Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum reopened in 2023 after a major renovation and it’s been transformed. The university museum has existed since 1890 but the new layout, expanded galleries and South Asia Gallery have turned it into something genuinely ambitious. The building connects old and new – Victorian cases alongside contemporary display design.

Stan the T-Rex is the star. A cast of one of the most complete T-Rex skeletons ever found, standing in a double-height gallery. Kids lose their minds. The vivarium is another highlight – live frogs, snakes, lizards and a colony of leaf-cutter ants doing their thing behind glass. The natural history galleries cover everything from minerals to taxidermy, and the Egyptian collection is unexpectedly strong.

The South Asia Gallery was co-with community members and it shows. It tells stories that matter to Manchester’s South Asian population with objects that range from ancient to contemporary. The world cultures displays take a similar approach – respectful, thoughtful, relevant to the city’s actual population rather than some colonial hangover.

Entry is free to everything. The museum sits on Oxford Road right on campus, buses stop outside constantly. There’s a cafe and a shop. Combine it with The Whitworth up the road for a full day of free culture. Allow a couple of hours – there’s more depth here than you’d expect.