This guide is for anyone who has moved to Manchester from abroad, whether you arrived alone, as a couple or with children. It covers what the People’s History Museum and Manchester Jewish Museum each focus on, how to plan a visit, and which parts work best for adults and which for younger visitors.
- Why visit these two museums
- People’s History Museum
- Manchester Jewish Museum
- Visiting with children
- Timing, groups and access
- FAQ
Why visit these two museums
Most newcomers get to know Manchester through football and music. These two museums take a slower route. They show how ordinary people, including people who came from somewhere else, shaped the city you now live in. The People’s History Museum calls itself the national museum of democracy and tells the stories of protest, solidarity and the people who fought to have a say. Manchester Jewish Museum is in a former synagogue in Cheetham Hill. It uses Jewish stories, culture and traditions to explore belonging and what different communities have in common.
Together, they are a good introduction to how British civic life works and where migrant communities fit into it. One is in the city centre and the other is in Cheetham Hill, so most people visit them on separate days. You can also do both in one full day and travel across town in between.
People’s History Museum: democracy, protest and work
PHM is on the corner of Left Bank and Bridge Street in Spinningfields, opposite the Civil Justice Centre and beside the River Irwell. The postcode is M3 3ER. According to the museum’s visit page, the museum, shop and Gather café are open from 10.00am to 5.00pm every day except Tuesdays. Entry is free, and the museum says most visitors donate £10. That is a suggested donation, not a ticket price.
The galleries cover protest, trade unions and the long fight for a voice in politics. A good place to start is the Secret Society Skeleton in Gallery One. It was painted around 200 years ago and shown to new trade union members as they promised loyalty and silence. If you are new to the UK, rooms like this help explain why unions, strikes and campaigning still matter so much in British public life.
Exhibitions change, so check before you go. This autumn, On The Line: 100 years of strikes & solidarity marks a century since the 1926 General Strike. It closes on Monday 2 November. Re/Assemble looks at Manchester’s 1988 protest against Section 28 through artwork, banners and objects. On Saturday 24 October, the Over Here Zine Fest runs from 10am to 4pm, with workshops, talks and stalls showcasing creatives from the global majority. It is free, you can just drop in, and it is for ages 12 and over.
Gather café serves hot food until 3.00pm, and you can book a table on 01260 543977. If you bring your own lunch, there is a picnic area.
Manchester Jewish Museum: a synagogue that became a meeting place
Manchester Jewish Museum first opened in 1984. It is housed in a Grade II* listed former Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, built in 1874 in Cheetham Hill, which the museum describes as one of the most diverse areas in Manchester. The Jewish architect Edward Solomons designed the building, drawing on the Spanish and Portuguese origins of its members. It was the first Sephardi synagogue in Manchester.
The museum was redeveloped and extended in 2019, and it now has a modern gallery, a vegetarian café, a shop, and a learning studio and kitchen. The restored synagogue is part of the permanent exhibition and is also used for gigs, talks, shows and concerts.
For newcomers, the community groups may be the most useful part. The museum has groups for artists, songwriters, textile enthusiasts and local residents, and it says it is always looking for new members. If you want to meet people outside work or the school gate, this is a practical way in. The programme also lists food tours and talks, music, and a Museum Open Day as part of the Cheetham Cultural Festival 2026.
The museum is open seven days a week. You can book general admission tickets up to four weeks ahead, either online or at the museum. The homepage does not give ticket prices or opening hours, so check the museum’s own site for current details.
Visiting with children
PHM says it is family friendly throughout. You can bring buggies and refillable water bottles. Inside you will find simple signage, accessible toilets, hands-on and digital interactives, and plenty of places to picnic. Until 30 November, children aged 5 to 12 with an adult can try the free Secret Society skeleton activity. Pick up a sheet at the welcome desk, crack the codes and make a skeleton mask. Over half term, from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, the museum also lists spooky storytelling and an interactive Match Girls’ Strike game.
Manchester Jewish Museum lists a Children & Families programme, but its homepage does not give details or age ranges, so check its site for what is coming up. It also runs half-day workshops for schools, called Synagogue & Stories and Holidays & Challah. Schools book these, so you could mention them to your child’s teacher. For adults, the most depth is in PHM’s exhibitions on strikes and Section 28, and in the synagogue’s history and evening events at MJM.
Timing, groups and access
Timing. PHM is closed on Tuesdays. On Fridays, 2.00pm to 5.00pm is its dedicated quiet time, with no group visits. Manchester Jewish Museum can be busy on weekdays when schools visit, and it recommends weekends or after 2:30pm for a calmer visit.
Groups. If you are organising a trip for a community group, a language class or friends, PHM asks groups of more than six to fill in an enquiry form. Booking is required to guarantee entry. MJM has its own Group Bookings page.
Access. PHM has a Quiet Room, and you can borrow sensory tools from access stations around the building. For questions, call 0161 838 9190 or email access@phm.org.uk. There is also a Detailed Access Guide on the AccessAble website, and an online visitor map you can look at before you arrive.
Support. PHM relies on donations to stay free. MJM offers membership for £35 a year, paid once or by direct debit. Call 0161 834 9879 to join.
FAQ
Is the People’s History Museum free?
Yes. Entry is free, and the museum says most visitors donate £10 to help keep it that way. It is open from 10.00am to 5.00pm every day except Tuesdays.
Do I need to book Manchester Jewish Museum?
You can book general admission tickets up to four weeks in advance, either online or at the museum. The homepage does not list prices, so check the museum’s website for current ticket details.
Which museum works best with young children?
PHM is family friendly throughout, with hands-on interactives, picnic places and free activities. One example is the skeleton activity for ages 5 to 12, which runs until 30 November. Manchester Jewish Museum has a Children & Families programme, and its website has the details.
When is the quietest time to visit?
At PHM, Fridays from 2.00pm to 5.00pm are a dedicated quiet time with no group visits. Manchester Jewish Museum suggests visiting at weekends or after 2:30pm, as weekdays can be busy with school groups.
Official sources: phm.org.uk · manchesterjewishmuseum.com
Last checked: 13 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.
Sources
- phm.org.uk: Visit – People's History Museum, accessed 13 October 2026
- manchesterjewishmuseum.com: Manchester Jewish Museum, accessed 13 October 2026 (archived copy)
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