Summer Fun at the Science and Industry Museum

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Visit now

Summer Fun at the Museum of Science and Industry

24 July-5 September 2021

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

Summer Fun at the Science and Industry Museum
Image courtesy of the Science Museum Group.
Book now

Round up the family tree and make your way to the Science and Industry Museum for a fascinating summer season of hands-on workshops, fun activities and must-see exhibitions. Suitable for all ages, many of the activities are free, and with plenty to get involved with, we can’t think of a better way to occupy those young minds over the summer holidays.

There’s something fun for everybody to explore at the Science and Industry Museum this summer. Discover more about the top-secret world of codebreaking, ciphers and secret communication at the museum’s free exhibition Top Secret: From ciphers to cyber security. Gather more information from the museum’s expert Explainers and put your own codebreaking skills and knowledge to the test with interactive games and challenges.

We can’t think of a better way to occupy those young minds over the summer holidays.

Go back in time to the working mills of 150 years ago in the Textiles Gallery. Find out more about the cotton industry and Manchester’s heritage, and discover how the textiles industry is firmly woven into the history of computing. Pick up a free activity trail to guide yourself through the gallery and have fun with games and challenges along the way.

To see science brought to life in front of your eyes – make your way to Experiment, a free interactive gallery for the whole family. You can also find out more about Manchester’s trailblazing history and all of the discoveries, inventions and big ideas to come out of the city in the Revolution Manchester gallery.

Come rain or shine – the Science and Industry Museum is always a firm favourite during the summer holidays.

The museum has partnered with CBBC and CBeebies for a special weekend-long event taking place from 20-22 August too. Manchester Science Festival Family Weekender promises to be a fun-packed three days of special events and activities exploring our changing climate and ideas for a better world.

So whatever the weather – come rain or shine – an action-packed day at the Science and Industry Museum is always a firm favourite during the summer holidays.

Where to go near Summer Fun 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.

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.

Altrincham
Shop
IDAHO

Every piece in IDAHO has something special and will guarantee to make your homes, offices and wardrobes feel a little more inspiring.

Castlefield
Theatre
Versa Manchester Studios

Formerly the Old Granada Studios, VERSA Manchester Studios is evolving into a dynamic Studio Campus with TV, Film, Motion Capture and VR / AR Studios alongside a glamorous new Soho House.

What's on: Exhibitions

Summer at Aviva Studios
Until
ActivityManchester
Summer at Aviva Studios

From global dance and live music to storytelling, skateboarding and football, get ready for a dream summer on the banks of the River Irwell.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Sprints
Music in the North

10 fresh shows across Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, threading together noise, ritual, euphoria and release in all their messy, beautiful forms.

Detail of an abstract sculpture, with burned materials and rusty chicken wire at the centre, with rusted metal bars bent around it.
Exhibitions in the North

Chocolate fountains, beautiful batiks and medieval marginalia - this month's supersized Exhibitions Guide has it all.

Two women stand next to an orange car.
Cinema in the North

August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.

Theatre in Manchester and the North.
Theatre in the North

From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

Our latest round-up features plenty of one-off live literature events to wrap your ears about, so get those diaries ticking over...