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MUSEUMS

NORTH WEST ENGLAND

 

CHESHIRE

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AIR RAID SHELTER TOURS

Tel: 0161 474 1940
61, Chestergate, Stockport

By car - M60 (Junction 1)

Open: Opening Times Every Day: 1pm to 5 pm Last admissions: 4 pm Open Bank Holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Admittance: Family Tours and Self Guided Tours £3.95 - Adults £2.95 - Concessions / under 16s free - Leisure Key / under 5s - Explorer Tours (evening) £5.50 - Adults: £4.50 - Children and Concessions

First-hand experience of daily life in 1940s, war-torn Britain. A labyrinth of tunnels under part of the town centre provided shelter - and a way of life - for Stockport and Manchester families through the dark days of the Blitz. Take time to wonder how everyone managed with those bunks & benches; lights & sounds; toilet arrangements & Red Cross facilities. Explore authentic reconstructions in a core area of sandstone tunnels. Sense the immense network of structure; the thousands of people; their concern and determination. Audio-experience the sounds of 1940 - the historical context, the songs and the reminiscences. Reflect on the complexities of conflict in the 'Web of War' exhibition. Admire the contributions of Wardens, WVS and other volunteers, experience the atmosphere and respect the memories as you stroll through the tunnels. Stockport Air Raid Shelters are one of the few ARP tunnel-systems built specifically for civilians in Britain and often accommodated over 7,000 people nightly. Anderson Shelters were also popular locally: a reconstruction of one of these is on display, complete with bunks and table.

ANSON ENGINE MUSEUM

Tel: 01625 874426
Anson Road , Poynton, Cheshire
Follow the brown signs from Poynton traffic lights

Open: Museum closed over winter, reopens 12/13 April 2009 (Easter Sunday & Monday) Museum will then be open:- Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday 10:30 - 17:00 from Easter Sunday until end of October Engines run most days the museum is open (please phone to check if travelling long distances). Other dates and times (including evenings) for group visits by arrangement

Admission charges and details of special exhibitions can be found on the website www.enginemuseum.org

As featured on TV, this multi award winning museum has a great deal to offer visitors. Over the past few years it has undergone some major changes and is now recognised as one of the Country’s leading specialist museums. Situated in Higher Poynton, the museum is on the site of the old Anson Colliery. Engine enthusiasts from all over the world come to visit this fascinating museum. However, it is increasingly becoming a "must visit" attraction for non-enthusiasts too and won the "Visitors Choice" award (voted for by the public) when they were asked "where would you take a visitor to the Macclesfield area"? Engines run most days the museum is open (please check if travelling long distances). As well as the largest collection of engines in Europe, the museum also has an varying display of local history items such as photographs, maps, mementoes and keepsakes from the Vernon Estate and Anson Colliery. It also has a small Craft centre where demonstrations of Bodging and Smithy work are given throughout the season.

CATALYST: THE MUSEUM OF THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Tel: 0151 420 1121
Mersey Road, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 ODF
Close to Runcorn Bridge, M62 J7: M56 J12 follow Widnes and then brown signs.

Open: Weekdays (Tuesday-Friday) 10.00am to 5.00pm and Bank Holiday Mondays except at Christmas and New Year. Last admission is at 4.00pm Weekends 11.00am to 5.00pm. Last admission is at 4.00pm Closed Mondays except during half-terms, Easter and in August, when special events are planned and we are open 10.00am to 5.00pm

Admission: Adults £4.95 Children £3.95 Children 4 years and under free Concessions:- Senior Citizens, Registered Disabled, ES40 £3.95 Family Ticket:- 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children £15.95 2 adults + 3 children £17.95

Come to Catalyst for a fun-filled family day out. It is where science and technology really come alive through a host of interactive exhibits and hands-on displays. Test your knowledge on the computer quizzes, guess the fragrances, melt a cryst`al, split a molecule, design a medicine or even take a trip through days gone by. Catalyst offers all this and so much more. Over 100 interactive exhibits. Enjoy waterside views in The Elements Cafe.

CONGLETON MUSEUM

Tel: 01260 276360
Market Square, Congleton

Open: Tues-Fri and Sun 12 noon - 4.30 pm, Sat 10 am - 4.30 pm
Admission: Adults £2, Children £1.00, Family ticket £5

See the historic log boat found at Astbury, find out how a Congleton man played a significant role in England's Civil War Discover what life was like for workers in Congeton's mills over a hundred years ago, share the experiences of people in Congleton during the Second World War.

DEWA ROMAN EXPERIENCE

Tel: 01244 343407

Off Bridge Street, City Centre Chester

Open: Feb - Nov : 9am - 5pm Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday Dec - Jan : 10am - 4pm Daily Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Admission: Adult - £4.95 Child - £3.25 Student/OAP - £4.50 Family - £15.00 Group Rate (10 or more adults/OAP’s) - £4.25 Roman Soldier Patrol - £45.00 (maximum of 30 children) N.B. 1 free adult per 10 school children.

Step aboard a Roman Galley and stroll through reconstructed streets of Roman Chester. Explore the Roman fortress in 3 metre deep excavations and handle 'dig' discoveries in the 'Finds' room.

ENGLESEA BROOK CHAPEL AND MUSEUM

Tel: 01270 820836
Englesea Brook, Crewe

Open: Open from Thursday 2th April` until Sunday 29th November:- Thursdays 10.30 am - 5.15 pm Fridays 10.30 am - 5.15 pm Saturdays 10.30 am - 5.15 pm Sundays 1.00 pm - 5.15 pm August daily 10.30 am - 5.15 pm Also Open Easter Bank Holiday Monday 10.30 am - 5.15 pm Heritage Service on a working children theme 29th March at 2.30 pm
Admission: Free - Donations Welcome

The museum occupies the former Sunday School room, built in 1914 to the memory of Hugh Bourne, who started many Sunday Schools and whose life-long concern was to bring children to God. Outside, on the front wall, a series of foundations stones commemorate the major contributors. The collection of books, memorabilia and artefacts from the early days of the denomination complements the chapel in portraying this new force in English religious life

GROSVENOR MUSEUM

Tel: 01244 402008
27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire CH1 2DD

Open: All year Mon-Sat 10.30-17.00 - Sun - 1 pm - 4 pm
Admission free

Learn about 2000 years of Chester's history from the Dinosaur to the present day. See a Roman graveyard, paintings by local artists past and present, silver from Chester silversmiths, and period rooms which bring history to life. They also have a programme of exciting temporary exhibitions.

HACK GREEN NUCLEAR BUNKER

Tel: 01270 629219
PO Box 127, Nantwich, Cheshire
From J16 on M6 motorway take the signs to Nantwich then Whitchurch on the A530.

Open:The bunker is open every day from the 20th of March until the 31st of October. From 10.30am to 5.30pm. Winter The bunker is open every Saturday and Sunday during the winter from 11.00a.m. to 4.30p.m., except during December when the bunker is closed all month. The bunker is also open daily during the school half term holidays in February & October.
Admission: Adult £6.30 OAP £5.90, Children £4.50, Family Ticket £19 - 2 Adults./2Children, Extra Child £3.50 each

For over 40 years this inconspicuous utility building on the outskirts of a sleepy Cheshire town kept its secret. Now declassified, the underground labyrinth of passages and rooms reveals what would have been the nerve centre of regional government had World War 3 broken out. RAF Hack Green was a WW2 operational radar station. Experience a real 'four minute warning'. Many interactive and educational displays for children to discover. Younger children can follow the Soviet Spy Mouse Trail.

LION SALT WORKS

Tel: 01606 41823
Ollershaw Lane, Marston, CW9 6ES

Open: Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
- Closed Fri & Sat
Admission: Donations welcome

Only surviving open-pan saltworks in Britain. Site open most afternoons by volunteers of the Lion Saltworks Trust. Groups by prior booking.

MILITARY MUSEUM
Tel: 01244 327617

The Castle Grosvenor Street, Chester
Chester City Centre

Open: All year daily 10.00 am - 17.00. Closed 20 Dec - 2 Jan
Admission:

In this museum we remember: The Cheshire Regiment The Cheshire Yeomanry The 3rd Carabiniers The 5th Royal Iniskilling Dragoon Guards Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School And several other small Cheshire units - some now long retired (often from bigger corps of the Army). We also remember the important role of the women of the Regiments and the lives of those who were left behind when the men left home to fight.

MOULDSWORTH MOTOR MUSEUM

Tel: 01928 731781
Smithy Lane, Mouldsworth, Chester, Cheshire CH3 8ARE

Open: open Sundays 12-5pm and all Bank Holidays Wednesdays in July and August February until the end of November
Admission: Adults £4.00 Children £2.00* * includes a Children's Quiz with new/improved prizes AND for 2007 a new quiz for adults - win admission tickets for friends!

