Culture in the City: Manchester’s Museums and Galleries

Dive into a sense-sational summer to celebrate the world premiere and gloriously gross exhibition Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You, inspired by the hit BBC Children’s show, Operation Ouch! Go on a journey through the senses by exploring Dr Chris’s brain. Intrepid explorers squeeze through an ear canal covered in gooey wax before encountering rooms dedicated to each of our senses, packed with interactive activities. The experience comes to a suitably snotty end as adventurers don a bogie hat before being sneezed out of a giant nose.

New free activities inspired by the exhibition and the science of our senses include a “Bogie Lab” full of sticky surprises, daily silent discos boogying round a super-sized brain to explore how our bodies respond to sound, and new science shows and exhilarating experiments revealing optical and audio illusions. 

A live appearance from the presenter of Operation Ouch!, Dr Xand, is due to be announced soon.

Gamers can also put their senses to the test in Power Up, the ultimate gaming experience where you can play the very best video games from the past five decades and try out over 150 consoles.

If that’s not enough, explore ideas that change the world across the museum, including daily textiles demonstrations, see Baby, the world’s first stored programme computer, and objects from Stephen Hawking’s office.

Discover more here. 

A giant, cosmic cat is sleeping somewhere at Manchester Museum…

This summer, step into a world of wonder and meet a new feline friend as part of the world-premiere exhibition The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years.

At the centre of this dreamscape, created in collaboration with robotics studio Air Giants, sits a 10-metre-long, inflatable, robotic cat. While it snoozes, you'll be invited to give it a cuddle, softly stroke its 'fur' or just sit and spend time in its company.

How did it get here? Why did it come? What thoughts fill its dreams? Join us as we seek answers to these questions and more, while finding out what fuels our age-old obsession with cats.

And once you’ve paid the cat a visit, there’ll be a whole host of fun, free, family activities running throughout the summer. From cat costume-making and shadow puppetry to an augmented reality trail, taking you on a journey to meet some more of the incredible cats found throughout the Museum’s galleries.

Find out what's on here. 

This summer, step into the story of football at the National Football Museum with their blockbuster exhibition, From Pitch to Page: The Magic of Football Annuals. Explore four zones filled with iconic moments, interactive quizzes, and nostalgic editions.

After visiting the exhibition, join their Creative Kickabout – an array of exciting, hands-on activities across the school holidays that celebrate football through a mixture of art, play and performance. It’s a summer of football and creativity! Starting from Monday 21^st July.

Don’t forget, the National Football Museum is free to City of Manchester residents and all tickets are valid for 12 months, with unlimited visits!

Find out more here. 

People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain. Expect an experience that energises you to harness your power to make change!

An award-winning museum known for its bold, brave, and challenging content, which is shared with care, compassion, and hope.

Take the new Pride Trail at PHM* around the two main galleries this August and uncover the inspiring stories of LGBTQIA+ activists and campaigners, as well as collection highlights including a Never Going Underground t-shirt (1988) from the Section 28 protests and the original Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) banner (1984). You might have seen images of Sir Ian McKellen wearing a Never Going Underground t-shirt during the Anti Clause 28 demonstration in Albert Square Manchester in 1988, or spotted a replica of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners banner in the film Pride (1994), which was about the story of solidarity between the communities.

The museum’s world-famous banner collection is showcased in an annual exhibition full of colour, creativity, and both past and present stories.  Head to the ‘Big 3’ located outside the Conservation Studio, and you’ll experience that feeling of being on a march and get a sense of the powerful impact that banners can have. 

Visit on weekdays and watch the Conservation Team in action through the viewing window in Gallery Two. Then shop PHM's collection of items inspired by the battle for equality, where all purchases support the museum.

*Suitable for all ages.

Find out more here. 

Lowry is a leading cultural venue featuring two major theatres, a studio theatre, and extensive art galleries. Visitors can explore the renowned LS Lowry Collection alongside a rotating selection of special exhibitions.

Lowry is marking its 25th anniversary with LOWRY 360, a free immersive experience that brings L.S. Lowry’s Going to the Match to life. Created with Layers of Reality and funded by The Law Family Charitable Foundation, it’s designed to make art more accessible.

Additionally, the beloved writer and illustrator Quentin Blake will be celebrated in a major new free family exhibition at Lowry this summer!

Curated by Lowry in collaboration with the artist and his studio, Quentin Blake and Me will feature over one-hundred of Blake’s instantly recognisable works, a full-size sailing boat for children to hop-aboard inspired by Blake’s story A Sailing Boat in the Sky, the National (Monster) Portrait Gallery alongside Russell Hoban’s storybook, Monsters, and a fiendishly difficult magnetic marble puzzle inspired by John Yeoman’s retelling of the voyages of the intrepid Sinbad. As well as fun interactives, dressing-up, and opportunities for all young visitors to write and draw their own stories, all whilst being immersed in Blake’s magical world.

But the magic and adventure of Quentin Blake will not be confined to the exhibition space.  There will be free activities for families taking place across the Lowry this summer from fun-packed storytelling sessions, portrait sessions with local artists, a cockatoo trail, creative activities in our family space, The Lookout, the chance to delve into some of Blake’s best-loved works in the Book Nook, and the bravest of visitors can snap a selfie with a brand-new Enormous Crocodile statue. There will be a wealth of fun surprises, laughter and imaginative fun to be enjoyed. Plus, Blake has even created a special drawing of LS Lowry himself to hang in the exhibition.

Plus, a load more events taking place across the summer. Find out what's on here. 

This summer, The Whitworth is inviting families to get creative with colour, paint and nature!

Inspired by the powerful landscapes of JMW Turner and vibrant story-driven art by Santiago Yahuarcani.

The Whitworth’s gardens, galleries, and studios become playful spaces to make, explore and imagine together, with free activities for little ones and their grown-ups to drop in and play.

Colour Studio

• Opening Date: Throughout August on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, plus Saturday, 23 August 2025. All dates, 1pm - 4pm.

Play, paint and get creative in our open-air Colour Studio. Learn to mix your own natural paints, play with colour in our art studio and create your own mini masterpiece to take home.

Find out more here. 

Manchester’s museums and galleries are just one part of the city’s cultural scene. From vibrant parades to cutting-edge art, Manchester is bursting with energy and creativity. Explore bold performances at Aviva Studios, home to Factory International, or head to MediaCityUK for exhibitions, live music, and family fun by the water. The city comes alive during major events like Manchester Day, Manchester International Festival, and the joyful celebration of love and identity at Manchester Pride. Whether you're into world-class art, community spirit, or just soaking up the atmosphere, Manchester’s got something for everyone.

Stay a little longer in the city and really make the most of Manchester. Take the time to explore not just the city centre, but also the surrounding boroughs, each with its own charm. From sleek, modern hotels to cosy spots right in the middle of the action, there’s something to suit every style and budget.