Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum

Phoebe Hurst Last Updated 2 September 2016

Visit now

Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum

Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN

01706 900103

Website

Friday10:00am - 4:00pm

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

Visit now

Small museums, Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum, Rochdale

Book now

Housed in a former fire station workshop, Rochdale’s Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum tells the fascinating story of firefighting in the North West. The volunteer-run museum’s collection includes pumps, hoses and medals (all gleaming of course) as well as a display of horse-drawn wagons and motorised trucks. The museum celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and volunteers are working to restore the building so that it can continue as a testament to the enduring work of the fire service in Manchester.

What's on near Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum

30 May

TourRochdale

The Secrets of Rochdale with a Visit to the Town Hall

Discover Rochdale’s rich history on this guided tour, featuring the newly restored Town Hall, St Chad’s Church, and the Pioneers Museum.

From £20.00

Person with Santa hat sitting on polar bear on center foreground, with chaotic Christmas decorations in the background

17 Dec – 2 Jan 2026

Manchester

A Christmas Fair at Chadderton Town Hall

Oldham Coliseum move down the road with a production of Jim Cartwright’s festive play filled with northern lights.

From £15.00

19 Jun

MusicManchester

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts at Heaton Park

Neil Young is opening his 2026 UK and European tour in Manchester, stepping into Heaton Park with his newest band, The Chrome Hearts.

From £89.60

10 Mar – 15 Mar 2026

TheatreManchester

The fire raisers at Hope Mill Theatre

Max Frisch’s darkly comic play The Fire Raisers arrives courtesy of new Manchester company We Merry Dancers in co-production with HER Productions.

From £15.00

Until 23 Dec 2027

ActivityManchester

Craft Beer Tour Manchester

Join Craft Beer Tour Manchester for a journey through some of the cities best local breweries and artisanal beer serving bars. Discover the personality of Manchester’s beer through a diverse

From £45

Truly Madly Brutal - Jonathan Schofield Tours

5 Apr

TourManchester

Truly Madly Brutal

Explore the fascinating history of Brutalism in Manchester, while also exploring the movement’s wider intentions and ideals.

From £20.00

Until 23 Jul 2026

ActivityManchester

Folk and World Choir at Band on the Wall

Band on the Wall bring people together to make, as well as watch, music. Join them to learn folk tunes from all over the world.

17 Jan

MusicManchester

Ibibio Sound Machine at Band on the Wall

Fusing West African funk and disco with modern post-punk and electro, Ibibio Sound Machine inject some much-needed energy into January.

From £29

See all events

Where to go near Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum

Manchester

Event venue

Touchstones Rochdale

Touchstones Rochdale is a great place to visit with something for all ages – and ideal for families with hands on activities in a child-friendly environment.

Rochdale

Event venue

Number One Riverside

A stunning multi-award winning building comprising a library, coffee shop and conference facilities right in the heart of Rochdale town centre. Close to Metrolink and Rochdale Transport Interchange.

A series of microphones hang from the ceiling with a muted warm light in the background.

Rochdale

Event venue

RISE Inavate Centre

RISE Inavate Centre will be used for a thought-provoking sound installation by Shilpa Gupta at Manchester International Festival 2025.

Manchester

Museum

Rochdale Pioneers Museum

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum – once a shop – is widely considered to be the birthplace of the co-operative movement.

Manchester

The Yoga Seed Oldham

The Yoga Seed is an intimate studio just outside of Oldham town centre. Run by Sharon it offers small classes including a men only class.

Theatre

Middleton Arena

The Arena has a regular programme of arts and entertainment including live music, concerts, comedy and dances with stage shows and national tours. With two licensed bars this is the perfect location for a great night out.

Manchester

Event venue

Chadderton Town Hall

Chadderton Town Hall is a magnificent example of Edwardian architecture . Built in 1912/13 in the style of ‘English Renaissance’ and recently restored maintaining its traditional features in regal reds

Oldham

Bar or Pub

The Bank Top Tavern

The Bank Top Tavern is a pub in Oldham known for its live music and regular events programme.

Manchester

Theatre

Oldham Coliseum

Oldham Coliseum is a repertory theatre in Greater Manchester which dates back to 1885 which welcomes touring shows in a vaired programme.

Oldham

Event venue

Hack Oldham

Hack Oldham is an event space that also offers co-working, community groups and crafting in the heart of Oldham.

Manchester

Event venue

George Street Chapel

This beautifully restored former Independent Methodist Chapel in the heart of Oldham is as much a creative hub as a heritage landmark.

Manchester

Parliament Square, Oldham

Parliament Square is a public space in Oldham Town Centre with restaurants sitting alongside a new seven screen cinema.

See all places

Manchester District Guides

Didsbury, Manchester

Didsbury has the perfect split between big brands and independent businesses, welcoming all from far and wide.

Ancoats & New Islington

Ancoats, just off the Northern Quarter in Manchester, is one of the city’s most increasingly desirable neighbourhoods. Find out why.

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…

Salford, Greater Manchester

Cross over the River Irwell, and you’ll find yourself in another city entirely – Salford, which is enjoying something of a regeneration.

Chinatown, Manchester

Chinatown is a network of back streets dotted with Chinese restaurants – go to Ho’s Bakery for perfect honey buns, Hunan for spice and Middle Kingdom for a very affordable menu.

The Quays, Greater Manchester

The Quays is home to MediaCityUK (the largest media hub in Europe) and studios purpose-built for the BBC’s move up North in 2011.

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

Music in the North

Manchester’s closing out the year – and looking to the new one – with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.

Exhibitions in the North

This season, exhibitions across the North West feel attuned to the world beneath the world – the forces and stories shaping how we see, feel and imagine.

Sepia image of a courtroom with the words 'Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird’

Theatre in the North

Winter brings a huge haul of seasonal shows, as well as productions that resolutely veer away from the fairy lights.

Tours and Activities in the North

Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.

A performer in a bright red costume sits on a snowy stage set, holding a large snowball between their legs with a surprised expression. The colourful winter backdrop features snowflakes, hills, a snowman, and a traffic light with glowing lights.

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.

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.

Food and Drink in the North

Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.