Away from the urban jungle, deep in the green heart of the Cheshire countryside, where enterprise and enthusiasm has fashioned the UK's friendliest motor museum. From the amazing 1930's Art Deco building to the fine detail of the exhibits, this is four-wheel heaven. A historical haven storing a century or more of motoring memorabilia, motors and memories. Imbibe a rich motoring and transport heritage as told through a fascinating, and ever-changing, display of vehicles, motoring art, artefacts and set pieces.

NANTWICH MUSEUM

Tel: 01270 627104
Pillory Street, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5BQ

Open: The Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Admission : Free - donations welcome

THE fascinating history of one of Cheshire's most attractive and historic towns is brought to life by Nantwich Museum. The museum has main galleries telling the story of Nantwich through the ages - Roman salt making, Tudor Nantwich's Great Fire, the Civil War Battle of Nantwich (1644) and the more recent shoe and clothing industries. Beyond the galleries lie two extensions. The first with its cheese-making exhibition and useful Joseph Heler meeting room, is dedicated to demonstrating how the county's famous cheese has traditionally been made and sold around the floral market town of Nantwich. Next is the magnificent, prize-winning Millennium Gallery which provides the perfect home for a diverse programme of temporary exhibitions.

In 2006, the museum added a new exhibit: a section of a salt ship, a wooden storage vessel made from the trunk of an oak tree, used in the town's medieval salt-producing industry. It is one of only two found in the country (and both in Nantwich). The excavation, preservation process and display took four years in all. As well as seeing the salt ship, visitors can also smell the mud in which the salt ship lay hidden over the centuries.

NORTON PRIORY MUSEUM AND GARDENS

Tel: 01928 569895
Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire
J11 from M56, turn for Warrington and follow the Norton Priory signs. From all other directions follow the "All other Runcorn Traffic" and then the Norton Priory signs.

Open: April to October Weekdays 12-5pm Weekends and public holidays until 6pm Walled Garden 1.30-4.30pm November to March Daily 12-4pm
Admission: Adults £5.20 Child/Concession £3.70 Family £13.40 Under 5s FREE

800 years ago Norton Priory was home for a community of Augustinian canons whose purpose was to centre their lives on God. The canons were supported by wealthy local families who made gifts of land, enabling the priory to flourish for four centuries. Stone masons and tile makers were commissioned to decorate the most important building, the priory church. The Museum displays examples of their work as well as recalling the 400 years when Norton Priory was home to the Brooke family. They developed the tranquil woodland gardens, whose pathways are still in use.

PENNY FARTHING BICYCLE COLLECTION

Tel: 01565 653974
Knutsford

Open: Every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday. Weekdays 9.30 am - 4.30 pm. Sat & Sun 9.30 am - 5.00 pm

In a quaint cobbled yard in Knutsford, the Courtyard Coffee House displays the largest collection of English-made penny-farthing bicycles in the world and memorabilia. There is a bonus of a working model American train which surprises everyone.

QUARRY BANK MILL

Tel:01625 527468
Styal, Cheshire
Signposted from all major routes.

Open: See website above

Admission: Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets) Mill, Apprentice House and Garden: £13.50 (£12.27), child £6.70 (£6.09), family £33.70 (£30.63). Groups (£11.50). Mill and Apprentice House or Garden: £10 (£9.09), child £5 (£4.54), family £24 (£21.81). Groups (£8.50). Mill only: £7 (£6.36), child £3.70 (£3.36), family £17.70 (£16.09). Groups (£6). Garden only: £5 (£4.54), child £2.50 (£2.27), family £12.50 (£11.36). Groups (£4.25). Estate: (Standard Admission) Cars £4, motorcycles £2, coaches £15. Discounted combined rail, bus and entry tickets, enquire at your local station

A unique experience and a great day out - with an array of major tourism awards to prove it. From Cottage Industry to Industrial Revolution, Quarry Bank Mill demonstrates in a fascinating and practical way how cotton became King. Discover what daily life was like to the hundreds of mill workers through a series of dramatic reconstructions, live demonstrations and hands-on displays.

SALT MUSEUM

Tel: 01606 41331
162 London Road, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 8AB
Signposted from the A556 and from Nortwich town centre

Open: Tuesday – Friday: 10 – 5pm Saturday & Sunday: 2 – 5pm In August we are open: Monday – Friday 10 – 5pm; Saturday & Sunday 12 – 5pm. We are also open Bank holiday Mondays. We are closed 24th – 26th December & New Years Day.
Admission: Adult: £2.50 Child £1.30 Concession £2.00 Family (2 adults and 2 children) £6.00

A visit to the Salt Museum begins with a short introductory film which sets the scene for the galleries. Visitors are then directed upstairs. At the top of the stairs is our new Salt of the Earth gallery, which takes visitors on a walk through Cheshire’s past. The River Weaver gallery tells the story of the River Weaver and the lives of those who worked and lived alongside it. The salt gallery shows how salt has been produced in Cheshire for over 2, 000 years. Made from Salt explores some of the 14,000 uses of salt, from mummies to polythene. Two of our galleries have recently been refurbished with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The first gives visitors a “Walk through Cheshire” from pre-historic times to the 21st century. The other, called “Made of Salt” investigates some of the uses of salt, from the sublime to the unbelievable. The grant from the HLF also helped finance a new lift which means that all the galleries are now fully accessible to all. Meanwhile, our interactive “Hands-On-Victorians” room is now open and offers lots of fun for all the family.

SILK INDUSTRY MUSEUM, SILK HERITAGE MUSEUM & PARADISE MILL

Tel: 01625 612045

Park Lane, Macclesfield

The Heritage Centre is situated in the centre of Macclesfield. The Silk Museum, Paradise Mill and West Park Museum are situated within easy walking distance of the Heritage Centre.

Open: Check website
Admission:

Enter the world of the student and discover how the designers and weavers were trained. Based in what was the Macclesfield School of Art and the Technical School the museum explores how the school worked. Investigate how silk worms are raised, we even our own silk worms which you can see going through the different stages of growth. Delve into the properties of silk, dyeing and weaving along with the concepts of design. Look at student designs, drafts, samples and prizes, try your hand at weaving, designing and look through the microscope at silk, cotton, linen and wool to see the difference between the fibres.

Paradise Mill, Park Lane -situated a short distance from the Silk Museum, was a working silk mill until 1981. Today, Paradise Mill is a living museum. The jacquard handlooms have been restored and knowledgeable and entertaining guides demonstrate the intricate production processes. Because of the working machinery all visits to the mill must be on a guided tour.

WARRINGTON MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Tel: 01925 442392/442398
Bold Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1JG (near shopping centre)

Open: Mon-Fri 10:00am - 4:30pm Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm The Museum is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Admission free

Collections of natural history, geology, ethnology and Egyptology, Local history is also on display in the Prehistory, Roman and Medieval periods. Refurbished art galleries now house special exhibitions and a selection of the town's fine collection of oil paintings and watercolours.

LANCASHIRE

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ASTLEY GREEN COLLIERY MUSEUM

Higher Green Lane, Astley Green, Tyldesley, Lancashire
Off A580 East Lancashire Road

Open: Sunday: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Tuesday: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Thursday: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Closed: Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Admission: Free (donations welcome)

The Colliery had an active life from the first coal being wound in 1910 until closure in April 1970. The former Mine Manager's office has many displays relating to the geology, mine operations, safety and history of the pit itself. There are also exhibits outside in the former pit yard and the Red Rose Steam Society has the largest preserved collection of former colliery under-ground locomotives in the country, which eventually will be included as part of a narrow gauge passenger-carrying railway around the site. A visit to Astley Green can never be complete until the magnificient steam winding engine is seen. This giant, all 3,300 horsepower, is being restored to full operational condition.

ASTLEY HALL MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Tel: 01257 515927

Astley Park, Chorley
J8 of the M61 signposted from A565 Chorley/Southport Road

Open: From early April until October - Astley Hall, the coach house and walled garden re-open for 2009 on Saturday, April 4. We will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 12-5pm.

Admission: Free

Astley Hall is a charming country house, built around a timber-framed courtyard, dating back to the 16th century. The history of the Hall itself is full of intrigue, with stories of plotting and religious turmoil. It dates back to Elizabethan times with changes and additions over the centuries, all helping make a visit to the Hall a fascinating and enjoyable experience. This grade 1 listed building is the jewel in Chorley's crown, with stunning plaster work and architectural features. As the town's museum and art gallery it is also home to items of local historical interest .

BACUP NATURAL HISTORY FOLK MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 873042

Open: Thursday evenings from 7.30pm and Easter Satruday 10am-3.30pm.

