Family fun at the Science and Industry Museum this February half term

The Science and Industry Museum has a jam-packed programme of fun and discovery for all the family this February half term.

From a journey around the body to a display of the made-in-Manchester inventions that changed the world, there’s something for everyone at this hub of innovation and learning.

Explore the past, present and future of how cancer is prevented, detected and treated through the museum’s groundbreaking Cancer Revolution: Science, innovation and hope. See incredible objects, from a dinosaur fossil to a cytosponge, enjoy interactive exhibits and be inspired by the personal stories told throughout the exhibition.

Unravel science secrets with the museum’s team of expert Explainers, who will be on hand at Science Stops throughout the museum during half term to present activities that reveal some of the different ways science can see inside the human body—from magnets and microscopes, to miniature high-tech cameras. 

From Sat 12 to Sun 27 Feb, kids will have the chance to get crafty and make their very own model of a cell to wear as a badge as part of the fun. 

For something completely different, head to the Textiles Gallery for a fantastical display of creations made by Rowland Emett, the creator of the inventions in the classic 1965 film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Watch the artwork come to life at one of the daily demonstrations, treating visitors to whimsical scenes of whirring cogs and characters toasting teacakes and driving. 

Be sure to catch the Revolution Manchester Show, an action-packed performance that tells the story of how science met industry in the heart of Manchester, changing the shape of the city—and the world—forever. Expect explosions and steam in this interactive, fast-paced experience.

For the little ones, Mini Movers invites the museum’s youngest visitors to roll, clank, whirr and clack their way round the Textiles Gallery, encouraging them to think about the machines inside the museum and the construction currently taking place across the site. Brand new for February half term, and linked to the current restoration programme, families can even ask for one of the museum’s Construction Packs: wooden tools, high-vis jackets and hard hats for your Mini Inventors to use to explore the museum and construction works. 

Once you’ve explored the museum, step out into the cobbled Upper Yard to check out what’s growing in the Planting Stories garden and to see the museum’s multi-million pound restoration programme taking place. 

Although some areas of the museum’s historic site remain closed to the public due to the museum’s ongoing transformation, there’s still plenty for families to enjoy. 

For more information about everything that’s coming up, head to the Science and Industry Museum website.