Museum of Science & Industry

Invention of the Spinning Jenny triggered the start of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester and as they say, the rest is history. And what rich industrial history it is, all of it immaculately captured in the Museum of Science and Industry. I am likely to sound like a fan boy, because I love my engineering and this place makes me feel like a five year old in a candy shop.
Entry to MOSI is free and the whole place is split into five warehouses of fun, knowledge and amazement. You have exhibits ranging from steam powered looms and the first IC engines to the world’s first programmable computer. A lot of the galleries have interactive interfaces where you can listen to the stories behind the devices.
My favourite hall is the power hall, where engines of different types and mechanisms drove the wheels of industry, all those years ago.
The 1930s warehouse has a section called ‘underground manchester’ showing the development of sanitation and sewers from virtually nonexistent in the roman times to what we have today.
I love this place so much that everytime I have first time visitors to Manchester, I make it a point to take them there.
MOSI is a shining showcase to Manchester’s rich industrial heritage and I sincerely hope it continues to show to the world what a role Manchester played in industrialising our world!

The temporary installation as part of the Light Fantastic weekend was great — simple materials of plastic cups and LED lights etc in a cube formation could be brought to life by visitors using tablets to programme colour lights and musical sounds through the cube. Unfortunately the rest of the Museum is in need of a digital do-​over; lots of the iPads and touchscreens downstairs needed repair. The upstairs experience was good for younger visitors, most of the interactive exhibits here worked and explained concepts from tectonic plates to what causes wind currents.

This is one of the many times I’ve been to MOSI and this time was just as good as I remember.
Their experimental section takes me back to primary school field trips and I had just as much fun today as I did 20 years ago.
Unfortunate the engine room was closed for refurbishments and I consider this to be the best part of the museum, which was a real shame.
The aerospace section was just as impressive as ever. We’re lucky to have MOSI on our doorstep.

I really have not got a lot of positive things to say unfortuantely.
My friend came over for a visit which I took to be a good excuse to check out this museum due to the high praise I had received from several friends.
On entering we were informed it was free entry, but we could submit donations. I politely said that I would donate once I had had a look round. A map was presented to us, to which I thought the layout was a bit odd, considering this place was scattered all over the place in numerous buildings.
The entrance area was busy, with several machines hanging down where you could take selfies. adjacent to this was the first computer which had few other things to interact with. This area was quite cool, the next area involved further things to interact with concering textiles. Working looms were also in production as you wandered round. I love the collection of ideas that fill this museum, to educate adults and children to be mindful of their environment, old 1960’s kitchens, jeanilogia, water works, old diseases, industrial and transport. However I would say 90% of the stuff we tried to interact with was broken. I guess that is the irony, if there is no admission fee and they rely on donations, they are not going to have the funds to repair anything.
I did see the MOSI advertised for £7 but I was not intrigued enough to try this. and I just did not think there were a nice flow to it from jumping to one building to another.
This place just needs a lot of repair work, even if it means charging people upon entery.

A free museum with interactive displays, a 4D cinema and more displays full of old and interesting stuff than you can shake a stick at, MOSI is one of our go-​to places in the holidays. No two visits are the same because there is so much to see, you can’t possibly take it all in during one day.
I’ve been visiting since I was a child and now my children are regulars too because frankly, there is no better place in Manchester to learn about local industries in times gone by, a wonderful assortment of cars, planes and trains, and loads more — all for free.
MOSI also run learning workshops regularly where children can learn about specific topics either for free or for a nominal charge. We in Manchester are very fortunate to have MOSI :)