The Museum contains collections of domestic, industrial, religious and military artifacts. There is so much to be seen that only a visit can adequately describe it. The Library has a collection of around 2000 books and copies of Bacup newspapers from 1863. Maps of Bacup are also available for research. A collection of some 4000 photographs of 'old' Bacup and it's mills, houses, farms, churches etc. are filed in the library.

BLACKBURN MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Tel: 01254 667130
Museum Street, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 7AJ

Open: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 4.45pm Closed Sunday and Monday and all Bank Holidays
Admission free

Set in an Arts and Crafts style Grade II listed building in the centre of Blackburn. The museum houses displays of local history, militaria, early textile machinery, paintings, manuscripts, books, icons, coins and south Asian culture. There are changing exhibitions throughout the year.

BRITISH COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MUSEUM

Tel: 01772 451011
King Street, Leyland, Preston, Lancashire PR5 1LE

Open: April to end of September Sunday,Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only October Sundays and Tuesdays only November to end of March Closed Public Holidays Open Bank Holiday Mondays Easter 2008 Open Sunday/Monday 23/24 March Hours Of Opening 10.00am - 5.00pm
Admission: Adults £4.50 Per Person Children (4-15 Years) £2.50 Per Person Senior Citizens £2.50 Per Person Family Ticket £12.00 Per Family (Admits 2 Adults & up to 3 Children

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland Lancashire has for the past twenty years been dedicated to preserving the history of the road transport industry in the United Kingdom. Its exhibits and archives contain not just examples of the vehicles themselves, but evidence of their interaction with a century of daily life. This is one of Britains most important heritage collections - a unique display of historic commercial vehicles and buses spanning a Century of truck and bus building. Visitors can view an imaginative display of vehicles, which use sound and lighting special effects to give a virtual reality tour for all the exhibits, creating a spectacular and fascinating exhibition.

BRITISH IN INDIA MUSEUM, COLNE

Tel: 01282 613129
Hendon Mill, Hallam Road Nelson Lancashire BB9 8AD

Open:Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm Closed Christmas & Bank Holidays
Admission: Adults £3.50 - Children (under16) 50p. Out of hours opening for individuals: Adults £4 Children(under16)50p.

On display are pictures, photographs, uniforms, coins picture postcards and many unique items relating to the British rule in India.

CARNFORTH STATION AND VISITOR CENTRE

Tel: 01524 735165
Carnforth Station

Open: All Year 10 am - 4 pm (closed Mondays late Sept-Easter)
Admission: Free- donations welcome

The “Brief Encounter” exhibition is dedicated to the classic film, the actors and the film’s famous connection with Carnforth Station. The Albert Halton Room commemorates Carnforth’s contribution to the First and Second World Wars. There are also a number of other exhibitions which explore the social history of Carnforth residents as well as the railway itself. Take a welcome break in the Brief Encounter Refreshment Room, which has been faithfully restored to resemble the set used in the film where Laura and Alec first met. Enjoy a snack or a light bite as you soak up the atmosphere in the unique surroundings. Your visit would not be complete without seeing the famous Carnforth Station clock made by Joyce of Whitchurch in the late 19th century, which featured in Brief Encounter.

CLITHEROE CASTLE MUSEUM

Tel: 01200 424635
Castle Hill, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 1BA

THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED UNTIL SPRING 2009 FOR MAJOR REFURBISHMENT

COTTAGE MUSEUM

Tel: 01524 64637
15 Castle Hill, Lancaster

Open: Open daily Easter to end September 14.00 to 17.00. Estimated visiting time 45 mins
Admission: Adults £1.00 Concessions £0.75 Children (free) Adult Multi-Pass £10.00 Family & Friends Multi-Pass £18.00

Intriguing museum housed in a tiny 18th Century cottage offers an intimate glimpse of early Victorian life. Meet our Victorian housekeeper.

FLEETWOOD MARITIME MUSEUM

Tel: 01253 876621

Queens Terrace, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6BT
Nr Fleetwood market

Fleetwood Museum

Open: 1st April - 31st Oct - Monday to Saturday 11.00 to 16.00 Sunday 13.00 to 16.00 Open on Bank Holiday Weekends during Season

Admission: Adults : £3.00 Concessions : £2.00 Accompanied Children : FREE Adult Season Ticket: £6.00 Adult Multi-Pass £10.00 Family & Friends Multi-Pass £18.00

Voyage of Discovery ... Located in the old Customs House designed by famous 19th century architect Decimus Burton. Brings the story of Fleetwood and the surrounding coast to life Find out about a Fisherman's life and the harsh conditions he endured in order to bring back the prize catch. Visit Netting the Bay our hi-tech gallery and website Discover the surprising marine life in the nearby waters, surf through hundreds of wonderful images and guide a roof top camera to zoom in on Morecambe Bay

HARRIS MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Tel: 01772 258248
Market Square, Preston

Open: Monday – Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm except Tuesday 11.00am - 5.00pm Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays Admission: Free

Magnificent Greek Revival listed building. Displays include many fine examples of painting and water-colours including the Devis and Beattie collections. Also features the story of Preston and a costume gallery, plus temporary exhibitions.

HELMSHORE TEXTILE MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 226459
Holcombe Road, Helmshore, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 4NP

Open: April 1st - Oct 31st the museum will be open seven days a week Monday to Friday (12-4pm) Saturday and Sunday (12-5pm) Open on Bank Holiday Weekends, Easter to October.

Admittance: Adults: £4.00 (free to Xplorer ticket holders) Concessions: £3.00 (free to Xplorer ticket holders) Accompanied Children: FREE. Xplorer Adult Season Ticket: £6.00 Xplorer Adult Multi-Pass: £10.00

Nestling side by side in the stunning Rossendale Valley are two of Lancashire's original textile mills: Higher Mill and Whitaker’s Mill which, together, form Helmshore Mills Textile Museum. A great British ancient momument and powerhouse. Today Helmshore marks the birthplace of an Industrial Revolution that inspired the world. Discover Lancashire’s textile industry story, a story built upon the back of great Lancastrian inventors James Hargreaves, Richard Arkwright and Samuel Crompton. View their inventions such as Arkwright’s Water Frame from the 1780s, today recognised as national and international treasures.

Other museum highlights Trace how cloth production, first wool, then cotton, become Lancashire’s main export throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. Follow a journey to discover how raw wool and cotton were transformed into yarn ready to be woven into cloth. Experience the Revolution gallery were you can follow the story of Lancashire's unique role in the industrial revolution. Feel the grand and mighty waterwheel powering the stocks as they thump the wet woollen cloth. Enjoy our upgraded buildings which mean you can now explore more of the Museum. New additions include a contemporary reception and shop area. Museum cafe and shop

JUDGES LODGINGS, LANCASTER

Tel: 01524 32808
Town Centre, Lancaster

Open: Good Friday to 30 June Mon to Fri 13.00-16.00 Sat, Sun 12.00-16.00 July to September Mon to Fri 10.00 -16.00 Saturday, Sunday 12.00-16.00 October Mon to Fri13.00 -16.00 Sat, Sun 12.00-16.00
Admission: Adults : £3.00 Concessions : £2.00 Accompanied Children : FREE Adult Season Ticket: £6.00 Adult Multi-Pass £10.00 Family & Friends Multi-Pass £18.00 Estimated Visiting Time : 1 to 2 hours

Discover the Treasures of Lancaster's Oldest Town House Lancaster's oldest town house, dating from the 17th century. Originally home to witch hunter Thomas Covell Displays a wealth of furniture, porcelain, silver and paintings. Stunning collection of Gillow furniture displayed in period rooms Impressive recreation of an Edwardian schoolroom. Enchanting childhood collection of dolls, toys and games from the 18th century to the present day
Judges Lodgings

LAMBERT HOWARTH FOOTWEAR MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 215417
Gaghills mill, off Burnley Road East, Waterfoot.

Open: Monday - Friday: 9.30 - 17.00 Saturday: 9.00 - 16.00 Sunday: 10.00 - 16.00
Admission: Free

During the Victorian era, Rossendale's shoe industry dominated the world. The Footwear Museum has a fascinating collection of designs and displays from the industry's past, from cardboard shoes to 1970's platforms, outlandish Victorian slippers to the equally bizarre fashions of the present day.

