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.
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“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.”
The museum initially temporarily closed to visitors back in March.
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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.
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.
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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
The ENTIRE Manchester Village Pride lineup cost £20k less to book than ONE headliner last year
Daisy Jackson
Bosses behind Manchester Village Pride have revealed that the entire lineup has cost significantly less than the amount spent on just one headliner last year.
In a statement promising transparency, organisers said that the entire weekend of artists has cost less than one single headliner from 2025.
And by some margin – £20,000.
The announcement comes less than a year after the previous Manchester Pride organisation entered voluntary liquidation amid rising costs, declining ticket sales and an ‘ambitious refresh’ of the festival format.
That refresh included moving the main music portion of the annual LGBTQ+ celebration away from the Gay Village itself, and over to Depot Mayfield.
The collapse of Manchester Pride followed reports that performers from the 2025 event were still waiting to be paid, with entertainment union Equity later saying its members were more than £70,000 out of pocket.
Manchester Village Pride was subsequently established as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, with organisers promising a more community-focused approach and greater transparency around finances.
The 2026 event is being delivered with unpaid directors, while organisers have also signed an Equity agreement guaranteeing fair pay and professional standards for performers – the first UK union agreement of its kind for a Pride event.
Performing at Manchester Village Pride this year are major artists like Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic home-grown talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
In their statement, Manchester Village Pride said: “Transparency time! Booking this entire weekend of fabulous artists cost us £20k UNDER what was spent on a single headliner last year. This is what community Pride looks like!”
Manchester Village Pride will once again take place over the August bank holiday weekend, with the party running for four days from Friday to Monday.
The celebrations will culminate in the moving candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens.
Ticket prices this year, even with just over a week to go, are only £40 for the full three-day festival, or £25 for one day. Monday will be free to attend.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
Emily Sergeant -
1st September 2020 