Having very fond memories from my primary school visit some 25 years ago (I think!), I was looking forward to heading back to MOSI with a friend and their six-​year-​old son to see what exhibits were there now.
Spread across five listed buildings, the museum focuses on science, technology, industrial progress and Manchester’s long history of achievements in these areas. They have artefacts from early textile manufacturing machinery to modern-​day medical equipment and electric vehicles.
It’s free to visit which is a fantastic incentive for people to come along and wander through the spaces, even being able to get ‘hands on’ with certain exhibits. Kids love it here (especially the ‘Experiment!’ floor where there’s a colourful and exciting range of mini experiments children and adults can do themselves — this was the best part of the visit and we spent longest here).
Some of the other galleries were very hit and miss. A large amount of the interactive elements weren’t working and some were showing definite signs of wear-​and-​tear and needed refurbishing or replacing. There were a fair few statements of «Oh well, let’s see what’s over here instead…»
For some exhibits it was also difficult to work out what they actually were — some didn’t appear to have any notes next to them so we were left to try and figure out for ourselves.
The Power Hall houses one of the largest collections of working steam mill engines in the world (if that’s your bag) though when we visited none of them were moving (I’m sure that most of them used to?). This area leads into a former railway transit shed containing various locomotives and rolling stock. Another winner with the kids as you can climb stairs to peer into the drivers’ cabs.
Though the Air & Space Hall contained some impressive looking planes, there was nothing to do with space exploration with the exception of what could be a satellite, which we found disappointing. There were horse-​drawn carriages and land vehicles in there, randomly, but no rockets or photos of astronauts etc.
Considering we had a kid in tow this time, I’ll definitely be back to give the museum a more thorough visit. Hopefully the snags will have been fixed and it won’t be on a Saturday to avoid the crowds!

MOSI is a fantastic place to spend a wet and windy autumn or winter day. Even though we’re into October and the sun is shining today, you do have to start thinking about these things around this time of the year — so now summer is over, maybe some high culture at the galleries and a bit of learning here would go down well!
I actually recently visited for the large hadron collider exhibit — a really amazing show that encapsulates all of the random visiting exhibitions they have throughout the year. You usually have to pay for these but they’re definitely worth it as they tend to be the big exhibits that travel the world from museum to museum.
The general museum is full of wonder celebrating Manchester’s fine achievements from the industrial revolution — there’s also interesting and exciting specials on areas like our sewer system and how our drinking water is so good because it comes from the lake district.
The gift shop is huge and there’s a nice looking café/​restaurant attached — make sure you check it out soon!

I’ll let you know head of time — I am a geek. I love science. I have a tick list of things I want science to do: One of them was hunt down the Higgs Boson. So, going to see ‘Collider’ was high on my list of things to do and with a few hours free today I got that done before it closed. I will also let you know, this review will be very Collider focused.
While most of the MOSI is free Collider is not, it is £7. It also a timed start to it, ever 20 mins from 10.20 (or so the website tells me) which worried me to begin with as I am not use to MOSI charging, however after seeing it I can say that I was happy to pay for it. The hole things starts with a little video introducing you to the Large Hadron Collider and some of the thousands of scientist working there (played by actors, based on real people) and what they did there. After that you are free to wonder around the show on your own.
The show itself is set up as thought you are at the LHC /​CERN and it not a clear neat lab place out of some movie, it messy — looks lived in, used and the videos off people and mock up offices add a real personal touch to the place. So while you will gain information about what they do (there is a lot of information there) you also get a good feel for what it is like working/​living there. The information is good as well and enplanes things in a way that is understandable, while it is show in a way that doesn’t break up the feeling they are trying to make of being there. So to sum up, loved it — would go again, even if I have to pay again!
A note to science — you got the Higgs ticked off, well done. Know we need Curiosity to find life on Mars.

Let’s get this straight — I am a nerd. I like books, the internet and learning stuff. I am, however, not all that clued up on the world of ‘science’ but I LOVE how stuff just seems to work. When someone sits down and takes the time to patiently explain to me why plants are green, how engines function or what on earth a particle is, I get a tad excited.
So MOSI is my kind of place — it is brain-​porn galore with giant moving engines, trains, planes, and nuts and bolts. I love wandering into this museum for an hour or two to check out the latest exhibition or remind myself how looms work. The expansive ex-​warehouse spaces are amazing — you can spend days in this place. A personal favourite is the sewer section and quotes from pre-​sewer times in Manchester. Delicious.
Definitely worth a visit or just duck in to check out the big machines. It’s free so treat your brain to a fact or two.