LANCASTER CITY MUSEUM

Tel: 01524 64637

Open: Monday to Saturday 10.00 to 17.00
Admission: Free

Lancaster City Museum and The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Situated in the heart of this historic city in an elegant Georgian building. Discover more about Lancasters past from the Romans to the present day Trace the pedigree of Lancaster's regiment from 1680 onwards. Wonderful collection of portraits and landscapes Changing programme of temporary exhibition

LYTHAM WINDMILL

Tel: 01253 794879

Open: Daily/BH except Mon and Friday 10.30 am - 4.30 pm - Closed 1pm - 2 pm. May to September
Admission: Free

The windmill is situated on Lytham green overlooking the Ribble estuary and houses an exhibition of windmill history and workings

MARITIME MUSEUM, LANCASTER

Tel: 01524 382264
St George's Quay, Lancaster

Open: Daily Easter to Oct - 11 am - 5 pm, Nov - Easter 12.30 am - 4 pm
Admission: Adults : £3.00 Concessions : £2.00 Accompanied Children : FREE Adult Season Ticket: £6.00 Adult Multi-Pass £10.00 Family & Friends Multi-Pass £18.00

Discover more about the City's golden age and maritime past Located within two fine Georgian quayside buildings. Uses sounds, smells and reconstructions to tell the story of the port of Lancaster Changing exhibitions and events. A great starting point for the river's Millenium Park

MEMORABLIA MUSEUM

Tel: 01253 344478
Opposite New Promenade Headland on the corner of Waterloo Rd/Promenade, Blackpool

Open: Sat/Sun 10.30 am-12.30 pm and 2 pm - 4.30 pm (Advisable to telephone first)
Admission: Free (Donations to local Hospice)

Brooks Collectables is a small family run business in Blackpool celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The shop famous for its eclectic mix of seaside memorabilia and classic toys has always been a favourite amongst visitors and locals. To celebrate this, Mr Brooks has put his impressive private collection of memorabilia including mint condition Dinky, Corgi and Hornby models on display to the public for the first time, amongst other items of interest he has collected over the last 60 years. The museum will also include a scale model moving tramway representing the newly opened redesigned seafront and defences. Since the opening of Brooks Gifts which later became Brooks Collectables on Good Friday in 1949 (the first year of the illuminations after the War). The Brooks name has become synonymous in the collectors world, with customers ranging from Scotland to Ex-pats in Canada and a regular client in Tennessee. Mr Brooks now an octogenarian is still heavily involved in the running of the business and is delighted to give something back to the community that he has been a part of for so long. The collection which boasts both rare and priceless pieces has been gathering dust in Mr Brooks loft for many years and the museum is using the shops original 1950's display cases for most of the exhibits.

MUSEUM OF LANCASHIRE

Tel: 01772 534075
Stanley Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 4YP (A59 runs in front of building)

Open: Open all year round Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10.30 to 17.00 Closed Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays
Admission: Adults : £3.00 Concessions : £2.00 Accompanied Children : FREE Adult Season Ticket: £6.00 Adult Multi-Pass £10.00 Family & Friends Multi-Pass £18.00 Estimated Visiting Time : 1..5 hours

Museum of Lancashire

Situated within a Grade ll listed building. Discover our Victorian schoolroom, enjoy a tour through the Home Front during World War 2 and Fast Forward to the Fifties Includes three fascinating regimental galleries with colourful uniforms,splendid swords and souvenirs and artefacts from Spain and the Raj

NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM

Tel: 01772 908442
National Football Museum, Sir Tom Finney Way, Deepdale, Preston, PR1 6RU

Two miles from Junction 31 on the M6 and the same distance from Junction 1 on the M55, adjacent to Preston North End Football Stadium

Open: Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm Opening times vary on days when Preston North End are playing

Admission: Free

Find out how the game came to be invented. Discover the individuals and teams who have helped to shape the game that we know today, explore the time capsule, the length of a football pitch etc. Share the fans' experience throughout the period in which football has been played. Second half is a themed, hands-on experience, examining different facets of the world of football. Visions of Football: An Art gallery dedicated to the world of football. Final Whistle: Museum shop or treat yourself to refreshments in the cafe .

QUEEN STREET MILL MUSEUM

Tel: 01282 412555
Harle Syke, Burnley

Open: Mar & Nov - Tues, Wed, Thurs 12 - 4 pm, Apr-Oct Tues,Wed,Thurs,Fri 12 - 5 pm, May Sept Tues-Sat 12- 5 pm, 12 – 5pm on Sunday and Monday on Bank Holiday weekends (Easter, May and August).
Admission: Adults : £3.00 Concessions : £2.00 Accompanied Children : FREE Adult Season Ticket: £6.00 Adult Multi-Pass £10.00 Family & Friends Multi-Pass £18.00 Free admission to Burnley residents Estimated Visiting Time : 2 hours

Bringing Steam Powered Weaving to Life An experience you won't forget! Whether you're interested in local or social history, textiles and textile machinery or just looking for an afternoon out with a difference, the sights, sounds and smells of Queen Street help to bring history alive. There's something to delight and intrigue visitors of all ages. The worlds only surviving 19th century steam powered weaving mill.

ROMAN MUSEUM

Tel: 01254 878261
Ribchester

Open: Weekdays from 10:00am to 17:00pm Weekends from 12:00noon to 17:00pm
Admission: Adults £3.00 OAPs £2.50 Children £1.50 Children aged 5 and

Former Roman Fort of Bremetenacu. Its ancient history is recorded in the Museum which has many Roman artefacts. Ribchester is brought to life by dramatic displays including a lifesize cavalryman and Roman legionary. Columns have been erected for the first time in almost 2000 years and there are wonderful objects which have never been seen before.

ROSSENDALE MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 244682
Whittaker Park, Haslingden Road, Rossendale

Open: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1 pm to 4.30 pm (April to October) 1 pm to 4 pm (November to March) Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day.
Admission: Free

An intriguing museum housed within an early Victorian country house Set within tranquil Whitaker Park. Displays include a late Victorian drawing room, fine arts and furniture. Wonderful natural history collection. Discover more about the local and social history of the area Constantly changing exhibition programme

SOUTH RIBBLE MUSEUM AND EXHIBITION CENTRE

Tel: 01772 422041
The Old Grammar School, Church Road, Leyland, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 1EJ(next door to the ‘Eagle and Child/ public house and Sandy Lane Surgery)

Open: Tuesday and Friday 10 am - 4 pm Thursday 1 pm - 4 pm Saturday 10 am - 1 pm
Admission free

Museum housed in a timber framed Tudor Grammar School with a collection of local history and archaeology.

TOWNELEY HALL ART GALLERY AND MUSEUMS

Tel: 01282 424213

Towneley Park, Burnley Lancashire BB11 3RQ

1 1/2 miles south east of Burnley Town Centre, approx. 1 mile from park entrance on Todmorden Road (A671)

Open: 12-5pm Saturday to Thursday, closed Fridays and is free to Burnley residents.
Admission: Entry is free to Children, Students and Burnley residents. Non-Burnley residents - £3.50.

A 14th century house contains the museum and features oil paintings, furniture, ceramics, English watercolours, 18th century glassware and natural history exhibits. The Museum of Local Crafts and Industries includes displays on Burnley's recent social and industrial history.

WEAVER'S TRIANGLE VISITOR CENTRE

Tel: 01282 452403
85 Manchester Road, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1JZ
Situated in the town centre, 200 yards from the Town Hall

Open: 2pm to 4pm Easter to the end of September:- Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday October:- Saturday, Sunday Also open Good Friday
Admission free - donations welcome

Discover what it was like to live in a 19th century mill town. Take a walk along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath through the Weavers' Triangle - a well preserved Victorian industrial townscape. Examine buildings from the days when Burnley led the world in weaving cotton cloth - weaving-sheds, spinning-mills, warehouses, foundries, domestic buildings and a school.

GREATER MANCHESTER

{Cheshire, Lancashire , Manchester, Merseyside, Wirral, Home)

BOLTON MUSEUM, ART GALLERY AND AQUARIUM

Tel: 01204 3332211
Le Mans Crescent, Bolton

The Museum, Art Gallery & Aquarium are situated behind the Town Hall from Victoria Square on Le Mans Crescent to the Left

Open: Monday ~ Saturday 09:00am to 5:00pm. Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Admission: Free

A fascinating museum with a renowned collection of Egyptian antiquities, a wildlife gallery with activity centre and fine collections including natural history, social history, archaelogy and local history. Includes an extensive temporary exhibition programme. The Art Gallery has a changing programme of exhibitions and a collection of British art from the 18th century onwards. Also in the building are the tropical and temperatic aquarium, library and gift shop.

BOLTON STEAM MUSEUM

Tel: 01204 846490 or 01257 265003
Mornington Road, off Chorley Old Road, Bolton BL1 4EU

Situated 1.5 miles north-west of Bolton town centre on Morrison's Supermarket site (next to the petrol station)

Open: The dates for 2009 Steam Days are :- Sunday and Monday 24th and 25th May (Bank Holiday weekend) Sunday and Monday 30th and 31st August (Bank Holiday weekend) Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th September (Heritage Open Days) 10am - 4pm We are always pleased to see interested visitors at the museum on most Wednesdays and Sundays, since these are the days when we have volunteers working on site.

