Skip to content
WordPress site playing up? Vincony fixes it — today, from $5.Get it fixed →
The Great Britain Guide

Museums · North West England

People's History Museum

In or near Manchester.

ModernFree admission♿ Wheelchair: limited4.5 · 3,732 Google reviews

Manchester's national museum of democracy — political banners, suffragette and Chartist heritage.

Giant iPhone X advert, Quay Street, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 5621968

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.

Directions on Google Maps →

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 Central0.4 km
Opening
Open 10am to 5pm, every day except Tuesdays
Official site
phm.org.uk

Sources

Featured in these 3 guides

Other places nearby

Nearby

Little John Street - geograph.org.uk - 5964288📷 5

Hotels · North West England

Great John Street Hotel

Great John Street Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands. 4-star. Brand: Eclectic Hotel Group.

Freeeclectichotels.co.uk
Mersey and Irwell Navigation📷 3

Canals · North West England

Mersey and Irwell Navigation

Mersey and Irwell Navigation — former river navigation in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕the-crystal-maze.com
Hardman Square Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 4781743📷 5

Museums · North West England

Spinningfields

Spinningfields — a museum in england-west-midlands, United Kingdom.

👶manchestertheatres.com
St John's Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 5625903📷 5

Cinemas · North West England

Everyman Manchester St. John's

Everyman Manchester St. John's — a cinema in england west midlands. Brand: Everyman Cinemas.

everymancinema.com
Museum of Science and Industry - geograph.org.uk - 985791📷 3

Escape rooms · North West England

The Crystal Maze Experience

The Crystal Maze Experience — a escape room in england-west-midlands, United Kingdom.

👶the-crystal-maze.com
County Court, Manchester📷 3

Historic houses · North West England

County Court, Manchester

County Court, Manchester — building in Manchester, England.

👶manchestertheatres.com

Where to eat & stay near People's History Museum

Places to stay

Little John Street - geograph.org.uk - 5964288📷 5

Hotels · North West England

Great John Street Hotel

Great John Street Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands. 4-star. Brand: Eclectic Hotel Group.

Freeeclectichotels.co.uk
Tower blocks under construction, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 8224167📷 5

Hostels · North West England

YHA Manchester

YHA Manchester — a hostel in england west midlands.

View from Beetham Tower - geograph.org.uk - 6571896📷 5

Hotels · North West England

Hilton Manchester Deansgate

Hilton Manchester Deansgate — a hotel in england west midlands.

hilton.com
Peterloo memorial plaque, Peter Street, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 7965189📷 7

Hotels · North West England

Radisson

Radisson — a hotel in england west midlands.

Luxurious Entrance - geograph.org.uk - 4882367📷 5

Hotels · North West England

The Lowry Hotel

The Lowry Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands.

Freethelowryhotel.com
Terracotta - geograph.org.uk - 8043738📷 7

Hotels · North West England

Midland Hotel

Midland Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands.

themidlandhotel.co.uk

Places to eat & drink

Sign of the Sir Ralph Abercromby - geograph.org.uk - 5532239📷 7

Historic pubs · North West England

Sir Ralph Abercromby

Sir Ralph Abercromby in England North West, United Kingdom.

manchestersfinest.com
Beetham Tower seen from Albion Street - geograph.org.uk - 6417565📷 5

Historic pubs · North West England

The Briton's Protection

The Briton's Protection in England North West, United Kingdom.

Freethebritonsprotection.co.uk
Church of St Ann - geograph.org.uk - 5609346📷 5

Historic pubs · North West England

Number 54 And Chop House Public House Thomas's Chop House

Number 54 And Chop House Public House Thomas's Chop House in England North West, United Kingdom.

Guardian Chambers, Blackfriars Street, Salford – detail - geograph.org.uk - 7876021📷 5

Historic pubs · North West England

The Crown Tavern

The Crown Tavern in England North West, United Kingdom.

Sign of the Rovers Return - geograph.org.uk - 5812185📷 5

Historic pubs · North West England

The Punch Bowl Public House

The Punch Bowl Public House in England North West, United Kingdom.

The City Arms and The Vine - geograph.org.uk - 5581753📷 5

Historic pubs · North West England

65-71, Princess Street

65-71, Princess Street in England North West, United Kingdom.

Other museums from this era

Kenwood HouseFlagship📷 10

Museums · London

Kenwood House

Kenwood House — art museum and historic house in Hampstead, London.

FreeGrade I👶english-heritage.org.uk
London , Westminster - Ripley's Odditorium - geograph.org.uk - 1739143📷 5

Museums · London

Amora London

Amora London — European touring exhibition dedicated to love, relationships and sexual wellbeing.

👶amoralondon.com
Antique Breadboard Museum📷 5

Museums · London

Antique Breadboard Museum

Antique Breadboard Museum — small museum in Putney, London, England, UK.

👶antiquebreadboards.com
Arsenal Football Club Museum📷 5

Museums · London

Arsenal Football Club Museum

Arsenal Football Club Museum — sports museum in London.

👶arsenal.com

More museums in this region

Cube Gallery📷 3

Museums · North West England

Cube Gallery

Cube Gallery — former architecture museum in Manchester, England.

👶cube.org.uk
Cuckooland Museum📷 3

Museums · North West England

Cuckooland Museum

Cuckooland Museum — horological museum in England, UK.

👶cuckoolanduk.net
Elizabeth Gaskell's House📷 4

Museums · North West England

Elizabeth Gaskell's House

Elizabeth Gaskell's House — museum in Manchester.

👶elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk
Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum of Primitive Methodism📷 3

Museums · North West England

Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum of Primitive Methodism

Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum of Primitive Methodism — Primitive Methodist chapel and museum, United Kingdom.

Free👶engleseabrook.org.uk

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.