Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester (must see)

The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester is a prominent institution dedicated to showcasing the evolution of science, technology, and industry, with a special focus on the city's significant contributions to these fields. This museum is a member of the Science Museum Group, which is managed as a non-departmental public body by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, following its amalgamation with the National Science Museum in 2012.

Housed on the historic site of the world’s first passenger railway station, Manchester Liverpool Road, which opened in 1830 as part of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, the museum itself is a crucial part of industrial heritage. This location is further distinguished by the railway station frontage and the 1830 warehouse, both of which are Grade I listed buildings.

The museum's exhibits are extensive and diverse, covering a wide range of themes such as transport—including cars, railway locomotives, and rolling stock—along with displays on power generation methods like water, electricity, steam, and gas engines. It also explores Manchester’s advancements in sewerage and sanitation, textiles, communications, and computing.

Originally named the North Western Museum of Science and Industry, the museum opened its doors in 1969 on Grosvenor Street in Chorlton-on-Medlock, initially operating out of temporary premises. It was closely linked with the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST), particularly its Department of History of Science & Technology.

In 1978, the Greater Manchester Council acquired the earliest parts of the former Liverpool Road station from British Rail, which had ceased operations in 1975. The museum then officially moved to this location in 1983, later expanding to encompass the entire former station site. As an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, the museum not only preserves but also educates about the industrial advancements that have shaped modern society.