The Bolton Steam Museum was established by the Northern Mill Engine Society whose volunteers have been working since 1966 to preserve some of the stationary steam engines which used to drive the mills of the textile industy. It is the largest collection of working mill steam engines in the country.

BURY ART GALLERY, MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Tel: 0161 253 5878
Moss Street, Bury, BL9 0DR

Open: Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 5pm, Saturday: 10am - 4.30pm. We are closed on Mondays, Sundays and Bank Holidays (unless otherwise advertised)
Admission: Free

At Bury Art Gallery, Museum and Archives you'll find world-famous Victorian paintings, challenging contemporary art, mysterious objects and fascinating documents from Bury's past in a distinctive Edwardian building that is a work of art in itself. The art gallery was specially built to house the Wrigley Collection, over two hundred oil paintings, watercolours, prints and ceramics collected by local paper manufacturer Thomas Wrigley. His three children gave them to the town in 1897 to be enjoyed by all.

ELLENROAD ENGINE HOUSE

Tel: 01706 881952

Elizabethan Way, Milnrow, Rochdale.

The engine house is situated beside junction 21 of the M62

Open: There are usually volunteers working at the engine house between 11am and 3pm: on Tuesdays and on the day before a steaming Sunday: Saturday, 28th February, 2009 Saturday, 4th April, 2009 Saturday, 2nd May, 2009 Saturday, 6th June, 2009 Saturday, 4th July, 2009 Saturday, 1st August, 2009 Saturday, 5th September, 2009 Saturday, 3rd October, 2009 Saturday, 31st October, 2009 Saturday, 5th December, 2009 Saturday, 6th February, 2010
Admittance: Adults £3.00 Concessions £2.00 Family (2 adults + 2 children) £8.00

See one of the finest examples of a giant steam Mill Engine in the country. The engines, Alexandra and Victoria, were used to power the Ellenroad Cotton Spinning Mill. The mill has gone now but the Engine House, complete with its steam-raising plant and 220 foot chimney, is in preservation. See the 3000hp Mill Engines Victoria and Alexandra, Whiteless Beam Engine - built in 1842, Steam Electrical Generator, Lancashire Boiler- coal fired, Picnic Area - free parking, Engine House, cafe, books and souvenirs. Often there are other attractions on steam days.

FAIRFIELD MORAVIAN SETTLEMENT

Tel: 0161 370 0132
Fairfield Church, Fairfield Square, Droylsden

Open: Public worship takes place each Sunday at 11 a.m. and on most Sunday evenings except the first in the month, at 6:30 p.m. offering a warm welcome to the newcomer and visitor.

Tours: Guided tours of the Settlement and Church buildings can be arranged for parties of 20 or more.

A unique model village built by the Moravian Church in 1785. The late Georgian architecture, simple yet elegant, is the work of the renowned architect Benjamin Henry La Trobe, who also worked on the Capitol building in Washington DC, USA. The settlement is a living community retaining all its original charm, symmetry and tranquillity.

GALLERY OF COSTUME

Tel: 0161 224 5217
Platt Hall, Wilmslow Road, Platt Fields Park, Manchester, Stockport M14 5LL
J1 of the m56, follow signs

Open: The Gallery of Costume is closed for major building work. It is closed to the public and for research appointments though you can still contact us on the number above. The gallery will reopen early in 2010.
Admission free.

This gallery has one of the most comprehensive collections of costumes in Great Britain and makes captivating viewing. It is housed in a fine Georgian mansion and the displays focus on the changing styles of everyday fashion and accessories looking back over 400 years.

GREATER MANCHESTER FIRE SERVICE MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 901227 (Answerphone)
Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum, Maclure Road, Rochdale. OL11 1DN

Open: Every Friday (except bank holidays - 10am - 4pm The first Sunday of every month - 10am - 4pm
Admission: Free

This unusual museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore the fascinating history of fire fighting. Includes many and varied exhibits, including fire appliances in period settings such as a Victorian street, fire station and 1940 Blitz scene.

HAT WORKS

Tel: 0845 8330975
Wellington Mill, Wellington Road South, Stockport
SK3 0EU
Located on the A6 Wellington Road South, opposite the bus station, close to the railway station.

Open: Monday - Fri: 10am - 5pm Sat and Sun: 1pm - 5pm Bank Holidays: 1pm - 5pm
Admission: Free to 'walk up' visitors
Guided Tour: Adults, children & concessions: £2.50 Family: £7.00 ( 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children)

The UK's first and only museum dedicated to the exciting world of hats and hat making. Hatting history, interactive demonstrations - watch the hatting demonstrators, top hats to baseball caps - enjoy the stunning display of hats through the centuries, family fun - Explore the journey of feltmaking from central Asia to Stockport's hatting industry, hands on hats - dress up as a hatter's apprentice or try your hand at feltmaking as part of a pre-booked session, other things to see and do with exhibitions and special events. Level 2 Cafe

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM NORTH

Tel: 0161 836 4000
The Quays, a waterfront destination 2 miles from Manchester city centre.

Open: Open 7 days a week: 1 March - 2 November 10am - 6pm 3 November - 28 February 10am - 5pm (Closed 24, 25, 26 December) Please note: Last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing.
Admission: Free

One of the most talked about Museums in Britain today, Imperial War Museum North is about people and their stories, about how lives have been and still are shaped by war and conflict. The award-winning building by international architect Daniel Libeskind is a symbol of our world torn apart by conflict

JEWISH MUSEUM, MANCHESTER

Tel: 0161 834 9879
Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester M8 8LW (on A665 0.50m from City Centre)

Open: Monday - Thursday: 10.30am - 4.00pm Friday: By appointment only Saturday: Closed Sunday: 1.00pm - 5.00pm
Open: Adults: £3.95 Concessions: £2.95 (Children / Students / Unemployed / Senior Citizens) Family Ticket: £9.50

Manchester Jewish Museum is located in the premises of the former Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue on Cheetham Hill Road. The building, completed in 1874, is a listed building of historical importance. It is, indeed, a beautiful example of Victorian architecture, executed in Moorish style. Particularly noteworthy are the splendid stained glass windows and the distinctive cast-iron fitments. Since the building became redundant through the movement of the Jewish population away from the area, it has been completely restored, returned to its former glory and listed Grade II*. It re-opened as a museum in March 1984.

MANCHESTER MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 275 2634
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL

Open: Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm Mon-Sun: 11am-4pm Bank Hols: 11am-4pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday
Admission: Free

Explore 600 million years of life, and discover ancient civilisations all in the space of one visit. Live reptiles and crocodilians in the vivarium, collections of mammals and fossils and 2000 year old mummies from Egypt.

MANCHESTER REGIMENT MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 342 2254
Ashton Town Hall, Market Square, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6DL

Open: All year Mon-Sat & Bank Holidays 10.00-16.00
Admission free

The collection covers the history of the Regiment from the raising of the 2nd Bn 8th Foot in 1756, through the formation of the Manchester Regiment in 1881 to that Regiment’s amalgamation to form The King’s Regiment in 1958. Its history is illustrated in the context of the local community from which it stemmed and the social history section covers topics such as Women in Wartime, War Poets, The Spanish Civil War, the Home Guard and National Service. There are displays of uniforms, weapons, medals, badges and regimental memorabilia related to its major campaigns in the American War of Independence, the Crimea, South Africa, both World wars, Palestine and Malaya.

MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT

Tel: 0161 205 2122
Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester

The Museum of Transport is located approximately one mile north of Manchester City Centre, at the junction of the A665 (Cheetham Hill Road) and the A6010 (Queens Road). It is at the north end of Boyle Street, adjoining First Manchester's bus garage.

Open: Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday- every Bank Holiday (except during the Christmas and New Year period) - every day throughout August 2009 from 10am until 4.30pm

Admittance: Adults (16 and older) £4.00 Over 60s £2.00, Children under the age of 16 Free, Persons in receipt of income support (on production of proof of unemployment) £2.00 Registered disabled (on production of bus pass or other proof of disability) Free, Students (on production of proof of status) £2.00

The Museum reflects over 100 years of public road transport history in Greater Manchester from the horse bus to Metrolink. Annual Vintage Vehicle Rally and other special events.

OLDHAM ART GALLERY MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 770 4653
Greaves Street, Oldham

Behind the Central Library and a ten minute walk from Oldham Mumps railway station.

Open: Mon-Sat 10 am 5 pm
Admission: Free

Exhibitions changed frequently and displays of permanent collections of 19th, 20th century and contemporary art, craft, photography, the natural and human history of Oldham from pre history to the present.

ORDSALL HALL MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 872 0251

322 Ordsall Lane, Ordsall, Salford M5 3AN

The hall is situated in the Ordsall District of Salford on Ordsall Lane, near to Salford Quays.

