Top Picks
Guides
What’s on
Where to go
See all

People’s History Museum

Creative Tourist
People's History Museum Manchester
Image © People’s History Museum

Spinningfields‘ People’s History Museum, home of ‘ideas worth fighting for’, is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the history of British democracy.

The galleries trace a path through 200 years of political campaigning, including the fight for the right to vote, an insight into how time off was won (and spent), and women’s liberation. The family-friendly museum houses approximately 1,500 objects, including the largest collection of trade union and other political banners in the world.

It’s also host to a programme of special exhibitions, and a lively series of events, while the museum’s Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar puts an emphasis on delicious, ethical and sustainable food at this wonderful riverside location, and is worth a visit in itself. The shop at the front of the museum, meanwhile, is a great spot for radical books, toys, gifts and homeware for kids and grown-ups alike.

Left Bank, SpinningfieldsManchesterM3 3ER View map
Telephone: 0161 838 9190 Visit Now

Accessibility

Ramps to the main entrance, Main entrance has automatic opening, Tactile maps, tactile drawings of scenes around the museum are also available, an induction loop is fitted at the museum reception. Infrared hearing loop facilities are available throughout the building (reception, Engine Hall, Coal Store, Meeting Room, Mini Theatre in Main Gallery One, Archive Reading Room and The Left Bank cafe bar). If you are attending a public event or Venue Hire event and need to use the induction loop, please inform a member of staff in advance. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible. All lifts in the museum are wheelchair accessible and the main lift near reception also has audio announcements The main galleries are designed to provide a range of sensory experiences, including several different audio, visual and touch elements. Some of the audio material in the galleries has subtitles or is displayed visually. Wheelchair accessible toilets are available on the lower ground, ground and second floor. Wheelchair accessible baby changing facilities are available in the Parent & Child Room behind reception on the ground floor, ground floor toilets and second floor toilets. Designated on-street accessible parking bays are available nearby. Guide dogs are welcome

Children and Families

Hands-on activities for all ages, in every gallery Regular Family Friendly events, Busy Bee explorer packs for 3-6 year olds, Family Friendly trails, Pocket-money friendly souvenirs, Baby-changing facilities – if you get caught short just ask for a free emergency nappy, Breastfeeding welcome, Children’s menu available at The Left Bank cafe bar, Children’s area in The Left Bank cafe bar, Highchairs available in The Left Bank cafe bar, Bottle warmer in The Left Bank cafe bar, Special discount parking

Commercial and Hire Services

Looking for a genuinely inspirational venue? Then why not hold your event in the company of some of the greatest ever team builders, motivational speakers and passionate problem solvers. The museum has conference and meeting facilities within a magnificently restored historic Edwardian Pump House. Licensed to hold wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions.

Services and Facilities

Cafe open from breakfast to afternoon tea, there's something to suit all tastes. Lockers are located on the lower ground floor of the museum.

Opening Hours

  • Monday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday10:00am - 5:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on at People’s History Museum

Featured in

Toddler standing on grass with a paintbrush in hand turning to the right to look at the camera. He is wearing a navy blue rainsuit with a burgundy and navy blue long sleeved tiop underneath. He is standing in front of large cream coloured sheets that have been strung up on a washing line. The sheets have mud marks making on.
Free family things to do in Manchester

The world’s at your fingertips with free history, art, science and creative capers for all ages in Manchester.
things to do with toddlers in Manchester
Things to do with toddlers in Manchester

Read our guide to navigating the city with toddlers and having loads of fun too!

What's on near People’s History Museum

–
FestivalsCity Centre
MIF25: Festival Square

Festival Square is the beating heart of Manchester International Festival 2025, returning to its riverside location once again.

free entry
Free Activity at Aviva Studios
Until
ComedyManchester
Free Activity at Aviva Studios

From comedy nights to drop-in family craft sessions, Factory International bring an accessible and inclusive programme of events this spring – the best thing, it’s all free.

free entry
See all events

Where to go near People’s History Museum

Open Kitchen Cafe and Bar
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Open Kitchen Cafe and Bar

Enjoy a sustainable, ethical, and delicious food experience at Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar, the in-house restaurant and bar at People’s History Museum.

Manchester
Restaurant
Scene Manchester

A stunning restaurant full of wood panelling and designer lamps, specialising in Indo-Chinese street food-inspired dishes.

Manchester
Restaurant
Albatross & Arnold

Albatross and Arnold is a smart and modern bar-restaurant in the Left Bank area of Spinningfields, with an impressive selection of high-quality cocktails.

Manchester
Restaurant
Menagerie

Based in Salford, Menagerie is a bar and restaurant with a focus on luxury and theatrical thrills.

Spinningfields
Restaurant
Australasia

Australasia serves up modern Pan-Asian cuisine, underneath the Spinningfields district in one of Manchester’s most stylish venues.

Manchester
Restaurant
BLVD Manchester

Taking over the space formerly occupied by Neighbourhood, BLVD promises ‘exceptional food and drink’.

City Centre
Bar or Pub
The Oast House

A rustic Kentish Oast House (that’s a traditional hop-drying shed, of course) plunked down amidst the glass and steel corridors of Spinningfields.

Tattu Chinese restaurant Manchester
City Centre
Restaurant
Tattu

Tattu is pulling out all the stops for Halloween, with five days of special cocktails and dishes, plus a Sunday sunset dinner and more.

Club Vino
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Club Vino

Wine-tasting company ran by Italian sommelier and ex-wine merchant Marco Castelanelli. Offering at-home tasting experiences, along with special events in various high-end locations around Manchester.

Manchester
Restaurant
Honest Burgers

This burger joint focuses on high-quality burgers and sides, homemade using local produce. After a series of pop-ups they’ve found a permanent home on Bridge Street in the centre of Manchester.

See all places

Manchester District Guides

People enjoying drinking in Altrincham
Things to Do in Altrincham

Plan a day out down Altrincham way, and you’ll soon find that one day isn’t nearly enough. Getting there is easy on the tram, or how about cycling along the…
Canal Street, Manchester

Manchester’s picturesque Canal Street and its surroundings constitute what is reputedly the oldest gay village in the country.
Chapel Street, Salford

Chapel Street has the different counter-cultural feel of another city: still industrial, more casual, temporal. Here’s what the area has to offer.
A coffee stand at Levenshulme Market
Levenshulme, Manchester

From cultural points of interest to unique watering holes, explore what Levenshulme has to offer in our guide.

Tib Street, Manchester

It’s not often that you find a street you could while away a whole day on: from beautifully made coffee in the morning, through to shopping, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner…
Cheetham Hill, Manchester

Cheetham Hill gets a bad rap as an area, however as you begin to look round you will find it has plenty to do. Let us be your guide.
Chorlton, Manchester

Chorlton is a left-leaning suburb a few miles south of Manchester’s city centre (and only 10-odd minutes away by tram). A sprawling hive of artisan coffee shops, boutique clothing stores,…

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.