World-shaping, record-breaking, life-changing. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the world’s first intercity line that started a transport revolution.

Thread your way through Manchester’s rich legacy of industrial innovations, scientific discoveries and ideas that changed the world.

Manchester is built on cotton. Our Textiles Gallery tells the story of the people, products and pioneers that made it and their continuing legacy in our city and our world today.

From the printing press to modern computing, discover how technological advancements have made it possible for us to communicate further and faster.

Stare into the mirror of infinity, create a tornado, and watch your own skeleton ride a bicycle. Play with 25 hands-on exhibits and see science in action.

By road or by air, this city’s inventors and engineers made a big impact on the way we travel today. See the cars, bikes and aeroplanes that got industrial Manchester moving.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of real working steam engines that powered mills all over the North West and helped to shape our world.