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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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
The Lowry Hotel is once again offering free men’s wellbeing services to Mancs for Movember 2024
Danny Jones
The Lowry Hotel in Salford is doing its bit for this year’s Movember initiative by offering free men’s health and wellbeing services to local blokes.
It’s not just about the ‘tache, you know.
Yes, returning for Movember 2024, The Lowry is once again hosting a number of male-targeted events and open sessions for men in the city centre and across Greater Manchester to do some much-needed checking in, get their moustaches trimmed and more.
Teaming up with their in-house spa and fitness studio RE:TREAT for another slate of Movember events, they’re hoping to welcome local lads not only for key health scans but maybe open them up to trying something new.
After a successful month this time last year, The Lowry and RE:TREAT have doubled down with their Movember schedule, including everything from free facial hair grooming to their top-of-the-line cryotherapy sessions and even ‘broga’.
Yes, that is bro-yoga because god knows we love a little title to hook us sometimes.
While all of these are really worthwhile events and options – especially when it comes to keeping the mo’ trimmed and proper for the month – but, more importantly, they’re also inviting blokes in for some vital health sessions, both physically and mentally.
As well as offering free testicular scans (which you should aim to do once every month so) but they’re also hosting a wellness circle with Mandem Meetup, a grassroots men’s mental health charity here in the UK that align perfectly with the ideals of Movember.
While issues like testicular and prostate cancer awareness are crucial to the work that the annual month-long ‘shave and raise’ tries to promote, a key cornerstone of Movember is men’s mental health and suicide prevention – which is what makes contributions like The Lowry’s so valuable.
A number of the sessions have already happened this month but their biggest week yet is still to come as we approach the final few days of Movember, with this Friday set to close out their 2024 events.
The last round of free beard and moustache trims, testicular scans and cryotherapy slots are taking place this Friday, 29 November, along with the Mandem Meetupellness x RE:TREAT wellness circle from 10am onwards. Wholesome stuff.
Once again, all of these sessions are completely free of charge and last-minute drops-in are just as well come too; this initiative is all about giving men as much access to these services as possible.
You can find out more about timings and how to book your free cryotherapy slots, specifically, HERE. And Movember or not if you’ve ever been interested in seeing what the in-house spa destination at The Lowry Hotel is like, look no further…
Gary Barlow announces TWO huge gigs in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
Gary Barlow has announced the dates for his 2025 UK tour this morning, and it includes two Manchester shows.
If you’ve missed this boyband heartthrob in all his live show glory, then you can catch him not once but twice in this city centre local music venue.
On top of being a household name and massive eye candy for mums, the Cheshire-born singer has had impressive musical career – with 15 UK number ones, 12 of those as part of boyband Take That – as well as his first two solo singles both reaching the top spot in 1996 and 1997.
Three of his solo studio albums have also achieved pole position too, most recently in 2020.
His face may be very recognisable, but his songwriting credits are even more so.
The 53-year-old has writing titles on ‘Candy’ by fellow boyband member Robbie Williams, and even for current I’m A Celebrity campmate Tulisa and her group N-Dubz, as well as also featuring on our screens over the years, most-notably as a judge on The X Factor.
The songwriting titan has aged like a fine wine, and ironically, even has his own self-titled vino brand ‘Gary Barlow Wines’, so fans can hope there’s lots of drinks flowing at his upcoming tour dates.
So, whether you want to watch Barlow ‘Sing’ his hits in Manchester, or treat yourself to a nice staycation next year, then ere’s 41 UK tour dates to choose from – including some of the next closest to Manchester being Blackpool, Halifax, and Liverpool.
Gary Barlow is bringing his ‘Songbook Tour 2025’ to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 8 and 9 May next year, with tickets going on sale this Friday (29 November) at 9:30am here.
Emily Sergeant -
8th October 2020 
