Manchester Jewish Museum

Manchester Jewish Museum reopened in 2021 after a £6-million upgrade restored its 1874 synagogue to its former glory, and brought its fascinating collection of artefacts to life. 

Its new multi-media galleries tell Jewish stories framed within the universal themes of Journeys, Communities and Identities. The hope is that they’ll feel relevant to everyone who visits, Jewish and non-Jewish. That goes for the architecture of the new buildings too; it reflects both Islamic design and the Mudejar style of the original synagogue. The result is striking but not out-of-place within this diverse part of Manchester.

Inside you’ll find poignant and powerful exhibits such as a diary written by a Kindertransport refugee girl and film footage of Oswald Mosley marching through Manchester.

The beautifully-restored Sephardi Jewish synagogue is an exhibit in itself. It also acts as a performance space for live events celebrating Jewish arts and music.

The museum is well set up for younger visitors; ask for a Family Pack Rucksack when you go in. School visits are common so go after 2.30pm if you want a quieter experience on weekdays.

Make sure you visit the cafe which serves a modern vegetarian kosher-style menu using local produce and authentic Jewish ingredients. Sample dishes include vegetarian cholent with challah bread, and falafel pita with homemade hummus.