Celebrate everyday histories with behind-the-scenes access at the Science and Industry Museum

Science and Industry Museum opens spaces currently closed for repair and restoration to celebrate Manchester’s everyday histories for Heritage Open Days

• Enjoy free activities across two weekends at the Science and Industry Museum as part of Heritage Open Days, Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 and Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 September
• Celebrate 196 years since the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened, the world’s first steam powered, inter-urban railway, and 43 years since the museum welcomed the first visitors to its current home in Castlefield
• Go behind the scenes with curator tours of the museum’s historic site
• Explore rare archives and uncover the stories behind one of Manchester’s most influential engineering businesses, Beyer, Peacock and Company
• Enjoy free heritage bus rides between the Science and Industry Museum and the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester
• Explore the Grade I listed Station Agent’s House, recently restored as a new holiday property for Manchester through a partnership with The Landmark Trust. Since opening in 2024 it has become accessible to the public and enjoyed as a residence for the first time in over 100 years.

The Science and Industry Museum is inviting visitors to uncover Manchester’s remarkable past as it celebrates this year’s Heritage Open Days with two weekends of free special events, offering behind-the-scenes access, rarely seen archive material and transport-themed arts and crafts.

Taking place on Saturday 12–Sunday 13 and Saturday 19–Sunday 20 September, the programme is inspired by this year’s Heritage Open Days theme of ‘Everyday Histories’, shining a light on the people, places, companies and innovations that helped shape Manchester and changed the world. It is a theme that can be explored across the Science and Industry Museum’s galleries.

As well celebrating Heritage Open Days, the events mark two significant milestones for the Science and Industry Museum’s own history. Tuesday 15 September will be 196 years since the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened, the world’s first steam powered, inter-urban railway.

The museum sits on the site of the Liverpool Road Station, the Manchester terminus of the historic railway, and is counting down to the bicentenary in 2030. The same date in September also celebrates 43 years since the museum opened the doors to its current home in Castlefield.

Go behind the scenes at the museum’s historic site

Saturday 12 – Sunday 13, Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 September | 30 mins | 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00 daily

Visitors eager to step beyond the usual routes and discover more of the site, which is currently undergoing a long-term repair and regeneration project, can join curators on special walking tours. During the 30-minute sessions, members of the public will be given behind-the-scenes access to the museum’s historic spaces, including some that are temporarily closed while conservation and repair work is underway, such as the iconic 1830 Station and 1830 Warehouse. 

From here, those on the tour can see for themselves the vision as the site transforms for the future. They’ll also be invited to explore the history of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, imagining what everyday life would have been like for the workers and passengers who filled the site almost two centuries ago.

Visitors can sign up for the tours on the day at the museum’s front desk. Capacity is limited, so visitors are encouraged to arrive in good time to avoid disappointment.

Dive headfirst into exciting archive access

Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 | 45 mins | Drop-in at 11.30 and 13.30 daily 

The museum’s Research Study Area, usually only accessible via advance appointment, will open its doors for special drop-in sessions led by expert archivists.

Visitors can discover archive material revealing stories behind the Manchester-based engineering firm, Beyer, Peacock and Company. Uncover records relating to the two founders, Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, as well as inventor, Herbert William Garratt, designer of the company’s iconic Beyer-Garratt locomotives, pioneering photographer, James Mudd and other fascinating individuals whose work helped shape the company’s industrial story.

Get hands-on with Manchester’s histories

Saturday 12 – Sunday 13, Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 September | All day

Families can enjoy free creative activities inspired by this year’s Heritage Open Days theme ‘Everyday Histories’. Budding inventors will take inspiration from the museum’s historic collections from Manchester and the North West, working together to design their very own heritage engines.

Discover Manchester’s revolutionary railway

Sunday 13 and 20 September | 11.15 and 12.15 (subject to volunteer availability)

Join Highlights volunteers for an introduction into the museum’s historic site and buildings. Hear the story of Liverpool Road Station and how it revolutionised the world as the terminus of the first inter-city passenger railway line.

Discover how the railway station and historic buildings were transformed into the present-day museum, and look to the future to upcoming plans to create an innovative, more sustainable site.

Be transported through Manchester and time with free bus rides and tours of a historic house

Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 and Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 September | Timings on website

Visitors can also enjoy a free ride to the museum and other cultural venues in the city. In celebration of Heritage Open Days, the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester is offering the opportunity to hop on board one of its heritage vehicles. A free Heritage Bus service will be running between the Cheetham Hill-based museum, the Science and Industry Museum and People’s History Museum during the two weekends of Heritage Open Day celebrations. For more information, visit the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester’s website.  

Also joining the Heritage Open Days programme will be The Station Agent’s House, with a unique opportunity to explore one of the city’s oldest surviving Georgian houses from Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 September, 10.00-16.00.

Once home to the Station Agent working on the world’s first passenger railway, the Grade I listed property was reopened in 2024 as a city-centre holiday let by UK restoration charity, The Landmark Trust, who worked with the museum to restore the house and make it accessible to the public and enjoyed as a residence for the first time in 100 years. Visit The Landmark Trust’s website for more information about its Heritage Open Days offer.

For more information about Heritage Open Days at the museum, visit www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk. September 2030 will mark 200 years since the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opening, which triggered a revolution in trade, travel and technology. Celebrations of the anniversary are being coordinated by Manchester Histories under the banner of Rocket: All Aboard—a dynamic, multi-year programme aimed at highlighting the railway’s role in connecting people and places.