The Science and Industry Museum has a variety of free, educational – and safe – events for families to enjoy during this unusual autumn. After reopening in late September, the venue has remained closed on Monday’s and Tuesdays – however this is set to change during the upcoming October half-term break, with visitors welcome to enjoy all the museum has to offer on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October alongside the remainder of the week. From an exploration of our local life-giver in The Sun, to mind-expanding science stops with the venue’s in-house Explainers – we’ve rounded up five activities at this popular city centre spot that’ll guarantee a great day out during half term. General admission tickets are free and available to book online – just head to the venue’s website.
Manchester is home to many historic firsts – from the splitting of the atom, to the creation of the world’s first computer. It’s also the birthplace of one of the most well known makes of car, thanks to a chance encounter between wealthy playboy Charles Stewart Rolls and local engineer Frederick Henry Royce at The Midland Hotel back in 1904. Their partnership resulted in the formation of the Rolls Royce company and today you can get up close and personal with this key moment in the city’s industrial heritage by exploring a two cylinder Rolls Royce motor car – one of only three remaining cars of its type. Ideal for any future mechanics in your family!
The best way to learn something new? Hands on experience! You’ll find exactly that in the Science and Industry Museum’s free interactive gallery which invites families to get involved with a variety of practical (and fun) experiments. Find out if you’re strong enough to lift a Mini, see your own skeleton ride a bike before your very eyes and learn how waste energy can be harnessed to power an entire household in this free, interactive experimentation space. It doesn’t matter how old you are, we guarantee you’ll be unable to resist taking part!
It’s not just the exhibitions that are jam-packed with information at the Science and Industry Museum – their staff are full of knowledge too. Pay the venue a visit during over the coming weeks and you’ll be able to top up your learning experience by chatting to their in-house Explainers. This group of brain-boxes are on-hand at various Science Stops to talk you through a selection of different topics related to the Museum’s exhibitions. Don’t be shy. Say hello. You never know what you might learn!
In addition to all of the amazing and educational things to see and do listed above, the Science and Industry Museum’s team have extended the fun by offering a range of free activity trails for children. Pick up a trail in The Sun and the Textiles Gallery and the games and challenges will help you explore the objects in a fun and different way.
Mon 28 Sep, Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP, 10am - 5pm
www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/october-half-term-2020
- Words:
- Simon Bland
- Published on:
- Sat 24 Oct 2020
We were lucky enough to visit The Sun earlier this year (read our review) to experience first-hand just how expertly detailed and eye-opening this exhibition really is. Take a stroll through their gallery and chronicle the full history of our closest star – from ancient, myth-making icon, to the giver of crucial solar power. This new exhibition tells the story of our ever-changing relationship with this all-seeing giver of life. It was due to close in late March but due to the unpredictable nature of 2020, you can now view it until 29 November – with admission included within your general admission ticket.