Warning: Part of this review is time-​limited.
If you’re twiddling your thumbs and considering posting sentiments to a certain social networking website about how bored you are, stop what you are doing. Curiosity is the cure for boredom, and there is no cure for curiosity. (Dorothy Parker.) In light of that, get yourself over to the MOSI.
Presently, they have an incredible exhibition up about the Hadron Collider and Higgs Boson. I can’t express how fantastic it is, but I’m certainly going to try. If those words intimidate you, don’t let them — I am by no means up on my sciences and still managed to understand and appreciate the exhibition.
It’s presented in such a way that kids can enjoy it and it’s very step-​by-​step — you learn how protons and electrons are separated (so protons can be smashed together) and why that is significant. And then it goes on to explain how they speed them up to almost the speed of light, smashing them together, the four observation ‘cathedrals’, how observations are determined and analysed, and why it’s significant that the Higgs has finally been seen. Mind blowing stuff.
As well as presenting the science in a very user-​friendly fashion (my guess is that if you’ve no background in it at all, you’d be able to get it from how it’s explained), you also get a personal, sneak peek into the ‘daily life’ of various people working at the Collider. It’s amazing to think of the collaboration it took to get to where they are.
As well as all that (which ends on 28^th September), there are some other fantastic displays, including but not limited to, a peek into Manchester’s sewerage history, the history of gas heating (which may sound dull, but it was one of my favourites), textiles history, industry history, and more. There’s also a huge interactive floor for kids, but we didn’t have time for that… because I was spending my pay cheque in the gift shop on science. On that note, the gifts are amazing. I now have a chemistry set, ‘pocket’ microscope, and a bunch of other awesome toys. (Hush, I’m allowed to behave like a big kid if I want to.)
Basically, this place is amazing. Bonus is that the location looks really quaint and the café is one of the best museum cafes I’ve ever been to – hello freshly made sandwiches and actually decent cakes! Do it – you’ve the rest of September to personally discover the Higgs Boson. I suggest you get in there and do it!

It’s great for kids, but I’m not interested in blowing the biggest bubbles or seeing how many revolutions it takes to lift a mini! I went to see the Collider exhibition £7 to get in as an adult or £5 concessions (students and our golden oldies). A small exhibition well laid out though !
Power hall always good no matter on age such good engineering skills. Explainers know there stuff!
Worth a trip too if your around ! (free to everything bar guess exhibition)

I feel a little sorry for the MOSI, back in my youth all those moons ago it was one of the greatest places on earth to go.
We went along to see the LHC exhibit, which was ok… though not sure if it was worth the money.
The rest of the places feels a little tired, most especially the Air Space part which just feels like the rest of the Museum has forgotten it exists.
The place just needs to TLC I think, and hope it gets as I want it to go back to being the place I remember.

This is one of my all time favourite museums.
Recently went to see the Manchester Mk1, well at least part of it. Which was fascinating.
Loads of stuff to see. I particularly like going looking at all the old tech from the 60s and 70s they’ve got there. It’s a really eerie look at the past. The engine hall is cool too, loads of live steam engines chugging away. Some great looks into Manchester’s history of cotton and other industries too.
The modern stuff is also class. There was an exhibit for 90s, 00s, tech in one part last time we went. Also, gotta love the air and space hall. Awesome. Loads of aircraft to go and have a look at.
If you go during school term time, be prepared to bump into crowds of screaming kids, especially in the experiment bit (which is for kids really so no surprises there).
Decent café too. Not that that’s a big deal, but it’s nice to know you can get a bite to eat.
Definitely recommend going, if you’ve never been.

