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There’s loads of FREE events and activities at the Science and Industry Museum this summer

You can explore 'ideas that change the world'

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 14th August 2024

Little Mancs can “explore ideas that change the world” at one of Manchester’s most popular museums this summer.

Keen to keep the kids both entertained and educated at the same time now that schools across Greater Manchester are out for summer?

With a couple of weeks of the school holidays still left to make the most of, and many parents, carers and guardians understandably starting to run out of ideas, the Science and Industry Museum is encouraging locals to head on down and experience the best of its jam-packed events lineup packed full of exciting exhibitions, hands-on activities, and so much more.

And the best part is, the majority of the programme is free to get involved with.

There’s loads of free events and activities happening at the Science and Industry Museum this summer / Credit: Drew Forsyth (via Science Museum Group)

The city centre-based museum is inviting “scientists, innovators, and engineers of the future” to delve deeper into the science behind space, machines, and our bodies, as well as discover some of the museum’s special spaces during its current large-scale repair project. 

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From now right up until 1 September, the museum promises there’ll be something new for you to discover every single day.

A brand-new science show will give visitors a chance to explore the hidden worlds uncovered by incredible engineers, while families can find out what goes on inside an engine, use metal detectors to explore a special sand pit, or examine the marvellous machines that help us look inside our bodies.

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Budding engineers can also get hands-on with special activities inspired by plans and blueprints of collections from the museum’s archive.

Special ‘Hidden Spaces’ tours will take you behind the scenes, while demonstrations of the museum’s historic textile machinery will bring to life Manchester’s industrial past like never before.

Then, in a bid to mark Manchester‘s annual Pride Festival, visitors will be able to join in with some special Pride-themed activities that celebrate lots of different individual stories from 19 to 25 August, which all lead up to the museum taking part in the Manchester Pride parade through the city centre on Saturday 24 August. 

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All of the museum’s free events and exhibitions can be booked online / Credit: Drew Forsyth (via Science Museum Group)

And if course, the school holidays are the perfect time to visit the museum’s two currently-running and massively popular exhibitions, Power Up, and the newest addition, Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, if you haven’t had the chance to do so already.

All of the museum’s free events and exhibitions can be booked online ahead of time, as well as on the day of your visit too.

Read more:

More information can be found on the Science and Industry Museum website here.

Featured Image – Drew Forsyth (via Science Museum Group)

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Science and Industry Museum announces new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A major new exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ is making its world premiere in Manchester next year.

Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will invite visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System when it launches at the Science and Industry Museum next February.

Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition will encourage visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.

The new exhibition will propel families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.

Left teetering on the edge of our Solar System, explorers will then find themselves staring into the dark depths of space, on the lookout for any extra-terrestrial life that could be staring back.

Whether its sniffing astronauts’ smelly socks, dancing on an alien disco planet, feeling the tremors from a mysterious moonquake, or launching a space rocket, organisers say this new adventure will engage all the senses in a truly immersive experience.

This is the first time Horrible Science has been brought to life as a major exhibition.

The Science and Industry Museum has announced a new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ / Credit: BBC | Science Museum Group

Visitors will get to see familiar characters from the BBC series – like Dr Big Brain, in particular – on their mission to find out more about our fascinating Solar System through interactive experiments, playful challenges, and sensory exploration.

The exhibition is being developed by the Science and Industry Museum in collaboration with producers of the Horrible Science TV show, BBC Children’s and Education, and Lion Television, together with Scholastic, who are publishers of the much-loved Horrible Science book series by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles.

‘Unmissable’ objects from the Science Museum Group’s world-class space collection will also be on show when the exhibition premieres.

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Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will open at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 13 February 2026 for an 11-month run before heading down to London, and tickets are now on sale priced at £10 – with family discounts available, and under-threes going free.

Get your tickets here.

Featured Image – Science Museum Group

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10 reasons to visit Manchester’s most beautiful boutique hotel this Christmas

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson 10 reasons to visit Manchester’s most beautiful boutique hotel this Christmas

King Street Townhouse, one of Manchester’s most celebrated hotels, turns 10 years old this year. 

And to celebrate, the team at this award-winning hotel have planned a bumper season of events and reasons to visit over the winter season. 

From festive feasts to spa days to sparkling city views, there’s absolutely masses going on as the hotel celebrates a decade of magic. 

Tucked away just off Albert Square, King Street Townhouse is home to some of the city’s finest bedrooms, its legendary infinity pool with views of the Manchester Town Hall, its cosy Tavern restaurant, its hidden cinema, and its serene spa.

Add to that festive afternoon teas, live music, festive film screenings, and loads of prize giveaways and you’ve got your new favourite winter hangout sorted. 

So here are 10 reasons to visit King Street Townhouse hotel this winter as it celebrates its 10 year anniversary in Manchester. 

Festive Afternoon Tea

One of Manchester’s top afternoon teas now has a festive twist – and you’ll be eating it in the cosy lounge filled with twinkling lights. 

