Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal
Switzerland
Museum · Manchester, Inglaterra
Science and Industry Museum
The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, on the site of Liverpool Road station—the oldest in the world, dating from 1830—features locomotives, working textile machines and the Power Hall. Admission to the permanent collection is not usually charged; check before you go.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Science and Industry Museum
The Science and Industry Museum occupies the Liverpool Road station complex in Castlefield, the world's oldest passenger station. It was Manchester's terminal of the Liverpool–Manchester railway, opened in 1830, the first inter-city line with steam trains and scheduled services. The museum tells how Manchester became the world's first industrial city with its 19th-century cotton mills, and how the science and technology born there changed the world.
The Power Hall, a goods shed from 1855 reopened in 2025 after a long refurbishment, houses locomotives, steam, gas and oil engines, some running in demonstrations. In the textile gallery, cotton spinning and weaving machines are operated by technicians, showing the noise and pace of the mills. The Revolution Manchester gallery covers inventions from the city, such as the first stored-program computer from 1948, and the work of the scientists who split the atom.
The site includes the 1830 platform and station building, the 1830 warehouse and the Experiment gallery, an interactive space for children. Admission to the permanent collection is usually free; booking a time slot is recommended; temporary exhibitions charge. Part of the museum remains under phased works; check the website for what's open.
Around it is the Castlefield area, with canals, iron railway viaducts and the ruins of the Roman fort Mamucium.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 2 to 3 hours.
Best time
On weekdays, in the morning; the demonstrations of textile machines and locomotives run at set times posted at the entrance. It's a good option for a rainy day.
How to get there
It is on Liverpool Road in Castlefield, about a 10-minute walk from Deansgate station and the Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop, and 15 minutes from St Peter's Square.
Tip
Ask at the entrance for the times of the cotton machine and locomotive demonstrations. Afterwards, walk along the nearby Castlefield canals.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Science and Industry Museum
Does the museum charge admission?
Admission to the permanent collection is usually free, though time-slot booking is recommended; temporary exhibitions require a ticket. Check in advance.
Why is the museum located in a station?
It is Liverpool Road station, the oldest in the world, the terminus of the Liverpool–Manchester railway of 1830.
What is the Power Hall?
A 1855 shed housing locomotives and engines, reopened in 2025, with live demonstrations.