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 best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 22 – 28 April 2024
Emily Sergeant
Can you believe we’re already into our last full week of April, and May is right around the corner?
So far, April has been full of foodie festivals, cultural celebrations, wholesome spring-themed events, and so much more – and thankfully, there’s more where that came from as there’s loads more in the Greater Manchester social calendar for everyone of all ages to be getting involved with throughout this week too.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do, we’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Bloomtown Blossom Trail
Manchester City Centre
Monday 22 April – onwards
Bloomtown Blossom Trail / Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester never looks better than it does when all the blossom trees burst back to life, right? Well now there’s a walking trail through town that shows off the best bits.
From the iconic purple blooms outside the Central Library, to the surprising sprays that pop up in the middle of Ancoats, there are pretty colours appearing all over, so the National Trust is once again shining a spotlight on Manchester and bringing back its new-and-improved Bloomtown Map.
There are 39 spots all over the city centre (and slightly beyond) included along the route, each one showcasing one of the city’s most picturesque locations.
A brand-new art exhibition curated by visual artist Emma Evans in partnership with six other creators is now open in Manchester, and it’s completely free to visit.
Tales of Manchester 2.0 down at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a collection of multi-platform art celebrating our brilliant city, and it’s showcasing six spoken word pieces by established Manchester based poets – Griot Gabriel, Ilaria Passeri, Lisa O’Hare, Mark Jackson aka Keith’s Brother, Matt Concannon aka The Thirsty Poet, and Sarah Attwell.
The spoken word is paired with visual pieces painted by self-taught artist Emma Evans, where the words have served as inspiration for the art.
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition
Manchester Central Library
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Monday 22 April – onwards
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition / Credit: Supplied
Photography students from The Manchester College will be showcasing their ‘Greater Mancunians’ project as part of a landmark exhibition at Manchester Central Library’s Main Exhibition Hall from this week.
150 students have participated in the groundbreaking photography project, and it features images of some of Manchester’s most famous and influential people shot at numerous locations across the city.
More than 100 contributors are featured in the project, including musicians Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr, athletes Diane Modahl and Ricky Hatton, local politicians Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, and Bev Craig, actors Maxine Peake and Bill Roache, artists Stan Chow and AKSE P-19, and other local figures like Jonathan Warburton, Simon Martin, and Professor Erinma Bell MBE.
Did you see that one of the biggest charity shops has recently opened here in Greater Manchester?
The independently-run Regenerage superstore is the newest resident at the massively-popular Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton.
Inside the huge 10,958 sq ft store, shoppers can find everything from ladies and menswear, to homeware, furniture, and children’s clothing too, plus books, and new white goods – including washing machines, fridge freezers, and more.
There’s also a specially-created bridal and occasional wear department too.
And if all of that didn’t sound brilliant enough as it is, there’s even the chance to get your hands on designer brands like Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren, and Armani, all without the hefty price tag.
Did you know there’s a huge gaming event currently happening in Manchester?
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With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP is back for more in 2024 down at the Science and Industry Museum, and it’s taking ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming every weekend.
There’s everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more to get stuck into, and each ticket includes unlimited play all day.
Pieminister’s Bottomless Brunch / Credit: The Manc Group
Pieminister’s legendary pie bottomless brunch with free-flowing drinks has finally made a comeback.
The popular pie restaurant chain – which has two sites here in Manchester city centre on Church Street in the Northern Quarter, and on Deansgate – is known and loved all across the UK for its thick and chunky pies, but its bottomless brunch offering is something else.
Whether you’re a meat lover, a veggie, vegan, flexitarian, or gluten free, there’s something to suit everyone on the menu.
Find out more and book your bottomless brunch slot here.
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The Wizard of Oz
Palace Theatre Manchester
Wednesday 24 April – Sunday 5 May
The Wizard of Oz / Credit: ATG Tickets
A sensational new take on of one of the world’s most beloved musicals, The Wizard of Oz, is arriving here in Manchester this week.
Taking to the iconic Palace Theatre stage, starring award-winning comedian and musical theatre star Jason Manford as The Cowardly Lion, JLS sensation Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man, and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West, this new production is set to be truly magical for all the family.
The Botanist has brought back The Botanist LIVE to “help everyone celebrate summer” with free live music every weekend.
