Museums · North West England
People's History Museum
In or near Manchester.
Manchester's national museum of democracy — political banners, suffragette and Chartist heritage.

Matt Harrop — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Nearest railway station
- Salford Central · 0.4 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the People's History Museum, the nearest railway station is Salford Central, located 0.4 km away. Admission is free, but please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is M3 4FP.
About
The People's History Museum in Manchester is the national museum of democracy in Britain — the story of trade unions, suffrage, the Chartists, the Co-operative movement and the Labour Party. Holds the world's largest collection of historic British political and trade-union banners. Free entry.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the official site
The People's History Museum is the national museum of democracy in the UK, showcasing the history of democratic movements and social justice. Visitors can explore various exhibitions and collections that highlight the struggles and achievements of people advocating for change throughout British history.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
The People's History Museum (the National Museum of Labour History until 2001) in Manchester, England, is the United Kingdom's national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in the UK. It is located in a Grade II listed, former hydraulic pumping station on the corner of Bridge Street and Water Street designed by Manchester Corporation city architect, Henry Price. The museum tells the history of workers' rights and democracy in Great Britain and about people's lives at home, work and leisure over the last 200 years. The collection contains printed material, physical objects and photographs of people at work, rest and play. Some of the topics covered include popular radicalism, the Peterloo Massacre, 19th century trade unionism, the women's suffrage movement, dockers, the cooperative movement, the 1945 general election, and football. It also includes material relating to friendly societies, the welfare movement and advances in the lives of working people.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
in Salford]] The Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative History Society operated a collection at Limehouse Town Hall between 1975 and 1986. The museum moved to Manchester and re-opened in 1990 at the Grade II* listed former Mechanics' Institute at 103 Princess Street. In 1994, the museum opened the Pump House People's History Museum containing a public gallery at the present site on Bridge Street. The two sites were renamed the People's History Museum (PHM) in 2001. The redevelopment included the refurbishment of the existing Pump House and the construction of a four-storey extension alongside it. A glass walkway was constructed to link the two buildings. The museum reopened on 13 February…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 53.4789, -2.2547
- District
- Manchester
- Parish
- Manchester, unparished area
- Postcode
- M3 4FP
- Parliamentary constituency
- Manchester Central
- Phone
- 0161 838 9190
- Nearest railway station
- Salford Central — 0.4 km
- Opening
- Open 10am to 5pm, every day except Tuesdays
- Official site
- phm.org.uk
Sources
- manual: peoples-history-museum (manual)
- wikipedia: People's History Museum (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in these 3 guides
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is People's History Museum?
- People's History Museum is in North-West England, United Kingdom (postcode M3 4FP), in the parish of Manchester, unparished area.
- What is People's History Museum?
- Manchester's national museum of democracy — political banners, suffragette and Chartist heritage.
- How do I get to People's History Museum?
- The nearest railway station is Salford Central, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode M3 4FP.
- When was People's History Museum built?
- Dates from the modern period.
- Is People's History Museum free to visit?
- Yes, People's History Museum is free to enter.
- How do I get to People's History Museum?
- The nearest railway station is Salford Central, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode M3 4FP.