Frequently asked questions for group leaders.
FAQs
Entry to the museum—including our object galleries—is free but charges apply for some activities. Please check the individual web pages for details.
The museum is open daily from 10.00–17.00.
It is closed on 24–26 December, and 1 January.
Any changes will be listed on our visit page.
We ask all groups to book in advance.
This enables you to access group discounts for charged activities and guarantees your tickets for events that have limited capacity. It also allows us to send you information that might affect your trip and it makes check-in quicker and easier when you arrive.
You can check live availability, plan, book, pay for and manage visits online using our group booking portal.
When choosing our school term and holiday dates, we consider published information from across Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas.
Please see our list of upcoming school holiday dates.
If your booking is for a free visit and does not include charged activities you can make changes at any time, subject to availability of tickets.
If your booking includes changed activities you can increase the number of visitors on your eticket at any time, subject to availability and provided that you pay any additional sums that may be charged for the increase by credit or debit card upon changing the booking. You can do this by logging into your online account or calling us on 033 0058 0058.
For all other changes, including reductions in visitor numbers, date changes or cancellations, the following terms apply:
i. If you have chosen to pay by invoice (only available to you if you are an establishment delivering formal education [nursery, primary, secondary, tertiary and higher education]) , it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking, and you will remain liable for the full value of the invoice in all circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
ii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is not due to take place for 28 days or more, you may request to change or cancel your booking by emailing info@sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk. Your email should include your order number and details of the change or cancellation requested. Any changes to your order are subject to availability.
iii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is due to take place in less than 28 days, it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking and you will not be entitled to a refund in any circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
Please read our full booking and cancellation terms.
If your booking is for a free visit and does not include charged activities you can cancel your visit at any time.
If you booking includes charged activities the following terms apply:
i. If you have chosen to pay by invoice (only available to you if you are an establishment delivering formal education (nursery, primary, secondary, tertiary and higher education)) , it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking, and you will remain liable for the full value of the invoice in all circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
ii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is not due to take place for 28 days or more, you may request to change or cancel your booking by emailing info@sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk. Your email should include your order number and details of the change or cancellation requested. Any changes to your order are subject to availability.
iii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is due to take place in less than 28 days, it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking and you will not be entitled to a refund in any circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
Please read our full booking and cancellation terms.
It is always helpful for us to know that you are unable to attend because we can release your tickets to other groups.
For safeguarding, and to ensure health and safety in the museum, our adult to child ratio policy for groups is:
- Ages 5 and under – 1:4
- Ages 5 to 11 – 1:8
- Ages 11 to 16 – 1:10
- Ages 16 to 18 – 1:30
- Over 18s – 1 responsible adult per group
Please ensure you have enough adults before you request your visit.
Children arriving without accompanying adults may not be allowed into the museum.
Adults are responsible for the safeguarding and the health and safety of the children in their group while in our public building.
The museum is a public place so please remind your group to respect other visitors, exhibits and museum staff.
Outside of the hands-on gallery, many irreplaceable exhibits are on open display so you can get close to them. To preserve their longevity, please remind your group not to touch or climb on them. CCTV and security officers are in place throughout the building to monitor this.
We expect visitors of all ages to adhere to this code of conduct and poor behaviour could mean that people are asked to leave.
Please read our safeguarding information before your visit. If you have any concerns during your visit, please contact a member of staff immediately.
Visit organisers are responsible for carrying out their own risk assessments. Please see our risk assessment information.
You can also download a hazard identification sheet and our insurance confirmation letter from the 'Getting ready for your visit' page.
We currently have limited storage space for coats and bags. If you have made a picnic space booking, you will be assigned a storage cage on arrival. If you have not made a picnic space booking, we may not be able to accommodate your belongings and storage cages will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis.
If you would like an indoor space where your group can eat packed lunches:
- Groups visiting on a Monday to Friday during term time must add 'picnic space' to itineraries when booking.
- On weekends and school holidays the picnic space cannot be booked. It is shared with general visitors and is available on a drop-in basis. Please see our list of upcoming school holiday dates.
The picnic space is the only indoor area at the museum where you can eat packed lunches. Food and drink is not permitted within our galleries, due to the conservation of our historic objects.
Yes. We highly recommend booking time in the shop as part of your visit. This saves time and avoids long waits at busy periods. The shop is open from 10.00 to 17.00, but we have bookable timeslots between 12.00 and 14.00.
Your help in supporting younger students with their purchases is invaluable, especially at the tills.
Download a museum map to help you find your way around the museum. Please share with all accompanying adults.
Yes. You can download activities and trails to help you explore the museum with your group.
If you haven't visited with your class before, we recommend a pre-visit to familiarise yourself with the galleries, test run our activity sheets and plan your routes around the museum site.
Contact us in advance to request teacher preview tickets for special exhibitions so that you can assess suitability.
Check for gallery closures that might impact on your plans.
Visit our accessibility page for general information and please tell us about any access requirements when you make your booking so that we can provide the best advice.
Please see our travel page.
We don’t have any coach or minibus parking spaces on-site. Please see our travel page for further information.
Yes, the museum can be easily reached by bus, tram or train. Check our travel page for more information and plan your journey with Transport for Greater Manchester.
If you're planning to travel by tram, contact Metrolink about their Kid for a Quid offer for school groups. It costs just £1 for each child and £2 for each accompanying adult, to travel from anywhere on the network.
The offer only applies to school group bookings of ten or more students aged 5 to 16 travelling after 9.30. Bookings must be made at least seven days in advance by calling Metrolink on 0161 205 2000.
There are three blue badge parking spaces in front of the museum on Lower Byrom Street, although these belong to the council so cannot be reserved.
If you're having issues using our Group Booking Portal, please ensure your web browser is up to date.
If you're still encountering issues, please contact us on 033 0058 0058.
Yes, the Science and Industry Museum holds a Learning Outside of the Classroom quality badge. This means we are recognised for our quality educational provision and effective risk management.