Ordsall Hall is now closed until 2011. Whilst it is sad that this magnificent building has to close for a while, there are exciting times ahead as there are plans in place to make it a bigger and better visitor experience for all the family. A major restoration and development project will commence in Spring 2009. Plans have been drawn up around the landscape, audience development activities and the restored Hall's room layout and exhibition design. Many of the areas currently inaccessible to the general public, will be opened up so that much more of the Hall will be enjoyed by today's visitors and generations to come! Plans for the hall include: Restoration and conservation works Access improvements to open up more of the hall to all A dedicated learning room Beautifully landscaped grounds Improved interpretation and exciting interactive exhibitions A full training and volunteer programme

PANKHURST CENTRE

Tel: 0161 273 5673
60-62 Nelson Street, Manchester

Open: Women's Centre & Bookshop Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm The Heritage Project Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm (or by arrangement for groups of 6+)
Admission: Free

The Pankhurst Centre provides a women only space that creates a unique environment in which women can learn together, work on projects and socialise. It is a combination of two projects: a Women's Centre and a Heritage Project.

PARK BRIDGE INDUSTRIAL HAMLET

Tel: 0161 330 9613
Medlock Valley, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester

Signposted from the A627, Oldham Road.

Admission: Free

A fascinating early industrial settlement founded to supply the cotton industry over 200 years ago. Surrounded by lovely countryside, including an industrial Heritage Trail and a Visitor Centre.

PEOPLE'S HISTORY MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 839 6061

The Pump House Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3ER
From motorways, follow brown signs to Castlefield, then signs to Salford Central Station or Gartside Street car park.

The museum galleries based at the Pump House are currently closed to the public for re-development. A new People's History Museum is planned to re-open in late 2009. The museum has a temporary home at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) where some of the most popular displays are on show.

POLICE MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 856 3287
Newton Street, Manchester

Open: Open Tuesday 10.30am to 3.30pm Last admission at 3.00pm Other weekdays by appointment for group visits Closed weekends and public holidays
Admission: Free

Imagine stepping back in time to a Victorian Manchester, not the city of commerce and corporate splendour but a hidden city of gas lamps and narrow alleys, of slums and unruly alehouses. Now imagine a busy police station in the heart of that city from where police officers arrested criminals and upheld the law. History is brought back to life at the Greater Manchester Police Museum. Venture into the original Victorian cells with their wooden pillows and the Charge office of Newton Street Police Station where time has stood still for over 120 years. Explore the galleries containing historic police equipment and uniforms from the region. Uncover the fascinating world of forgery and forensic science. Admire the polished wood panels and stained glass of our genuine 1895 Magistrates' Court. The transport gallery contains a variety of vehicles used by the police from the 1950s to the modern day.

PORTLAND BASIN MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 343 2878
Portland Place, Ashton-under-Lyne

By car, there are signs from A635 Ashton By-pass (Park Parade). Drivers will need to locate the roundabout halfway along the Ashton by-pass (near Asda), drive westwards towards Manchester and turn second left into Welbeck Street, following this straight ahead and the museum is on the left.

Open: Daily (except Mondays other than Bank Holidays) from 10 am to 5 pm.
Admission: Free

Housed within the restored nineteenth century Ashton Canal Warehouse the museum combines a lively modern interior with a peaceful canal side setting. Portland Basin Museum is an exciting family friendly museum, with something for all the family! Step back in time on our 1920s street, as the sights and sounds of bygone Tameside are brought to life. Take a look into our kitchen and parlour to find out how we used to live.

ROCHDALE PIONEERS MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 524920
31 Toad Lane, Rochdale
Rear of Rochdale Exchange Shopping Precinct on Hunters Lane

Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Sunday 2pm to 4pm. Closed all day Monday, including Bank Holidays. The Museum is normally closed between Christmas and New Year. Note. Public opening hours are subject to change without prior
Admission: Adults £1.00, children/students/senior citizens 50p, family ticket £2.00.

This is a fascinating insight into how our ancestors did their shopping 150 years ago and houses the original store of the Rochdale Pioneers containing documents, pictures and other material of British and international co-operative interest.

SADDLEWORTH MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Tel: 01457 874093

High Street, Uppermill, Oldham
Main road through Uppermill (A670).

Open: The Museum and Gallery are open every day (except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day). Times vary according to the season. Summer (Easter to end October) Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 4.30pm; Sunday 12.00 - 4.00pm Winter (November – pre Easter) Monday - Sunday 1 - 4pm. We also open outside these hours for groups, schools, corporate and family functions.
Admission: Adults £2 - Children £1 - Concessions £1 Family Ticket £4 (2 adults and up to 5 children) The family ticket is not available for groups or school groups.

The story of Saddleworth - a Yorkshire community on the Lancashire side of the Pennines is brought to life in an old canalside mill. Explore the area's traditions, textile industry, transport and people. Family-friendly with activity boxes and 'Get your Hands on This' gallery. Art Gallery with varied exhibition programme. Museum Shop and Tourist Information Centre.

SALFORD MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Tel: 0161 778 0800
Peel Park, Salford

The Museum is located next to Salford University and is approximately a 20 minute walk from central Manchester, via Chapel Street to the Crescent.

Open: Museum and Art Gallery open: Mon-Fri 10:00am - 4:45pm Saturday & Sunday 1:00pm - 5:00pm Local History Library open: Tues, Thurs, Fri 10:00am - 5:00pm Weds 10:00am - 8:00pm closed Sat, Sun and Mon
Admission: Free

With the popular permanent attractions of The Victorian Gallery and Lark Hill Place, as well as the ever changing temporary exhibitions, there is always something for everyone at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, from hands-on activities to modern art!

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY MUSEUM IN MANCHESTER

Tel: 0161 832 2244
Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester M3 4FP

Open: From 10.00am - 5.00pm every day, except 24 - 26 December and 1 January. Recharge Coffee Shop is open Monday - Friday 7.30am - 5.00pm and Saturday - Sunday 9.00am - 5.00pm. The Loft Café is open Monday - Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm and Saturday - Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm. Hot meals are available daily 11.30am - 2.30pm. The Collections Centre is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10.00am to 4.30pm.
Admission: Free - Charges for Special Exhibitions

Endless fascination for adults and children is offered at this museum - see colourful displays and hands-on exhibitions from steam to space, history to Hi-tech. Located in the buildings of the world's oldest passenger railway station the fun-filled galleries amaze, amuse and entertain. You can take off to the Air and Space Gallery which is packed with the plans that made flying history. Visit the textile exhibition - Fibres, Fabrics and Fashion.

STOCKPORT MUSEUM

Tel: 0161 474 4460
Vernon Park, Stockport.

Open: Summer months: 1st Apr till 29th Sep Monday – Friday 10.00am - 4.00pm Weekends 11.00am till 5.00pm Bank holidays and Event days 11.00am till 5.00pm Winter months: 30th Sep - 1st Apr Monday – Friday 10.00am till 4.00 pm Weekends 11.00am till 4.00pm

Visit this fascinating museum, one of the first purpose built museums in the country. Discover the hidden treasures and treats, especially the realistic looking Egyptian Mummy, and its famous hand, which remains a favourite with visitors of all ages. Explore the museum by following the trails which take you on a magical journey through time. Look at the variety of interesting objects, which date back to the Stone Age. Listen to fabulous stories that recapture the past whilst watching the audio-visual show. Learn about 'On One Round Hill' the past and present story of Stockport, a typical market town in Northern England. Children love the ground floor and its host of interactive displays, especially the plasma ball. Search the basement floor, labelled the floor of curiosities, for its cabinets full of wonderful surprises.

STAIRCASE HOUSE

Tel: 0161 480 1460
30/31 Market Place . Stockport . England . SK1 1ES

Open: Monday to Friday - 12 noon to 5pm Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 5pm including bank holidays (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day)

Admission: Adults: £3.95 per person, inclusive of comprehensive audio guide. Concessions/under 16s: £2.95 Children under 5 - Free

When visiting Staircase House you will journey from 1460 to WWII and experience every century in between. Learn how people used to live and how society and our attitudes have changed over time. The audio tour can take between one and two hours depending on how much of the audio guide you choose to listen to along the way. Once your journey is complete you can browse in the Staircase House gift shop and enjoy a relaxing hot drink in Blackshaw’s Café.

STOCKPORT STORY

Tel: 0161 480 1460
30/31 Market Place . Stockport . SK1 1ES

Open: Monday to Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Admission: FREE

Stockport Story Museum houses a fascinating collection stretching back 10,000 years and its all FREE to explore! Delve into Stockport’s rich history and time travel from Palaeolithic to present day Stockport. On your journey you will discover five fascinating galleries . . . Origins Gallery - Stockport's hidden archaeological treasures The Making of the Town Gallery - Medieval Stockport and the Industrial Revolution Work and Play Gallery - Explore Victorian Stockport Changing Lives Gallery - Stockport during the last 100 years Exhibitions Gallery - Programme of changing exhibitions.

