PHM is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. The museum provides opportunities for all people to learn about, be inspired by and get involved in ideas worth fighting for; ideas such as equality, social justice, co-operation, and a fair world for all.
Free museum of social science & the history of democracy & politics in the UK ( and Manchester area ). Interesting and some interactive displays . Free . Allow 60-90 minutes.
The PHM provided the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony & breakfast! It was even better than we imagined! The space speaks for itself, it's a huge light filled, industrial engine hall with almost church like dimensions. We just added some plants and the space needed nothing more as it is beautiful as it is. Also the brilliant communications and meet ups in the build up made planning so easy as we had quick responses and clarity throughout. On the day we were able to meet outside in the museum lobby and enter to our guests and the staff made this possible. The sound system was also great as we just played our own spotify playlist via an old phone with a jack and the tech staff helped this. We had a harpist for our ceremony who then moved to the terrace and the space allowed the music to amplify beautifully! The ability to enter the space for ceremony setup on the day before our wedding was another great benefit as it meant we were happy all was ready. We also chose to do our speech from the balcony in the engine hall to our guests below and this worked really well and again the tech staff helped make sure the microphones worked All in all we think it's the perfect wedding venue, you get an amazing space, amazing service and you're helping contribute to the museum continuing it's great work! Winner all round! Liam and Stu
To date, I've visited nearly 50 museums this year; this is one of my favourites to date. Packed with information, populated by friendly volunteers, and steeped in the history of Manchester and beyond. A must-see in Manchester. I lived in Manchester for fifteen years and had no idea it existed. A hidden gem that deserves more attention.
The People's History Museum tells the story of the development of democracy in the UK. This is an important museum fulfilling a necessary task. I would commend this museum to others, though I have some reservations. First, our democratic history is a lot more nuanced, less simple, and less linear than the stories told here. Secondly, the often stygian gloom of the galleries in which the museum's displays are presented undermines that presentation significantly. The galleries don't feel inviting or welcoming. The joy of this museum is in the banners and period posters that are on display. These are contextualised well and provide a real snap shot of the history and times in which they were made. I also liked that the Museum's conservation work is not hidden away. This shows both how painstaking and how important that work is.
If you love the history of politics, social issues and workers rights, this is a place not to miss. Entry is free and can all be seen in an hour. So not too big of a building.
A beautifully created museum which tells a story of Manchester that can often be forgotten. It's very interactive and has an excellent way of making you draw connections between history and the present day that I have rarely experienced elsewhere. Up there with my favourites
On-site services
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Gender-neutral toilets
Restaurant
Toilets
Good for kids
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Free museum of social science & the history of democracy & politics in the UK ( and Manchester area ). Interesting and some interactive displays . Free . Allow 60-90 minutes.
The PHM provided the perfect setting for our wedding ceremony & breakfast! It was even better than we imagined! The space speaks for itself, it's a huge light filled, industrial engine hall with almost church like dimensions. We just added some plants and the space needed nothing more as it is beautiful as it is. Also the brilliant communications and meet ups in the build up made planning so easy as we had quick responses and clarity throughout. On the day we were able to meet outside in the museum lobby and enter to our guests and the staff made this possible. The sound system was also great as we just played our own spotify playlist via an old phone with a jack and the tech staff helped this. We had a harpist for our ceremony who then moved to the terrace and the space allowed the music to amplify beautifully! The ability to enter the space for ceremony setup on the day before our wedding was another great benefit as it meant we were happy all was ready. We also chose to do our speech from the balcony in the engine hall to our guests below and this worked really well and again the tech staff helped make sure the microphones worked All in all we think it's the perfect wedding venue, you get an amazing space, amazing service and you're helping contribute to the museum continuing it's great work! Winner all round! Liam and Stu
To date, I've visited nearly 50 museums this year; this is one of my favourites to date. Packed with information, populated by friendly volunteers, and steeped in the history of Manchester and beyond. A must-see in Manchester. I lived in Manchester for fifteen years and had no idea it existed. A hidden gem that deserves more attention.
The People's History Museum tells the story of the development of democracy in the UK. This is an important museum fulfilling a necessary task. I would commend this museum to others, though I have some reservations. First, our democratic history is a lot more nuanced, less simple, and less linear than the stories told here. Secondly, the often stygian gloom of the galleries in which the museum's displays are presented undermines that presentation significantly. The galleries don't feel inviting or welcoming. The joy of this museum is in the banners and period posters that are on display. These are contextualised well and provide a real snap shot of the history and times in which they were made. I also liked that the Museum's conservation work is not hidden away. This shows both how painstaking and how important that work is.
If you love the history of politics, social issues and workers rights, this is a place not to miss. Entry is free and can all be seen in an hour. So not too big of a building.
A beautifully created museum which tells a story of Manchester that can often be forgotten. It's very interactive and has an excellent way of making you draw connections between history and the present day that I have rarely experienced elsewhere. Up there with my favourites
