Free things to do in Manchester on a rainy day

Bolton Museum is much more than just your standard local history-focused collection. Because of its links with the cotton trade, this unassuming town has an internationally recognised collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts.

Gallery Oldham in the town’s Cultural Quarter features artworks and items from Oldham’s diverse collections alongside newly commissioned art, international work, touring exhibitions and work produced with local communities.

Greater Manchester Police Museum is housed in an 1879 police station with original cells and charge office. Downstairs, you can look at displays of police vehicles, equipment and evidence whilst upstairs there is an 1895 magistrate’s court so you can play judge – or criminal.

This quayside location in Trafford Park was bombed heavily during WW2 so it’s especially appropriate that it was chosen as the home of the Imperial War Museum North. 

Flagship arts venue The Lowry was at the heart of 1990s’ plans to breathe new life back into Salford Quays. Now in its third decade, it’s maintained its reputation as one of Greater Manchester’s top visitor attractions thanks to a lively, ever-evolving programme of art, music, theatre, comedy and more.

Mosey down Mosley Street between Piccadilly Gardens and St Peter’s Square, and you can’t miss the Greek columns that flank the front of Manchester Art Gallery. It’s one of Manchester’s most visited cultural attractions thanks to its central location and extensive collection of historical and contemporary art.

Manchester Museum reopened in February 2023 following a £15m transformation to make it more inclusive and more imaginative in how it tells its stories.

Ordsall Hall is a piece of Tudor history just a short walk from the contemporary comings and goings of Salford Quays. Please note: it’s closed on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Pankhurst Centre is the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst and her family. Open to the public on Thursday and Sundays, it’s now a museum dedicated to the story of the fight for women’s right to vote.

The People’s History Museum tells the story of the development of democracy in Britain. It’s the only museum in the UK that focuses on the revolutionaries, reformers, workers, voters, and citizens who believed in ideas worth fighting for, like equality, social justice and co-operation.

Step inside the restored nineteenth-century Ashton Canal Warehouse in Ashton-under-Lyne and you’ll find the Portland Basin Museum. With exciting, accessible exhibitions, it’s a great place to learn about the people, history and places that have shaped Tameside’s past.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery was the UK’s first free public library when it opened in 1850. The building was formerly a private mansion built in the 1790’s known as Lark Hill, which gave its name to Lark Hill Place, an immersive Victorian street within the museum.

Much like the once mighty industrial power of the North, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has shrunk noticeably over the years. But it’s still well worth a visit.

Any art lover’s trip to Manchester would not be complete without a morning or afternoon spent gazing at the walls (and wallpaper collections) of The Whitworth.