Manchester Museum

Overview

Manchester Museum is one of the UK's largest university museums, housing over 4.5 million items spanning archaeology, natural history and living cultures. A major £15 million transformation completed in 2023 added new galleries and a vivarium.

Highlights

• Egyptian Gallery: One of the finest Egyptology collections in the UK, including real mummies and the Tomb of the Two Brothers.
• South Asia Gallery: Co-curated with Manchester's South Asian communities, a UK first.
• Vivarium: Home to live frogs, snakes, geckos and the critically endangered Desertas wolf spider.

History

Founded in 1867, the museum grew from the collections of the Manchester Natural History Society. It is part of the University of Manchester and has occupied its Oxford Road site since 1888.

Visitor Tips

• Admission: Free; donations encouraged.
• Accessibility: Fully step-free throughout the building.
• Duration: 1–2 hours.