18 May 2025 is International Museum Day, a campaign run by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) designed to encourage interest in and remind people of the importance of museums.
As the ICOM explains on its website, it looks to raise awareness of museums, stressing that they are “an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding”.
There is an incredibly wide range of museums across the UK. Nearly all of them are very family-friendly, providing the right mix of education, entertainment, and interactivity for all visitors.
They can be the centrepiece of a great day out, or just simply somewhere to visit when you have a few hours spare.
Find out about seven of the most interesting and entertaining museums to visit in the north-west.
1. Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
Given the status it holds as the first industrial city in the world, there is no better place than Manchester to host the Science and Industry Museum.
Based in the centre of the city, just a short walk from Deansgate station, it features a variety of exhibits and artefacts that tell the story of the industrial revolution that changed the world.
The exhibits on show include the oldest surviving passenger railway station in the world, a water frame used in the first textile mills and, coming more up to date, the first computer to store and run data from memory.
There are interactive exhibits that will particularly appeal to children of all ages. There are also regular demonstrations of some of the industrial and textile machinery, enabling you to get a real insight into the technical advances that drove the growth of the city.
2. The Beatles Story, Liverpool
With all due respect to the football teams based there, if you think of Liverpool, the first thing that will probably come to mind is the Beatles.
If Manchester changed the world industrially, the Beatles did the same from a cultural perspective.
As you would expect, the city is not shy about promoting the “Fab Four”, their extraordinary music, and the way they changed popular culture forever.
The Beatles Story museum takes you on a journey through a series of different exhibits and settings that tell the story of the group, from their Liverpool beginnings to worldwide stardom.
An additional bonus when it comes to planning your visit is that the museum is situated on the redeveloped waterfront of the Royal Albert Dock. This means that there are a range of bars and restaurants a short walk away, as well as easily accessible waterfront tours.
3. Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield
Originally opened immediately after the second world war, Jodrell Bank is a deep-space radio observatory, that has now become an award-winning national visitor attraction.
It has been designated a Unesco world heritage site, and has been described as an “amazing, unique, and awe-inspiring place”.
It hosts the Lovell telescope, which with a 250-foot diameter, was the largest of the kind when it was built in 1957. Beneath that, you will find interactive exhibitions, planetarium shows, and regular events related to space discovery.
It is still in use as an observatory, hosting the national radio astronomy facility and continuing to carry out electromagnetic research.
4. National Football Museum, Manchester
If there is a young football fan in your family, or if you are one yourself, the National Football Museum should be high on your to-visit list.
Originally opened in Preston, it transferred to its current “home ground” in the Urbis building in Manchester in 2012.
The museum consists of four galleries. Three of these are devoted to permanent exhibitions, while the fourth houses changing exhibits of football-related paraphernalia, such as football annuals and press photography.
You will find absolutely everything about football you can think of, from trophies, shirts, and videos of historic matches, to old comics and the story of the development of kit and boots.
5. Lancashire Mining Museum
If the big cities provided the machinery and manpower to drive the industrial revolution, the coalfields produced the fuel that was integral to power it.
So, if you are looking for an unforgettable day out steeped in history and industrial heritage, then the Lancashire Mining Museum is the perfect destination.
Based in the attractive small town of Astley Green, this award-winning museum offers a unique opportunity to look at the history of coal mining in Lancashire. Across your visit, you will find out why coal played such an important part in the growth of industry in the north-west.
The museum houses a collection of artefacts and interactive exhibits that tell the story of the Lancashire pits from their early origin to eventual demise in the 1980s.
6. Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Hosted in a stunning waterfront building opened in 2002, this was the first branch of the Imperial War Museum opened outside London.
The permanent exhibitions consist of a chronological display that runs around the 700-foot perimeter of the gallery. There is also a series of thematic displays, along with smaller artefacts, some of which can be handled by visitors.
Some of the military exhibits on show include:
- A Marine Corps Harrier jet
- A Russian T-34 tank
- The actual field gun that fired the first shot of the first world war.
As an added bonus, it is free to get in, although there may be a charge for some of the short-term exhibitions.
7. The World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-on-Windermere
The final museum on your list of recommendations comes with the added attraction that it is set near beautiful Lake Windermere.
The World of Beatrix Potter brings many of her well-known stories for children to life in 3D, all recreated in the idyllic Lake District countryside.
Children can meet some of the best-known characters, including Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, and Jemima Puddle-Duck.
After a visit, you can look around the famous souvenir gift shop that receives orders from all over the world, and eat in the popular café attached to the museum.
Get in touch
If you would like to talk about your financial planning arrangements, then please do get in touch with us at DBL Asset Management.
Email enquiries@dbl-am.com or call 01625 529 499 to speak to us today.
Please note
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.