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Set to “supply the soundtrack to your weekend” every Friday and Saturday night, The Botanist’s talented artists are set to play live from 8pm until late, and guests can expect a vibrant party atmosphere with sounds of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco, and blues.
The events are not ticketed and are free to attend, so all you need to do is turn up and wait for its house band get the party started.
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this week.
Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 March right through to November this year, East Lancashire Railway’s Red Rose Diners are described as being “the ultimate first class foodie experience”, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
Fancy heading out a walk somewhere in Greater Manchester and beyond this week?
The weather is FINALLY warming up a little, and it’s beginning to feel like we might finally have made it through winter.
So that means it’s time for a walk, right?
Some of the green spaces that wrap around Greater Manchester are in their prime right now with blossoms, bluebells, and more – and that’s saying something, as they’re pretty spectacular all year round – so it couldn’t be a more perfect time to go for a walk to appreciate their beauty.
Read our round-up of stunning spots for a spring walk here.
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Spring Fest
Alderley Park
Saturday 27 April
Farm Weekend / Credit: Jody Hartley
Spring Fest is taking over Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park this Saturday.
With families from all across Greater Manchester and the North West set to make their way to Macclesfield, Spring Fest is a chance to celebrate the magic of spring and everything that it means for wildlife, animals, and nature.
You can expect a jam-packed day full of different outdoor family-friendly activities, performances, markets, and lots of local food and drink.
A festival especially for dogs is all set to take over a popular Manchester city centre park for some “paw-tastic fun” this weekend.
And the best bit about it? It’s absolutely FREE to head on down to.
Back by popular demand, the Ex-Paw Extravaganza festival is returning to Angel Meadow Park near Manchester‘s Green Quarter this Saturday for a jam-packed day of “pawsome activity”.
Kicking off from 11am and running right through until 4pm, this year’s dog-themed festivities include a selection of different stalls to shop from, dog agility courses, puppy play areas, hands-on pet first aid courses, and so much more.
Looking for somewhere to go for a hearty roast dinner in and around Greater Manchester this weekend?
From the moment we start to feel the weekend rolling in, we can’t help but turn our thoughts to Sunday roasts, steaming jugs of gravy, and big glasses sploshing over with red wine.
It’s just the best feeling, and there’s plenty of it to be found here in our region.
We’re used to it being wet and miserable most of the year, and while we do love Sunday lunch on a sun-soaked afternoon in the beer garden when we get the chance, nothing warms the cockles more on those darker days than a giant plate piled high with roasted meats, vegetables, and gravy.
Read our round-up of some of the best Greater Manchester roast dinners here.
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Featured Image – Ex-Paw MCR | The Manc Group | Bruntwood
What's On
Win VIP tickets to see Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Stockholm – plus flights, accommodation, a bar tab AND an annual pass for The Mezz
Daisy Jackson
We’ve got a treat for you – a rare chance to try and get yourself tickets to see Taylor Swift live in concert, on the European leg of The Eras Tour.
The enormous tour is already the highest-grossing the world has ever seen, worth more than $1 billion.
Taylor Swift’s mammoth three-and-a-quarter hour live show has driven so much demand for tickets, ticketing platforms had to change their usual models so their websites didn’t crash.
These tickets are gold dust – but now we’ve got a couple of VIP ones up for grabs, completely free.
The Manc has teamed up with the AO Arena and its brand-new members-only restaurant and bar The Mezz for huge giveaway.
The grand prize is an all-expenses paid trip to see Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Stockholm.
It includes two VIP tickets to the show itself on Saturday 18 May, plus two return flights to to Stockholm from Manchester, and accommodation for two at the Quality Friends Hotel in Stockholm.
While you’re at the show at the Friends Arena, you’ll have a £250 bar tab to enjoy.
And when you return home to Manchester, your new VIP lifestyle will continue, with two annual passes to The Mezz for the rest of the year.
That gets you access to The Mezz’s incredible restaurant space – where the menu is designed by Michelin chefs Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes – and huge exclusive bar area.
And then you can enter the AO Arena itself through The Mezz’s designated doors to watch any show you fancy from the best seats in the house.
All you need to do to win is head to our Instagram page here or click on the post at the end of this article.
Tag who you’d take with you on this once-in-a-lifetime trip in the comments, then share to your story for an extra chance to win (don’t forget to tag us!).
The competition for Taylor Swift tickets ends on Monday 22 April at 23.59.
Emily Sergeant -
8th October 2020 
