The Science and Industry Museum has released its calendar of free family-friendly events on offer this October half term.
Families are invited to discover “world-changing ideas and amazing activities” at the museum – which is located on Liverpool Road in the heart of the city centre – where the top priority this half term is “a safe and fun visit for everyone” amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and local lockdown restrictions.
Visitors can play and explore in Experiment, which is an interactive gallery designed for the whole family to enjoy together that let’s you stare into the mirror of infinity, find out if you’ve got the strength to lift a Mini, watch a skeleton ride a bicycle, and much more.
You can also discover how cotton transformed the city of Manchester and uncover some of the incredible stories behind the museum’s historic site in its the Textiles Gallery.
Big ideas can be explored in the Revolution Manchester Gallery – where a very early Rolls-Royce motor car made in Manchester and driven by Henry Royce himself – is on display alongside Baby, which is the first computer able to store and run programs.
Expert explainers will also be on hand to unravel the secrets of science in a series of Science Stops.
You can also take a trip to our nearest star in the museum’s major exhibition, The Sun, which is now included in the free admission ticket.
Planning a visit? We've made some changes to keep everyone safe, but it's still the museum you know and love.
The much-loved museum will also be reopening its Air and Space Hall on 24th October for the first time since March, which will give visitors the opportunity to see the cars, motorbikes and aeroplanes that got industrial Manchester moving.
Sally MacDonald – Director of the Science and Industry Museum – said: “It’s fantastic to be opening the museum for a whole week over half term and giving even more families the chance to visit us during the holiday.”
“Despite some areas of the museum being temporarily closed for improvement works, with our astonishing exhibition, The Sun, still open, lots of outdoor space and galleries packed with ideas that changed the world, there is still lots for families to do, see and enjoy this October.”
The Science and Industry Museum’s top priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Visitors are asked to observe social distancing, wear face coverings, follow one-way routes and book tickets online in advance. In line with the measures that are currently in place across the city and other areas of the North West, visitors are also being asked to only attend with people from their household or support bubble.
The most up-to-date information can be found on the museum’s website here.
Science and Industry Museum / Visit Manchester
The Science and Industry Museum is also currently undergoing a multi-million-pound renovation project.
This will see a new £5m Special Exhibition Gallery open early next year to originate and host the world’s best science exhibitions, the much-loved Power Hall is also being renovated, and improvement works are currently being made to the historic 1830s Station and Warehouse too, which are the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station and the oldest existing railway goods warehouse respectively.
While these are all exciting changes, it does means that certain areas of the site are temporarily closed and will be during the half term week, but there’s still plenty to do, see and enjoy.
Doors to the museum will be open between 10am – 5pm from Saturday 24th October – Sunday 1st November.
Since reopening in August, the museum has been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but will be reopening for the entire half term week, including Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th October.
You are still required to book a free ticket before your visit though.
Tickets for half term will be available from Monday 12th October and can be booked through the museum website here, or by calling 0800 047 8124.
What's On
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains are back again 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 only the second week of September, and we’ve technically still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of 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 heritage railway has announced that its popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam train rides 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.
You can already grab tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides this Christmas / Credit: ELR
And in recent years, the much-loved event has been even bigger and better than ever before.
ELR’s ‘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.
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station.
You’ll 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.
The famous East Lancashire Railway ‘Santa Special’ steam train / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipple, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
East Lancashire Railway’s famous Santa Specials are running on weekends and selected weekdays from Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 24 December.
Tickets now on sale starting from £22.50 for kids and £23 for adults.
You can book your seats here before it’s too late.
Featured Image – ELR
What's On
Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more
Emily Sergeant
Halloween is soon set to return to the city, and dozens of huge inflatable monsters will be invading Manchester next month.
Yes, it’s that time of year yet again… the monsters are back.
After several years of looming over Manchester‘s most-notable rooftops and lurking around famous city centre sites, it’s been revealed that the iconic MCR Monsters will be returning for another year of spooky celebrations next month, along with loads of other terrifying tricks and treats – with something for the whole family to get involved with.
Organisers Manchester BID are set to turn the city centre into a ‘monstrous playground’ once the free two-day festival of frightful fun returns.
Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more / Credit: Manchester BID | CityCo
This year’s annual Halloween in the City celebrations will feature a week-long colourful invasion of the MCR Monsters, following the two-day family festival across the city’s popular shopping destinations.
For the first time ever, the epic MCR Monsters – which are created by talented local artists, Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas – will invade the city’s rooftops and buildings on the opening day of the Halloween in the City festival.
They’ll be taking over leading locations including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, The Royal Exchange, KAMPUS, and AO Arena – with more terrifying takeovers yet to be announced.
A slimy creature will also be on the loose across the city centre, as ‘The Leech’ – a wriggling eight metre-long monster, created and produced by Walk the Plank – makes its anticipated return.
As for other spine-chilling activities over the weekend-long festival, you can expect family games, storytelling, and the bone-rattling Monster Party Procession, complete with giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers, and a live band.
Then as night falls, the city will glow ‘eerie green’ as iconic buildings light up in spooky style.
To finish things off, thousands of pumpkin lanterns will, once again, line the city’s shopping streets to add a ‘flicker of fun’ to the festival celebrations.
Halloween in the City festival will take over Manchester city centre on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, and MCR Monsters will be in town from Saturday 25 – Friday 31 October.
The pumpkins may potentially appear even earlier, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Emily Sergeant -
8th October 2020 
