forever for this to have been completed, but it was worth the wait! Tickets are required to enter. They are free, and they can be easily booked at the entrance. Updated café, gift shop and fantastic new Chinese & South Asian exhibitions in place of the old dated, imperialist exhibits which used to be home to the 1st floor! Lots of little touches here and there to promote inclusivity and to make the place much more comfortable and interactive for visitors. New gender-neutral toilets, with free sanitary products and additional seating areas throughout the museum. Only tiny niggle - they have made the entrance and exit through the gift shop which makes it chaotic for anyone actually wishing to browse / enter / exit the museum!

*Old review from 2 years ago: The queuing system wasn't clear, so ended up standing in a long queue waiting for a while, - turns out it was for people who hadn't pre-booked tickets, so a little annoying to find that we could have gone straight in. This was a minor niggle, but might be worth mentioning so other people don't make the same mistake as we did! The Covid safety measures in place are well thought out. It was lovely that the museum greeters acknowledged and thanked us for wearing our masks, even though it is no longer legally required. Lots of sanitising stations throughout. They clearly carefully monitored the amount of visitors in the building, and which means you are able to browse the exhibits while easily maintaining social distancing. (This is the opposite to how it currently is at the Liverpool Museum, where it is very crowded). An interesting and enjoyable place to spend an afternoon. My two and 4 year old loved it - they were especially impressed by the frogs. Most of the museum is still closed off, along with the mummies - which is...

Hello! It was a great pleasure to walk through your museum and see the exhibits. The museum is clearly created with love and expertise — it feels welcoming and genuine. I truly enjoyed my visit and warmly recommend everyone to see this friendly and fascinating place. Thank you!

However, if anyone is interested in my private opinion, I would like to share one thought. While walking through the Egyptian gallery, I read that the museum is considering removing the only mummy from public display, citing concerns about whether it is ethical to exhibit a dead person. I liked your museum very much and would like, if possible, to dissuade the management from taking this step. In my personal opinion, this position is hypocritical and prudish. It reflects an attempt to conform to imaginary, excessively exaggerated standards and to appear virtuous in the eyes of non-existent critics. This is a road to nowhere.

If one truly wishes to be consistent in matters of ethics and morality when forming a museum exhibition, then all taxidermied animals stuffed for human amusement should also be removed, as well as the bones of primates subjected to human experiments, and even the plaster cast of the man who died during the eruption of Vesuvius — especially since his buttocks are so indiscreetly exposed!

I believe a museum should bring knowledge and enlightenment, not moral instruction or preaching. When I come to a museum, I expect it to speak to me as an equal, not as to a naive child in need of guidance. I hope that common sense will prevail, and the museum will remain a museum — not a showcase of political correctness.

Once again, it is a wonderful museum. I will...