Manchester Museum is “delighted” to announce it will finally be reopening doors to the public this month for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
The museum has confirmed it will be reopening on Wednesday 16th September.
The dates and altered opening hours for reopening were officially announced via the Manchester Museum’s social media accounts in a statement that read: “We are delighted to announce that we will reopen to the public on Wednesday 16 September.
“We have been working hard to put measures in place that will keep our staff and visitors safe.
“With our new one-way route around the museum you will see all your favourite objects in our Natural History galleries.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Our admission remains free, and our new opening times are 11am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. We will be sharing information about how to book a timed ticket soon.”
We are delighted to announce that we will reopen to the public on Wednesday 16 September. pic.twitter.com/0LVH3BZtT9
The museum initially temporarily closed to visitors back in March.
ADVERTISEMENT
Whilst doors may have been closed over the past few months though, the museum still continued to provide a wealth of free accessible online resources as part of its Manchester Museum in Quarantine series in the hopes that they would “help entertain, educate and spark joy and wonder until [it] re-opened”.
Resources provided included online exhibitions and displays, resources for families, parents, home educators, carers, adults and researchers, and other online events.
Our admission remains free, and our new opening times are 11am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. We will be sharing information about how to book a timed ticket soon. You can find more information about visiting here: https://t.co/tPvse3DRhHpic.twitter.com/N46IslNhEl
A number of COVID-safety measures – including a one-way system and enhanced cleaning regimes – will be introduced at the museum upon reopening in order to ensure the environment is as safe as possible for all staff and visitors.
ADVERTISEMENT
Due to work commencing on the Hello Future building project, the ‘Ancient Worlds’ galleries are closed, and the ‘Living Cultures’ gallery and ‘Money’ gallery are unfortunately also closed at present.
The Manchester Museum reopens on Wednesday 16th September.
Admission is FREE, but advance booking is preferable.
Tickets will be available to book online, or via the main telephone number on +44 (0)161 275 2648, and further booking details will be available in due course.
Opening times are 11am – 4pm on Wednesday – Sunday, and you can find more information ahead of reopening via the Manchester Museum website here.
What's On
‘Glittering winter adventure’ set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park will be transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ this festive season.
With spooky season now a thing of the past, and Christmas merely a few weeks away, families will soon be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
A ‘glittering winter adventure’ is set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas / Credit: Supplied
All set to transport visitors right into the heart of Yuletide tales, the exciting new event – which opens next weekend, and runs through until late December – is produced by Wild Rumpus, who you may know for other magical local events such as ‘The Lanterns’ at Chester Zoo (2018-2022) and Just So Festival.
The highlight of this new event has to be The Glittering Trail, where beautifully-illuminated puppets and performers bring legendary stories of Yuletide to life as visitors wander through the park’s popular Japanese Gardens and make the most of the stunning winter landscape.
Families can gather around an open fire to toast marshmallows, all while they watch live performances that add even more magic to the evening.
Yuletide will be running at Tatton Park on selected dates from Saturday 16 November through to Monday 23 December, and tickets are on sale now – with adult tickets costing £20, children paying just £12 each, and free personal assistant passes are also available.
Why Big Santa WON’T be in Manchester when the Christmas Markets open this week
Daisy Jackson
The sheds have taken over the city centre already, with the huge Christmas Markets officially opening on Friday 8 November.
A big character during the festive season in Manchester is, of course, our light-up Big Santa.
He’s taken on a few different forms over the years, from the huge inflatable character who used to scale the Manchester Town Hall to the piercing gaze of the city’s legendary ‘Zippy’.
The newest Big Santa is a large fella sitting on a big present, sporting a white handlebar moustache and holding a Manchester bee in his hand.
Over the years, this festive figure has been joined by several other glowing installations, like twinkling baubles you can walk through and huge stars.
And when the markets were held at Albert Square, they normally opened with Big Santa proudly already in position.
But this year the arrival of the Manchester Christmas Markets doesn’t mean the start of the festive light trail, or the return of Big Santa – so don’t go looking for him on Friday.
That’s because he won’t be installed on his perch at St Peter’s Square until after Remembrance Sunday, with a poignant service being held at the Cenotaph in the square next weekend.
Big Santa won’t be there when the Manchester Christmas Markets open on Friday. Credit: The Manc Group
Father Christmas will be installed at St Peter’s Square in the days after Remembrance Sunday.
Speaking of the Manchester Christmas Markets, councillor Pat Karney said: “Nowhere does Christmas quite like Manchester and with more than a quarter of a century of our world-famous legendary Christmas markets under our belts, we reckon we’ve got everyone’s Christmas wrapped.
“The number of people who’ve visited our markets over the years must be well over the fifty million mark by now and twenty-six years on from our first-ever Christmas Market in 1998 we regularly attract visitors from around the globe.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone back again to Santa’s favourite city to enjoy the markets and share in all the festive fun. Grab some tinsel, find a friend or round up the family, and come and join us!”
The Manchester Christmas Markets open on Friday 8 November and close on Sunday 22 December, with Big Santa arriving in mid-November.
Emily Sergeant -
1st September 2020 
