Find true love at your Museum
Even if the crab is not the one for you…
OK, we get it. Maybe our spider crab isn’t quite catch of the day even if he did once have a thing with Zara Larsson.
You’d face an impossible task trying to crack that tough exterior, hugging would be hard with all those legs in the way and holding hands might result in the loss of a finger or two.
But, whether you’re new to Manchester or returning for another year, you’ll eventually get used to seeing him out there on Oxford Road and there’s plenty more to love once you venture inside the Museum.
Located right at the heart of campus, it’s a place to explore, connect and take a break from university life.
So, whether you’ve got 10 minutes or 2 hours, pop in and find out what’s going on. From vibrant cultural celebrations that bring communities together to workshops, talks and tours, there’s always something going on.
Meet new people, discover new perspectives and make the museum part of your Manchester story.
Galleries and Spaces
Discover what you’ll find when you visit
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![A view from the Welcome Area at Manchester Museum, looking through a doorway leading to the shop and the main staircase in the Main Hall.]()
Welcome Area
GROUND FLOOR
This is where you come in, to be welcomed by our Visitor Team who can advise and help you get the most from your visit. It is also home to two magnificent objects…
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![An art museum gallery with display cases containing ancient artifacts, including pottery and jewelry, illuminated by ceiling lights.]()
Exhibition Hall
GROUND FLOOR
The Exhibition Hall is where we produce, host and tour ambitious shows that embrace our sense of imagination and ambition…
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![Elegant art gallery interior with large arched windows, classical columns, and marble bust sculptures displayed on pedestals. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating framed paintings on the walls.]()
Belonging Gallery
FLOOR 1
The Belonging Gallery draws upon collections and multiple cultural perspectives to reflect on how we come to know what belonging means for ourselves…
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![Collection of ancient artifacts including pottery, stones, coins, a compass, a sundial, a pyramid engraving, a scroll, and writing tools displayed on a beige surface.]()
Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery
FLOOR 1
The Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery shares personal stories of migration, friendships and collaboration to inspire empathy and build understanding...
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![A gold and bronze statue of a deity or spiritual figure with a headdress, jewelry, and hand gesture, inside a decorated temple or religious space.]()
South Asia Gallery
FLOOR 1
The South Asia Gallery, a British Museum partnership, presents a compelling, contemporary take on South Asian and British Asian culture…
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![A bookstore with shelves of framed pictures, two women wearing face masks browsing through books, and pricing signs on the left side.]()
Archaeology
FLOOR 1
The Archaeology gallery asks important questions about who narrates the past with interventions addressing pressing societal challenges…
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![Ancient Egyptian papyrus scroll depicting Egyptian gods and hieroglyphics, including figures of deities with animal heads and hieroglyphic writing in black, red, and green ink.]()
Egypt and Sudan
FLOOR 1
The Egypt and Sudan gallery tells stories of the people we now call ‘ancient Egyptians’, a diverse population who lived in north-eastern Africa from around 3000 to 30 BCE….
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Africa Hub
FLOOR 2
Africa Hub is a new type of space that exposes the gaps in museum knowledge and invites visitors to help shape the future for the African collections we care for…
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![A Barbie doll sitting in a bathtub within a display case in the Carbon Ruins exhibition at Manchester Museum.]()
Research Studio & Gallery
FLOOR 2
Our dedicated Research Studio is an inclusive space where researchers can work with our collections and our Research Gallery features research-led displays…
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![The interior of a grand historic building with high arched glass ceiling, stone walls, and a staircase. In the center, a large statue of a horse with flames and ash effects. Visitors are walking and sitting around.]()
Fossils and Dinosaurs
GROUND FLOOR
The Fossils and Dinosaurs galleries are where you come face-to-face with prehistoric giants Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex and April the Tenontosaurus…
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![Display case with three mineral specimens on orange pedestals in Manchester Museum's Minerals Gallery.]()
Minerals
MEZZANINE FLOOR
The gallery's focus is not only on the geological specimens but also on uncovering and sharing the stories of the people involved in their acquisition…
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![Mounted moose antlers behind a life-sized model of a moose, set against a dark background.]()
Living Worlds
FLOOR 1
Living Worlds celebrates the dynamic connections between people and the natural world, exploring how we experience, depend on and impact nature…
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![Brightly-lit display cases in Nature's Library at Manchester Museum.]()
Nature's Library
FLOOR 2
Nature’s Library showcases the remarkable collections that have helped scientists and naturalists understand the living world for more than a century…
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![Close-up of a green and blue chameleon perched on a brown branch against a dark background.]()
The Vivarium
FLOOR 2
The Vivarium houses a collection of live amphibians and reptiles including many critically endangered species, and showcases amazing conservation work…
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![An art gallery with framed landscape and portrait paintings on cream-colored walls, a wooden floor, and a skylight ceiling.]()
Top Floor
FLOOR 3
The Top Floor is a dynamic, community-centred space for action, sharing, learning and dreaming, used by a range of changemaking individuals and groups…
Facilities for you
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Relax in the Museum Café and enjoy a range of freshly-prepared and locally-sourced food and drink, from sandwiches and snacks to hearty, hot food. Drop in during the morning and start the day the right way with our breakfast and brunch menu, pop in for lunch or just drop by for coffee and a cake.
Our coffee bar is the perfect place to sit and plan a day of exploring the galleries or to enjoy a quick, mid-visit pick-me-up. But you can also take a load off in our picnic area, which is equipped with microwaves, work surfaces and a sink, providing space for you to enjoy your own food.
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This is a space for people to come together to learn, share ideas, build communities and make plans. You’ll meet education groups, charities, artists, writers, social enterprises, staff and students working collaboratively with a shared commitment to environmental and social justice. It is usually open to visitors 2-4pm Tuesday-Saturday.
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The quiet room is on floor 1 next to the Egypt and Sudan gallery. It is a quieter space for anyone who needs time away from the galleries for rest, reflection or other reasons. It includes seating and mindful activities such as puzzles and books. Ear defenders are available in the room and at our reception desk.
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Our prayer room is a calm and peaceful space that is available to anyone who wants to use it for prayer, contemplation, or meditation. It includes chairs, room partitions, prayer mats, religious texts, ablution facilities, shoe covers and a shoe rack.