TOUCHSTONES

Tel: 01706 924492
The Esplanade, Rochdale

Open: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm Sundays and Bank Holidays 12noon-4.30pm
Admission: Free

Newly restored art gallery and museum, Tourist Information Centre and shop, local studies centre, education and performance venue. Explore Rochdale's Pioneering Spirit with the extensive Borough collection and archives.

URBIS

Tel: 0161 605 8200
Cathedral Gardens, Manchester

Urbis is located in Cathedral Gardens in Manchester City Centre, just next to Victoria Station

Open: EXHIBITIONS: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm URBIS SHOP & CAFE: Daily 10am - 6pm

Admission: Free

Urbis is an exhibition centre of city life. They have 5 floors of changing exhibitions, so there is always something new to see whenever you visit. The exhibitions offer unique insights into the culture of the modern city, about Manchester, art and culture including innovative explorations of design, architecture, graffiti, music and the urban environment.

WHITWORTH MUSEUM

Tel: 01706 343231
North Street, Whitworth
Opposite the Rawstrons Arms

Open: Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-4pm
Admittance: Free

A fascinating collection of local memorabilia, built up over many years. The mines, the moors, the wars and the chores - the lives of ordinary Lancashire folk seen through the objects, tools and clothes of their everyday existence.

WIGAN PIER


Closing down message on Website
Wigan Pier

Photo by Wigan Arts

MERSEYSIDE

{Cheshire, Lancashire , Manchester, Merseyside, Wirral, Home)

THE BEATLES STORY

Tel: 0151 709 1963
Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 4AA

Open: Open 7 days a week, all year round (excluding 25/26 December). Opening hours are 9am - 7pm. The last admission to the attraction is at 5pm. You can still visit our Fab4Store gift shop as a non-paying guest until 7pm and our Starbucks Coffeehouse until 6pm.
Admission: Adult £12.25 Concession £8.30 Students, Seniors & Unwaged. ID required. Child £6.35 Aged 5-16 years. Under 5yrs Free Family Saver 1 £36.25 2 adults and 3 children Family Saver 2 £31.30 2 adults and 2 children Family Saver 3 £25.45 1 adult and 3 children Family Saver 4 £20.55 1 adult and 2 children

Imagine experiencing the most sensational story the pop world has ever known - in the City where it all began. Relive the sights and sounds of the sixties. Take a trip to Hamburg 'feel' the cavern beat, 'tune in' to flower power, board the yellow submarine. The Beatles Story is the ultimate tribute to the City's most famous sons - John, Paul, George and Ringo. A magical tour for all the family.

BEATLES HOMES - 20 FORTHLIN ROAD

MENDIPS
Tel: 0870 900 0256 (Infoline)

20 Forthlin Road - "Mum and Dad would have been dead chuffed to think our little council house would end up with The National Trust. It's a fantastic honour for me and our family" Sir Paul McCartney

Mendips - "Now everyone who loves John's music and his message of peace can see for themselves where it all began." Yoko

Open: Admission by guided tour only. Open BH Mons. 28 Feb–15 Mar & 7 Nov–29 Nov all tours depart from Liverpool city centre. 18 Mar–1 Nov, morning tours depart from Liverpool city centre, afternoon tours depart from Speke Hall. To guarantee a place on a tour visitors are advised to book in advance at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beatles, or tel. Infoline. Last admission 30mins before closing

Admission: Standard Admission Joint ticket Mendips and Forthlin Road: £16, child £3. NT members (to cover minibus): £7.50

BOTANIC GARDENS MUSEUM

Tel: 01704 27547
Botanic Road, Churchtown, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 7NB

Open: Tuesday to Friday from 11.00am to 3.00pm Saturday and Sunday from 2.00pm to 5.00pm Bank Holidays from 1.00pm to 4.00pm (Closed on the following Friday) Closed Monday
Admission free

Victorian period room with displays of costume and toys and local and natural history galleries. There is also a display about Southport lifeboat.

CONSERVATION CENTRE

Tel: 0151 207 0001
Whitechapel, Liverpool

Open: Daily 10 am - 5 pm Closed 23-26 Dec, 1 Jan
Admission: Free

The only centre for museum conservation in Europe to open its doors to the public. Discover how experts preserve everything from birds and bugs to fine oil paintings and furniture. Meet a conservator at work via a live video link. Take part in a hands-on activity or a behind-the-scenes tour.

HOOTON PARK

Tel: 0151 327 3565
The Hangars, South Road, Hooton Park Airfield, Ellesmere Port, CH65 1BQ

Just off the M53 motorway (Junction 6) in Cheshire, south of Liverpool.

Open: Various events throughout the year.

An Aerodrome with history. Guides tours and special events. Aero memorabilia and vehicle exhibits from 1940.

HM CUSTOMS AND EXCISE NATIONAL MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 207 0001
Merseyside Maritime Museum Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 4AQ

Open: Open daily 10am-5pm. The Piermaster's House open daily 10am-3.30pm. Please not that the house will be closed to the public from Thursday 19 March to Wednesday 25 March for essential maintenance. Closed from 2pm on 24 December and all day on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Admission: Free

Experience the activities of customs officers today through interactive, hands-on displays.Spot the suspect traveller and help search for contraband. Explore the age old battle between the revenue men and the smugglers. Learn about the latest technology used by Customs and Excise officers today Wide range of confiscated goods displayed, sniffer dog demonstrations and an exhibition on 18th century smuggling.

INTERNATIONAL SLAVERY MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 478 4499
Albert Dock, Liverpool

Open: Open daily 10am-5pm. Closed from 2pm on 24 December and all day on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Admission: Free

The museum explores both the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery. The museum addresses the many legacies of the slave trade and tells stories of bravery and rebellion amongst the enslaved people. These are stories which have been largely untold.

LAWNMOWER MUSEUM

Tel: 01704 501336
106-114 Shakespeare Street, Southport

Open: Open all Year 9 AM to 5.30 PM Except Sundays and Bank Holidays
Admission: Adults £2.00 inc Audio Tour,Children £1.00

See the following - Some of the fastest Lawnmowers in the world as seen on TV. The Unique Cordless Electric Ride on Mower. Lawnmowers being used before the time of Custers Last Stand. The water cooled 'Egg Boiler' Lawnmower. A genuine 2" Lawnmower. Some of the most expensive Lawnmowers in the world. A snow scooter & outboard motor powered by Lawnmower engines. Some of the first Atco & Ransome Lawnmowers. The Mower Great Granddad used. The first Solar Powered ROBOT mowers, Lawnmowers of the rich and famous.

LIVERPOOL WORLD MUSEUM & PLANETARIUM

Tel: 0151 207 0001
William Brown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside
City Centre

Open: All year Every Day 10 am - 5 pm. Closed 23-26 December and 1 Jan
Admission: Free

Liverpool Museum is an encyclopaedia brought to life where you can discover the wonders of Time and Space, Dazzling fish in the Aquarium, the fascinating hands-on Natural History Centre, Egyptian mummies, wonderful African carvings, sculptures from ancient Greece and Rome and much much more.

MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL LIFE

Tel: 0151 207 0001
Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 4AA

The Museum of Liverpool Life closed in June 2006 so that preparations for building the new Museum of Liverpool could begin. Opening in 2010, the Museum of Liverpool will be a bigger and better version of the former museum, which had been a popular waterfront attraction since 1993.

MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 207 0001
Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 4AQ

Open: All year daily 10.00-17.00- Closed 23-26 Dec & 1 Jan - Last admission 16.00
Admission: Free

The Merseyside Maritime Museum tells the history of one of the world's greatest ports and the people who used it. For many it was a gateway to a new life in other countries. For others, its importance to the slave trade had less happy consequences. From slavers to luxury liners, submarine hunters to passenger ferries, discover Liverpool's central role in centuries at sea.

MR HARDMAN'S PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO

Tel: 0151 709 6261
59 Rodney Street, Liverpool L1 9EX

Open: 18 Mar–1 Nov 09 11–3:30 We Th Fr Sa Su - Open BH Mons. Admission by timed ticket only, inc. NT members. Visitors are advised to book in advance by tel. or email to property. Tickets on the day subject to availability
Admission: Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets): £6 (£5.45), child £2.95 (£2.68), family £15 (£13.54)

The elegent Georgian terraced house was home and workplace to one of Liverpool's best known photographers, the celebrity photographer of his day, and is now a multi-award winning attraction and the only example in the country of an intact studio of its era. It contains exhibitions of Hardman's photographs, the studio where they were taken, the darkroom where they were developed and printed, and the Hardman's living quarters, complete with all the ephemera of post-war daily life.