Visiting Manchester for the day, MOSI is accidentally where I ended up spending the most time. It’s free! That and the intriguing architecture pulled me in thinking I’d have a quick browse, I discovered that there are five different buildings with interesting exhibits on things like textiles, motors, sewage, and power, all talking about the history of those things from the Manchester viewpoint. My favourite bits were the little black-​and-​white videos they had showing demonstrations of 50s housewives doing things like laundry and cooking and how elaborate it was (when they were showing off the fancy new appliances at the time!) There was also a fantastic temporary exhibit from the Wellcome Collection in London of macro photography of very tiny things like blood vessels and ticks. I ended up spending several hours at MOSI and pulling myself away just so I could see the rest of the city before the day ended. Also chilled in the café for a bit with some coffee and a snack to help support the museum and power myself up a bit at the same time.
This museum is really amazing for being free. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars, because it wasn’t perfect, mainly because 1) Some of the exhibits don’t work and/​or are outdated, 2) the downstairs toilets are gross, and 3) the café staff appeared to be miserable and the coffee wasn’t great. But I will forgive these since it’s free, because I still recommend checking it out — probably my favourite science museum I’ve been to, and I’ve been to many all over the place.

MOSI is a firm favourite in our family, the mix of historic artefacts and bang up to date exhibitions means that there is always something to see. We especially like the Experiment section — a brilliant mix of playing with things and learning. Many a time have I romped around their awesome experiments of a lunchtime (I work really close by).
The reason for our most recent trip was to go and see one of the ever changing exhibitions. This time, a look into the world of the Large Hadron Collider. This journey into the world of science gave a glimpse into how the super-​collider works, and what they are looking for was interactive and engaging, just like many of the other visiting exhibits here. It’s always worth a look on their website to see what they’ve got on…
The ‘core’ exhibits are equally as good — there’s a lot of history of quite a few Manchester industries, including quite a bit on the history of the textile industry in Manchester (which has been there since I was a kid), a history of sewers (better than it sounds!) and a reasonably new section on computing — another local industry…
No matter what your area of interest, there’s bound to be something that you’ll find that will interest you, and there’s always something new to learn!
One area that could do with a bit of an update is the aerospace section, there’s little to do with the history of flight, and the exhibits are a bit tired now. Case in point, they have a cockpit from an old airplane. It’s signposted as how a cockpit looks, but with it being from the 80’s, it’s now more of a history lesson. Much of the rest of the museum has recently had a makeover, so it’s possible that there’s one in the pipeline for this bit too.
After a long afternoon of roaming the quite extensive museum, across several buildings, you’ll want some refreshment — there’s an excellent coffee shop (you don’t need to go to the museum to try this out) with a great selection of homemade cakes and locally sourced goodies.
This is bound to be a bit hit over the summer holidays especially with it being mostly free, but that shouldn’t put you off. Go on — learn something new.

This museum is absolutely brilliant and is an absolute must visit if you come to Manchester — if you only have time for one museum, it should be this one.
It comprises five buildings which are all beautiful old buildings: the main building which features an impressive cotton production exhibit (check the times for the demonstrations), the 1830s warehouse which has interesting displays on communications etc (and is relatively people free which I love in a museum), the station building which has been gorgeously restored — it’s the world’s olderst surviving passenger station and also has a massive exhibition on sewers in the basement, the power hall with all its engines, locomotives and a great demonstration with a super enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff member and finally the air and space hall which was last renovated earlier than the other buildings so is not quite as pretty inside but this doesn’t really matter when it’s full of fun aerial and road vehicles.
It’s great for kids although you may have to skip over quite a lot of the denser stuff. There’s plenty for a full day and the fact it’s free is just amazing. Go and enjoy!

