Feeling like one of the longest months ever (though I always like January as I’m still a birthday fiend) I thought it’d be useful to blog about places you can visit for free that you might not have been to before, or even heard about! Quite a few of these I’ve not yet had the chance to visit, so they’re on my list too. Most are in and around Manchester, with one exception. Given how chilly it is at the moment I think anything indoors is probably quite welcome, though there’s still the chance to escape outside at a few.
This is the only one that’s time limited so I’ll mention it first. A must for Wallace & Gromit fans!
One day only event: 11th January 2025 from 10am to 5pm
‘A Grand Day out’ National Science and Media Museum, Bradford
Celebrating their re-opening you can catch screenings of Aardman films, model making workshops and much more. I would definitely be going if we had time this weekend. With showings of A Matter of Loaf and Death, The Wrong Trousers, A Grand Day Out and also the latest Wallace and Gromit film Vengeance Most Fowl on the big screen.
Address: The National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, BD1 1NQ
Open year round
In Manchester city centre:
Greater Manchester Police Museum
This is more of a mid week wonder. Open every Tuesday and for special days in school holidays. You get to stand in the dock, visit the cells and hopefully go home at the end of it!
Address: 57a Newton Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1ET -
Known as the national museum of democracy, this is a family friendly museum award winner with lots of interactive exhibitions and installations including the ‘pank-a-squith’ board game, the back in time co-op shop and a vintage jukebox! There’s also a sustainable and ethical cafe to stave off any ‘hangriness’!
Address: Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER -
In Stockport:
Find out all about Stockport’s hat trade at the UK’s only hat museum. Visit the gallery of hats, see how a 19th century hat maker lived in a walk through terraced house and see the recreation of a hat block maker’s workshop.
Address: Wellington Road South, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK3 0EU
In Salford:
A little gem nestled in between the busy sights of Salford, who knew! A Tudor mansion and museum with resident ghost and huge lawns to explore.
Address: 322 Ordsall Lane, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 3AN
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
I discovered this last summer. It’s a brilliant museum with a toy exhibition, a street installation that lets you take a step back in time and there’s often free events on around school holidays. You can also have an explore of Peel Park which sits directly behind the museum with lovely manicured gardens and a fantastic playground. If you’re looking for lunch/a snack stop there’s The Old Fire Station cafe over the road with a great selection of pastries, cakes and hot drinks. It also houses a brewery!
Address: Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WU
In Rochdale:
Once a shop, this is where was where the ‘Pioneers’, 28 working people opened a co-operative store on the 21st December, 1844. The shop sold fairly priced, good quality food during very hard times. See the historic first food counter, cashier point and become Mini Pioneers on an interactive trail.
Address: 31 Toad Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, OL12 0NU