People's History Museum
People's History Museum things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did based on some previous reviews. Overall first impressions were great- there's a large, clean and bright entrance area with a little gift/book shop and the receptionist was pleasant and helpful. Was handed a leaflet containing a layout diagram, the receptionist pointed out stairs, loo's, cafe etc. The exhibition itself was pretty fascinating- I found myself getting quickly drawn into some long-forgotten socio-economic and political history & mostly spent the time wistfully wondering where on earth the displayed items were curated, because it's a fascinating collection for sure. I grew up in the Lancashire/Cheshire area and despite various school trips and lessons around our heritage and industry my knowledge was decades old and rusty, so it was great to revisit aspects of this as well as a general UK history of democracy from a modern-day perspective and with the benefit of hindsight. As one would expect from a Manchester/Salford border-based exhibition of political history, it's pretty "Red" (and certain rag readers could argue it's tantamount to propaganda). The old posters and artwork certainly are thought provoking and it's not difficult to draw comparisons with modern-day plights and manifestos.. My overarching conclusion being "nowt much changes".. The banners and restoration workshop viewing area are a really nice touch, and the jukebox was a nostalgic blast from the past, with someone sticking a great bit of Bob Dylan on, setting the scene for a perfect exit. It all seemed very accessible and child-friendly too with a good few interactive parts, couple of reconstructions and some dress-up stations with #'s for posting pics on socials, if that's your bag. Entry is free but there's a suggested donation of £5, which I feel is very well deserved. After a walk around John Rylands & King St etc I even returned to the museum for lunch in the cafe, which I'll review separately but was pleasant, fairly priced with friendly service. All in all a very worthy contender for a couple of hours' mooch.
Joanna RobinsonJoanna Robinson
10
The PHM provided the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony & breakfast! It was even better than we imagined! The space speaks for itself, it’s a huge light filled, industrial engine hall with almost church like dimensions. We just added some plants and the space needed nothing more as it is beautiful as it is. Also the brilliant communications and meet ups in the build up made planning so easy as we had quick responses and clarity throughout. On the day we were able to meet outside in the museum lobby and enter to our guests and the staff made this possible. The sound system was also great as we just played our own spotify playlist via an old phone with a jack and the tech staff helped this. We had a harpist for our ceremony who then moved to the terrace and the space allowed the music to amplify beautifully! The ability to enter the space for ceremony setup on the day before our wedding was another great benefit as it meant we were happy all was ready. We also chose to do our speech from the balcony in the engine hall to our guests below and this worked really well and again the tech staff helped make sure the microphones worked 😁All in all we think it’s the perfect wedding venue, you get an amazing space, amazing service and you’re helping contribute to the museum continuing it’s great work! Winner all round! Liam and Stu
LiamLiam
00
There are different well defined and organized areas consisted of various meaningful & crucial themes, covering topics like Racism, Freedom to vote, Reformation vs Rebellion, Post War Stories and enormous hits to people's life, belief, values, etc. Found an little corner mentioned about the situation of Hong Kong, as I came from Hong Kong very recently, that touched my heart right away, appreciate the authenticity and the objectivity of the information, on the extradition bill, the National Security Law, and the BNO visa, a very heartfelt work that illustrates the importance of free speech. It also reinstated the point of view that the UK government holds, which is very encouraging yet sadly true, people from Hong Kong are at risk of undermining certain autonomy and the rights they are promised to enjoy under the "One Country, Two Systems" arrangement, when Hong Kong was returned to China from Britain as a colony until 1997. Once again, I am very grateful to read the corner, appreciated the Museum doing such classy job to spread awareness towards this matter of Hong Kong. Thank you very much for the honorable mention of the very updated critical situation of Hong Kong.
Trevi YeungTrevi Yeung
00
Were looking for something to do that was near our hotel whilst we were in Manchester and this museum came up. Really surpassed our expectations, fascinating history of the local and wider history of democracy, protest and trade unions. Every item had a detailed explanation, including the historic political cartoons which are sometimes so hard to understand through our modern eyes. The textiles and the explanation of conservation techniques was really interesting, some lovely work on show. They made it easy to make an optional contactless donation on entry, and a friendly staff member on the desk greeted us and gave us a map to find our way round. All the staff we encountered were really helpful. We particularly appreciated the museums acknowledgement and efforts to address better representation of LGBTQ+ and POC in their collection and look forward to future additions. A few interactive bits for kids, but I imagine younger children would find it a bit boring :) Lots of places to stop and sit on your way round if you need it, and a nice looking café on the ground floor, although we didn't go in.
Lucy Mortlock (Mooosy)Lucy Mortlock (Mooosy)
00
This is all about people power, people! The museum houses a very comprehensive collection of artifacts and items relating to the people's struggle for social and political reform. This celebrates those named and unnamed brave men and women who fought against disparity and oppression. If you have a rebellious heart or an interest on social/political history, it's worth a trip to Manchester just to visit here. The exhibition is well set out in relation to timeline, and very accessible across age groups. You will find some wonderful examples, too, of artwork through these times, in both posters and textiles in the form of beautiful organisation/union banners. This space also houses a café, reasonably priced and a great book/gift shop as well as learning spaces. The staff throughout are just lovely too. Entry is by donation. I think this could possibly be the best museum I have ever visited anywhere in the world.
Miss BallantyneMiss Ballantyne
00
The People's History Museum tells the story of the development of democracy in the UK. This is an important museum fulfilling a necessary task. I would commend this museum to others, though I have some reservations. First, our democratic history is a lot more nuanced, less simple, and less linear than the stories told here. Secondly, the often stygian gloom of the galleries in which the museum's displays are presented undermines that presentation significantly. The galleries don't feel inviting or welcoming. The joy of this museum is in the banners and period posters that are on display. These are contextualised well and provide a real snap shot of the history and times in which they were made. I also liked that the Museum's conservation work is not hidden away. This shows both how painstaking and how important that work is.
Mark HaywardMark Hayward
00
Nearby Attractions Of People's History Museum
Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre
AO Arena
Science and Industry Museum
Printworks
Manchester Art Gallery
The Bridgewater Hall
National Football Museum
Manchester Cathedral
Escape Hunt Manchester
Selfridges Manchester Exchange
Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre
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AO Arena
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Science and Industry Museum
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Nearby Restaurants Of People's History Museum
Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd
Dishoom Manchester
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Miller & Carter Manchester
Revolución de Cuba Manchester
Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill Manchester
The Ivy Spinningfields Brasserie, Manchester
Hard Rock Cafe Manchester
The Paramount - JD Wetherspoon
TOPS Buffet Restaurant Manchester
Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd
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Dishoom Manchester
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Albert's Schloss
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Miller & Carter Manchester
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Leftbank, Manchester M3 3ER, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 161 838 9190
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Website
phm.org.uk
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(1.6K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
accessibility
Description
The People's History Museum in Manchester, England, is the UK's national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in the UK.
attractions: Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre, AO Arena, Science and Industry Museum, Printworks, Manchester Art Gallery, The Bridgewater Hall, National Football Museum, Manchester Cathedral, Escape Hunt Manchester, Selfridges Manchester Exchange, restaurants: Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd, Dishoom Manchester, Albert's Schloss, Miller & Carter Manchester, Revolución de Cuba Manchester, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill Manchester, The Ivy Spinningfields Brasserie, Manchester, Hard Rock Cafe Manchester, The Paramount - JD Wetherspoon, TOPS Buffet Restaurant Manchester
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