For a museum with FREE entry, this is pretty bloody good!
I think it’s probably more fun for kids (there are lots of interactive things/​buttons to press etc) but that didn’t stop me and the other half from enjoying a good couple of hours there.
The museum, situated in Manchester’s Castlefield quarter, is based in and around a Victorian textile mill with old machinery still on display and a Victorian railway with a working steam engine outside. At certain intervals throughout the day, you can be treated to a short talk (or SHOUT in this particular staff member’s case) about how the machinery was used back in the day, and the consequences of using it incorrectly.
Further along, there’s a cool exhibition space which changes regularly and a large collection of retro TVs, turntables and radios which I would have happily brought home, if they weren’t behind glass and alarmed. Just kidding!
Don’t go to MOSI straight after eating though — there is a whole section of the museum dedicated to poo. I’m not kidding — there’s an underground tour of what Manchester’s sewage systems were like in the Victorian times. You can even touch one of the actual wooden sewage pipes from that bygone era, though I’m not quite sure why anyone would want to. Bleeeurgh!
My favourite part though — and this is quite nerdy– is the collection of steam engines.
There are a number of old but well preserved steam trains which stand so tall and sturdy, you wonder how man could create something so majestic and functional. Amazing stuff, if you like that kinda thing… (I’m not into trainspotting, before you ask. I do like the film though).
I need to go back here to ride the steam train because we were pushed for time on the first visit. There is a small fee for this but if I remember rightly, it wasn’t more than a fiver — probably more around the £3 mark.
All in all, a great afternoon — and close to some nice-​looking pubs so there are plenty of reasons to go back! :-)

The Museum of Science & Industry is perfect for a rainy day! It’s warm inside with lots to see that surely there will be something for everyone. And best of all, entrance is free! We enjoyed walking around for a couple hours and seeing airplanes, sewing looms, and more.

Fabuleux! surtout pour le hall des machines à vapeur et le hall de l’aéronautique, plein d’avions.

Warning — I’m about to get nostalgic on your arse.
MOSI is under threat of closure. And I can’t think of anything worse than closing such a cultural institution. During a Sunday walk today, we wandered through and took a quick look at the main exhibition space — there were children everywhere. This usually bugs me (sorry, I just don’t have any so my patience hasn’t been built up!) but today it made me feel so sad I could have sat down and wept right in the middle of a presentation about the first working computer.
The spaces here are large and awe-​inspiring, so plenty of room for the young’uns to run about and stretch their legs. The name of the game is technology with a side of planes/​trains/​automobiles — the working steam train is a real favourite of mine. My favourite exhibition in the past was about Holland’s Pies, including a huge replica with giant knife and fork. It’s interactive history at its best.
In hindsight, I haven’t visited as much as I should so, MOSI, I am deeply sorry. You being free might have been part of your eventual downfall, but it’s not your fault and I hope my donation does something.

Cool interactive museum with several buildings celebrating Manchester’s industrial past and heritage. Museum is free although they «encourage» you to make a «donation» when you come in but you are not required to do so.
We only spent an hour or so there but you could spend much longer if you are a history buff. Definitely worth a stop during your Manchester vacation. Lots of interesting airplanes in the air and space building — note it is not heated or air conditioned in the building.

Très intéressant sur le Metrolinic station G Mex au sud de la ville à l’intérieur des bâtiments de la plus ancienne gare ferroviaire du monde.
Quelques idées si vous souhaitez vous oxygéner et sortir de la ville, Manchester étant au centre de superbes balades (en 1 heure vous êtes près de tout).
Le plus près: (à heure en voiture) juste au sud: le Cheshire et ses vertes prairies et sa ville Chester à voir ABSOLUMENT.
Le Peak District (à h en voiture) avec ses landes et ses moutons à perdre de vue, autour de villages aux noms imprononçables!
Plus haut (à 2h en voiture): le Lake District où il pleut tout le temps et où, malgré cela, les paysages sont bouleversants de beauté (fleurs sauvages à perte de vue): direction Kendal puis Keswick. Même s’il pleut cela VAUT LE DETOUR
Plus haut encore (2h30/​3h en voiture), le Mur d’Hadrien construit par l’empereur Hadrien pour que les anglais évitent les trop fréquentes visites des hordes barbares écossaises.
Moyen de transport: location de voiture, bus, train.