Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Power UP

Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
Until 10 September 2027

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

From £18.00
Boy playing retro arcade games in Power Up.
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum.
Book now

As part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, our children’s and family tickets are discounted this summer – so now is a great time to plan your visit. Adult passes from £8.00, child passes from £7.00 this summer. Ages 3 and under free. 

Yes, okay, we know a cultural day out with the family really shouldn’t involve staring at screens. However, the ever-popular Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum (celebrating the history of all things gaming) offers avid gamers the opportunity to play their way through five decades of the best video games, and always demands an exception.

Since Power Up first opened in June 2022, it has fast become one of the museum’s key attractions. Thousands of visitors – of all ages – have enjoyed the evolution of gaming, getting hands-on with gaming gadgets and classic consoles.

Father and son playing on a retro console in Power Up
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum.

The experience is refreshed regularly, meaning there’s always a new challenge for returning players.

Here, you can play on some of the most in-demand video games from the last 50 years. Battle it out on Pong, rock out with Guitar Hero and floss the light-fantastic on Fortnite. Nostalgia lovers can see the evolution of familiar characters like Mario and Sonic on old-school arcade games, and tech fans can get immersed in the latest virtual reality. The best part is – the experience is refreshed regularly, meaning there’s always a new challenge for returning players.

Girl wearing a virtual reality headset.
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum

You’ll be able to get your hands on over 150 consoles and challenge yourself and others to some of the most in-demand video games from the last 50 years.

Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or just starting out, it’s awe-inspiring to see how creativity, technology and design has developed to transform the way we play video games. It’s also fascinating to see the similarities in the successful games that make players continually (and addictively) put their game faces on and skills to the test.

Winner winner.

Please note: this event is open every weekend during term time and seven days a week during school holidays.

What's on at Science and Industry Museum

Featured in

Mother and daughter play with smell interactive_Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You
Things to do over October half term

Looking for things to do with the family over the Easter school holidays? We’ve got you covered.

Where to go near Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Manchester
Restaurant
Teppanyaki Chinatown

A Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in the centre of Chinatown. The focus is on high-quality food with a minimum of theatrics. It doesn’t disappoint.

Manchester
Music venue
Castlefield Bowl

The Castlefield Bowl is an outdoor events pavilion in the inner city conservation area of Castlefield in Manchester. The 8000-capacity arena is often used for food festivals and music events.

Dimitri's
Castlefield
Restaurant
Dimitri’s

Longstanding Greek taverna Dimtri’s delivers traditional, fuss-free Greek food, aimed at everyone from courting couples to multi-generational families in Manchester.

Great John Street Hotel in Spinningfields in Manchester.
Castlefield
Hotel
Great John Street Hotel

A converted Victorian school house nestled on the edge of Spinningfields, the Great John Street Hotel has a relaxed and decadent atmosphere.

Castlefield
Bar or Pub
Cask

Cask is a well-loved pub on Liverpool Road in Manchester. It has an excellent selection of continental beers and a cosy beer garden.

Castlefield
Event venue
Castlefield Viaduct

Launching in summer 2022, the National Trust and Twelve Architects and Masterplanners will be bringing a new lease of life to Castlefield Viaduct.

Campfield Open Day-3
Castlefield
Event venue
Campfield Market Hall

Having undergone years of transformative and restorative work, the complex will now be known as Campfield Mega Campus, Manchester’s most ambitious creative-tech destination.

Saul Hay Gallery
Manchester
Gallery
Saul Hay Gallery

Saul Hay Gallery, located one of Castlefield’s Victorian red brick buildings, is one of Manchester’s most important commercial galleries.

Manchester
Restaurant
Fenix

Modern Greek Mediterranean cuisine from the team behind Tattu.

Castlefield
Restaurant
Trading Route

Trading Route serves up time-honoured Sunday grub, in a modern Manchester setting. Worth a visit for the expertly-curated soundtrack alone.

See all places

What's on: Families

Culture Guides

Food and Drink in the North

It's heatwave time, so set your small talk phasers to 'weather' and get out there and grab some cold drinks and delicious food.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre

Discover the summer's most rewarding theatre in libraries, pubs, Fringe venues and unexpected spaces across the North.

“the ripple” artwork by Crowns & Owls courtesy of Good Machine.
Music

From post-industrial romance to experimental country, here's a hot new batch of weird gigs in small venues.

Blue triangles with white clouds on them against a beige backdrop. A gold sun is in the middle.
Exhibitions

Five exhibitions worth your time this month - and between them, a lot of ground covered.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

See all guides