Top 3: Exhibitions, objects and curiosities to see when Manchester Museum reopens

This area of Manchester Museum explores the natural world and humans’ complex relationships with it. Included are many of the Museum’s most popular animal exhibits, including real-life taxidermy tiger, a polar bear and a gorilla. On the more socio-cultural side, there’s a piece of rubble from the Hiroshima blast surrounded by origami cranes – telling a story of peace. There’s also a web app that accompanies this Gallery. With it, you can get more information on the specimens on display, and suggestions about how you can get more involved with nature.

In Manchester Museum’s vivarium you’ll find live animals and plants in conditions that simulate their natural environment. The Vivarium is renowned for its large collection of exotic frogs, which are not only there for visitors to see, but also for research purposes. The curators are involved with non-invasive studies that aim to provide a better understanding of these creatures and aid in their conservation. For example, the Lemur Leaf Frog – one of the world’s most critically endangered – was saved from the brink of extinction by Museum staff.

The fossils section of Manchester Museum takes you on a tour of life on Earth over the last 600 million years, from the earliest bacteria to swamp forests and enormous sea reptiles. Standouts include the skeletons of a T Rex, a giant plesiosaur and a massive fossilised tree. The Meteorite display includes rocks from the Moon and Mars which you can actually touch, and the crystals in the Minerals area give a glimpse of the treasures from our own planet. Please note: Some exhibits may be removed due to the building work.