I have plenty of memories of visiting the Museum of Science and Industry from school visits, both primary and secondary, and family trips. I'd been intending to take Baby for a while, but finally got round to it on a weekday, thinking that the galleries would be quieter.
The museum is spread over three buildings, and multiple levels. One building houses planes and cars, another engines and trains. The third, the largest, contains the cafe, restaurant and reception, as well as galleries housing permanent and temporary exhibits. The most well known of the permanent galleries is an interactive space filled with hands on exhibits, but there are also other permanent exhibitions including a large one focussing on textiles, and some temporary exhibition spaces.
The first thing we noticed upon arrival was the sheer number of school groups, being shepherded from place to place by teachers. I had expected going on a weekday would be quiet, but had forgotten how popular it is with schools. On several occasions we were forced to the side to make way for a snake of children moving about the buildings.
Entry is free, though donations are gratefully received. Previously entry was just through a large atrium, but now there is a welcome desk and a queue line, which allows staff to provide you with a map and mention the donation policy. I read online that the reception desk provide age appropriate activity packs for children, from playmats for young babies to rucksacks for toddlers, however we weren't offered one.
It was a while since breakfast so we went straight to the cafe, which is on the ground floor of the main building, right by the entrance. It had a cosy feel to it, with a combination of comfortable chairs, regular chairs and bar stools. Although it looked reasonably large, actually there weren't that many tables suitable for high chairs, and it was quite busy so there were a few people waiting for tables. At first glance there seemed to be plenty of high chairs, the museum is popular with families with young children, so there was soon a wait for high chairs.
The cafe had a selection of paninis and sandwiches, pastries and cakes, as well as a children's lunchbox for £4.50. On the expensive side, but with the captive audience, to be expected.
There is also a restaurant which seems to be rather new, and calls itself a bistro. With table service, I can't imagine it would attract that many families.
Nappy changed and bag stowed in a locker, we made our way to the Experiment gallery. I had really high hopes for this section but sadly it was overrun with boisterous school children. Clearly the teachers/chaperones thought this gallery would be a good place for their wards to let off steam. Baby was almost knocked over a few times and was pushed out of the way by children wanting to play with the exhibit she was trying to look at. She really enjoyed one exhibit which involved placing your hands on a heat reactive surface, but otherwise pretty much everything was just too high for her to reach by herself.
Within the Experiment gallery there was a 'construction zone' specifically for under fours, that contained numerous large soft shapes. Baby just liked sitting on them.
Giving up on the Experiment gallery, we made our way back downstairs to find the sensory den which was also aimed at under fours. Difficult to find, and not signposted, I had to ask at the reception desk. The maps provided tell you which galleries are in which building, but aren't useful for orienting yourself within the buildings. The sensory den was located inside the very hot textile gallery. Not a particularly large space, it at least provided somewhere Baby would be safe from excited school children.
Several beanbags, and what appeared to be mattresses, were piled around the floor; there were textured panels on the walls, and plenty of interlocking plastic pieces to play with. It was so hot in here we couldn't stay for much longer than 20 minutes, but it was nice to have an area for Baby to play in.
Next we made our way into the adjacent building which houses engines and trains. Baby loves trains at the moment so we had high hopes for this exhibition. There were a handful of trains at the end of the building, some with steps up so that you could look into the cab, but none that you can actually go on, much to Baby's disappointment. There were also plenty of other mechanical bits, though she wasn't so interested in those.
Across the road, the third building houses planes, as well as some other vehicles. Again, none that we could go on, but Baby did enjoy wandering round and looking at them. There is also a simulator here (at an additional cost). It's gone through various reincarnations and is currently RAF branded, but it has a height restriction, so we couldn't go on it. The school children were loving it however.
By this point Baby was overdue for her nap so we decided to collect our belongings and head home.
As a side note, we travelled to the museum by train, the first time I've taken Baby on a train for a day out. On the way there we didn't have too many problems. The Northern train had one of the very old carriages, with the bench style seats. At the end of the carriage there is quite an open space, with seats parallel to the carriage walls, and it wasn't too busy, so we were able to use these seats and just have the pushchair in front of us. The way back was a different story however. A marginally newer carriage, with distinct seats and nowhere suitable for a pushchair. A sign stated that Northern was happy to welcome children on board, but that pushchairs shouldn't block aisles or doorways. Unfortunately there wasn't anywhere else, and the train was reasonably full, so the seats closest to the doorways were taken. As the doors open on different sides for different stations, I had to stay stood in the aisles to move the pushchair at every station. Had I been travelling on my own, that would have meant Baby had to stay in her pushchair for the whole journey, as I wouldn't have been able to leave Baby sat by herself every time I needed to move the pushchair.
Key Facts
Month of visit:
February
Weather for visit:
Cold but dry
Is it pushchair friendly?
Yes, there are lifts to all levels and the galleries are all flat or with sloped access. There are some cobbles outside the buildings.
How are the baby changing facilities?
Acceptable. There were plenty of toilets throughout each building. We used the baby changing closest to the cafe, which was just about clean enough, and was starting to smell.
What about somewhere to feed?
Although the baby changing we used was large, there was no chair. The cafe did have comfortable seats, but it was quite busy, so not ideal if you have a nosy baby.
Is it worth a visit?
For older children, yes, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to take Baby again any time soon. The exhibits in the Experiment gallery were just too high for her and the two areas dedicated to under fours felt very much like an afterthought to amuse younger siblings whilst older children enjoyed the exhibits.
Baby's highlight?
Watching the heat panels change colour when she touched them.
Museum of Science and Industry
Liverpool Road,
Manchester,
M3 4FP
www.msimanchester.org.uk
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