On each afternoon tea tower you’ll find tiers of handmade treats like a dainty tart in the shape of a wreath, a baby gingerbread man, and an eggnog and clementine macaron.

There are also loads of savoury bites, featuring finger sandwiches filled roast turkey, brie and mulled wine marmalade, and smoked salmon. 

Sundays with Live Music

King Street Townhouse at Christmas
King Street Townhouse at Christmas
King Street Townhouse at Christmas

Every Sunday from 30 November, you can enjoy live music in the Tavern every week until 21 December. 

Taking place in the cosy surrounds of the Tavern, beneath a gigantic sparkling Christmas tree, you can relax with a live violin while you tuck into your afternoon tea or the wider seasonal menu. 

The live music takes place between 1pm and 5pm each week.

The Decad’ent Ritual

The spa at King Street Townhouse
The spa at King Street Townhouse

To celebrate a decade of King Street Townhouse, its serene spa is offering a limited-edition experience designed to soothe, restore and leave you glowing. 

Kick off with two hours in the thermal suite, before heading into a 60-minute Comfort & Glow treatment (a restorative back ritual with hot towels and ESPA’s signature Restorative Oil, followed by a nurturing massage, a gentle facial cleanse, exfoliation and hydrating mask, then a slow, therapeutic scalp massage).

Then you’re treated to a seasonal sweet treat, with the option to add on a glass of champagne or extra treatments, and £10 off ESPA products in the spa boutique.

Find out more and book yours here.

Festive Set Menu in The Tavern

Christmas menu at King Street Townhouse
Christmas menu at King Street Townhouse
Christmas menu at King Street Townhouse

The Tavern at King Street Townhouse is leaning into the festive spirit with a special seasonal menu, packed with comforting classics with a special touch. 

Expect ox cheek and cheddar croquettes, golden crisp turkey schnitzel burgers with port relish and a pig in blanket, and perfectly melty camembert. 

There’s also festive desserts like gingerbread sticky toffee pudding and spiced winter berry cheesecake. 

It’s all available daily between 12pm and 5.30pm, with two courses for £24 or three for £28.

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Signature 10-Year Cocktails

10 year anniversary cocktails
10 year anniversary cocktails
10 year anniversary cocktails

As well as seasonal drinks like mulled wine and festive cocktails, King Street Townhouse’s brilliant bar team have whipped up a special 10 year anniversary menu of drinks too. 

That includes The Account Statement (rum, St Germain, lime, honey and champagne) to reflect 10 years of success, The Vault Key (pisco, gin, lime, agave and chocolate bitters), and The Ledger (whiskey, mulled spice, maple, walnut bitters). 

Christmas Cinema Screenings

The hidden cinema at King Street Townhouse will be getting in the Christmas spirit with a programme of festive film favourites. 

This year’s bill includes timeless classics like It’s A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Die Hard, plus modern favourites like Elf, The Holiday, and Bad Santa. 

All enjoyed in the hotel’s plush cinema seats, with popcorn and drinks available to be delivered to your seat.

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Screenings are all on sale now and you can grab your tickets here.

Hotel Packages

Want to make the absolute most out of your visit to King Street Townhouse? You may as well turn it into a proper escape with one of the hotel’s amazing seasonal packages. 

Whether you pick a package that includes a night in the beautiful hotel and makes use of the spa, or choose a package that’s geared around the brilliant food offering with dinner, bed, and breakfast, there’s a package for you.

Have a look at them all here. 

Wellness at King Street Townhouse

Wellness is at the heart of the King Street Townhouse offering all year round, which makes this the perfect place to unwind during the festive season. 

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Obviously, there’s the spa’s amazing thermal suite, with its Himalayan Salt Cave, eucalyptus steam room, rainfall shower and ice fountain, heated loungers, and sauna. 

But there’s also that amazing infinity pool (only for hotel guests) with views of the Manchester Town Hall as its iconic clock tower reemerges from its restoration. 

The hotel also has a state-of-the-art gym downstairs. 

January Afternoon Tea: Best of 10 Years

Why should the fun stop when the year ends? King Street Townhouse will kick off the new year with a special afternoon tea that celebrates their best creations over the last decade. 

The pastry team have always innovated and reimagined afternoon tea classics, and are now preparing to revisit some of their favourites. 

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 Expect a menu that’s both nostalgic and refreshing – where contrasts of colour, texture, and taste come together in perfect harmony.

10 Days of Magic

Every day between 14 December and 24 December, to celebrate 10 years together, King Street Townhouse will run a competition across their social media platforms, plus a grand prize draw.

Prizes in the daily competitions will include complimentary experiences to complimentary overnight stays. 

Plus, one lucky hotel guest each day will be given a reward to say thank you for staying with King Street Townhouse as it celebrates its Decade of Magic. 

See more and book your experience at King Street Townhouse this Christmas HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

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