PRESCOT MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 430 7787
34 Church Street, Prescot, Merseyside L34 3LA

Open: Every Tuesday to Saturday 10am -1pm and 2pm - 5pm and Sunday 2pm - 5pm. Also open Monday's by appointment. The Museum is closed on Bank Holidays.
Admission - Free

An attractive 18th-century town house which contains exhibits relating to the clock, watch and tool-making industries of the area. The display includes a reconstruction of part of a traditional watch-maker's workshop and examples of hand tools and machinery used to make the intricate parts of clock and watch movements. Various events arranged.

NORTH WEST MUSEUM OF ROAD TRANSPORT

Tel: 01744 755150
The Old Bus Depot, Hall Street, St.Helens WA10 1DU

Open: 1st November to 31st March every Saturday & Sunday from 12.00 - 16.00 1st April to 31st October every Saturday & Sunday from 11.00 - 16.00
Admission: Adults £3.50 Children £2.00 Concessions £2.00 Family Ticket £10.00

The North West Museum of Road Transport (formerly St.Helens Transport Museum) is a voluntary organisation, with members freely giving of their time work towards re-opening the Museum to the public, keen to show them the rich transport heritage of the region. The Museum houses the North West Museum of Transport Limited's collection of vehicles. It can trace its roots back over thirty years, when a group of enthusiasts from the St.Helens area got together to raise funds to preserve an ex St.Helens trolleybus which was still running in Bradford.

WESTERN APPROACHES

Tel: 0151 227 2008
1-3 Rumford Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 8SZ

Exit the M62 at jct 4, follow the city centre sign on Edge Lane (A5047). Edge Lane will change into Mount Vernon, then Pembroke Rd. Pembroke Rd will change into London Rd stay on London Rd till it ends. Turn Right onto Churchhill Way (Elevated Rd) stick to the left hand Lane. This road turns into Dale St, then Water St. Rumford St is situated on your right.

Open: Everyday Mar - Nov except Friday and Sunday. Open from 10.30 - 16.30 (last admission 15.30)
Admission: Adults £5.00, Concessions/Child £3.50, Family £10

Liverpool's World War II underground headquarters for the Battle of the Atlantic. Re-live the times of 1940s Britain. Visit the 50,000 sq ft. Labyrinth of audio linked original rooms including main operations room, Admirals office, Teleprinter station and also a re-constructed educational centre, with Anderson shelter, and bombed-out room. See the life and work of Wrens and Waafs working under constant pressure in the original area command headquarters for the battle of the Atlantic.

WORLD OF GLASS

Tel: 08700 114466
Chalon Way East, St Helens, Merseyside, WA1Q 1BX

Situated in the centre of St Helens, near the M62 (Junction 7) and the M6 (Junction 23) Motorways.

Open: Everyday except Friday and Sunday. Open from 10.30 - 16.30 (last admission 15.30) We are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Admission: Adults £5.30, Children (5-16) £3.80, family ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children) £15.80, lone parent and two children £10.80 Concessions £3.80

The World of Glass takes visitors on a journey of discovery into the story of glass. State-of-the-art special effects look back at the use of glass through the ages, from its discovery by ancient civilisations to its utilisation as part of the Internet today. A fun zone features distorting mirrors, kaleidoscopes, periscopes and you will be able to see live glass-blowing displays. The exhibition is built around the Jubilee Cone Building which is a listed building and houses the oldest glass-making tank furnace in the world, which was recently discovered and excavated from beneath a concrete floor on the site.

WIRRAL

{Cheshire, Lancashire , Manchester, Merseyside , Wirral, Home)

NATIONAL WATERWAYS MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 355 5017
South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port

Adjacent to J9 of the M53.

Open: April to October 10am to 5pm Daily November to March Saturday & Sunday only 11am to 4pm Winter school holidays, open daily 11am to 4pm Shop and Waterside Cafe opening hours 11am to 4pm daily Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Admission: Adult £5.50 Child £3.50 Concession £4.50 Family Ticket £19.00 Concession Family Ticket £17.00 Under 5's Free Boat Trip Adult £1.50 Boat Trip Child £1.00

Explore the former canal port and experience life afloat aboard the collection of canal and river boats. Discover the stories of the people who worked on our waterways through interactive displays, film and audio recordings. Step back in time at the dock workers' cottages and see how people lived from the 1840s to the 1950s.

SUNLIGHT VISION MUSEUM, PORT SUNLIGHT

23 King George's Drive, Port Sunlight, Wirral. CH62 5DX – opposite Lady Lever Art Gallery

Open: 10am - 5.00 pm - May - Sept 10am - 4.30 pm Oct - April Closed Christmas week.
Admission: Adult: £3.75 Concessions: £3.00 Child: £2

Located in the heart of Port Sunlight, a world famous 19th century garden village, Sunlight Vision Museum offers a unique insight into the origins and social history of one of Britain’s finest and most intact model villages. Today the village consists of over 900 Grade II Listed buildings and has one of the largest War Memorials outside of London. Discover within Sunlight Vision Museum what it would have been like to live and work in this village during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Meet a set of characters created to represent the real people who lived and worked in Port Sunlight.

A visit to Sunlight Vision Museum is a must for those wanting to find out about Port Sunlight’s origins and social history. Pre-booked guided village tours can also be arranged for groups. The tour takes in the principal buildings in the village and further information about life in this extraordinary village is revealed. Please contact us for details. Sunlight Vision Museum also has a Learning Centre which aims to provide a programme of activity that is welcoming, accessible and enjoyable for all visitors. We offer hands-on workshops for groups ranging from pre-school, schools and colleges to older groups taking part in reminiscence sessions. £35 per workshop.

U-BOAT STORY

Tel: 0151 330 1000
Woodside Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead

Open: 10.30 am - 5.30 pm Tuesday to Sunday

Admission: U-Boat Story /Mersey Ferries River Explorer Cruise £9.00, Child 5 years and over £5.00, Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £25.00, Concession £7.00. U-Boat Story only - Adult £5.00, Child £3.00, Family £15.00, Concession £4.00.

View the amazing life on board a real German U-boat. With original film archive and interactive displays, you will witness all the dramatic action. U-boat Story is a £5m attraction telling the story of World War II German submarine U-534. You will see into the cross-sectioned submarine and discover its amazing story through a highly interactive and exciting exhibition.

WILLIAMSON ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 652 4177
Slatey Road, Birkenhead,

Open: Open all year Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm Closed Mondays except for Bank Holidays
Admission free.

Williamson Art Gallery & Museum Slatey Road, Birkenhead CH 43 4UE Tel: 0151 652 4177 Admission Free This purpose built Art Gallery was opened in December 1928 and housed the vast majority of Birkenhead's collection of artistic masterpieces in a series of varied and well proportioned galleries. On permanent display are Victorian oil paintings, English watercolours, Liverpool Porcelain, DellaBir Robbia Pottery. A range of collections from local history and ship models to fine decorative arts. Part of the Merseyside Embroidery Trail. All year round programme of temporary exhibitions.

WIRRAL MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 666 4010
Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, Wirral

Open: all year Tues-Sun 10 am - 5 pm. Closed Mondays except for Bank Holidays
Admission: Free

Former Town Hall houses many fine collections relating to Wirral's History, Cammel Laird Archive, Della Robbia Collection, Mayoral Silver Collection and much more.

WIRRAL TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Tel: 0151 647 2128
1 Taylor Street, Birkenhead

Open: Saturday and Sunday only 1-5pm Except during School Holidays: Easter, Spring Half Term and Summer: Wed-Sun 1-5pm Open Bank Holidays 1-5 pm (except Christmas/New Year)

Admission: Museum FREE! Charge to ride on the trams

Birkenhead is the historic home of the first street tramway in Europe. It was here on August 29 1860 that Europe's first tramway was established, running from Woodside to Birkenhead Park. This early system was horse-drawn and was the brainchild of flamboyant American, George Francis Train, the real life character upon whom Jules Verne based his fictitious character Phileas Fogg in "Around the World in 80 days". The tramway was electrified in 1901 and continued to operate throughout the town until it's eventual closure on 17 July 1937. By this time the petrol engine bus had taken over all routes. We are extremely lucky to have one of the fine examples of one of the double decker units, which inaugurated the first electric tram service in 1901. This vehicle, Birkenhead 20 is a fine example of an Edwardian tram. this tram and many others have been restored over a number of years by members of the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.

The trams you will ride on may look and sound old but in fact they are fairly new! They were built in Hong Kong in 1992 with a U.K. chassis gauge specification, painted in original Birkenhead Livery and shipped to Wirral courtesy of P&O Containers. The design is a 1948 pattern and the vehicles approximate to the type common on the streets of Britain in the Forties and Fifties. They still operate in large numbers in the city of Hong Kong.

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