If you're planning a trip to the city of Manchester, consider taking time to visit the fabulous Museum of Science & Industry. As well as it's historical and educational focus, there are plenty of hands on exhibits to keep the whole family entertained.
We recently spent a fun couple of hours exploring the various displays - we could easily have spent longer but were heading off on a Bee Hunt to see the amazing artistic talent showcased during the Bee in the City exhibition, 2 of which are located near the museum building, another within the grounds itself.
Located on the corner of Liverpool Road and Lower Byrom Street, the museum is an easy walk away from Deansgate-Castlefield tram station and Deansgate train station.
Opening hours are 10am - 5pm and entrance is free - although there's a suggested donation of £3 per person, which can be dropped into the box located in the main entrance hall.
Hint: Make sure you pick up a visitor map when you arrive. On the back you'll find a What's On guide listing various Live Events, Exhibitions and Displays as well as Other Things To Do. Many of these extras are free to participate in but some may require booking in advance, or have an age restriction.
During our visit, there was the chance to make your own soap bar, become a weaver, plus a special engine demonstration for youngsters in the Power Hall, as well as many other opportunities to experience the museum in more detail.
The museum comprises a number of buildings, one of which is located across the road from the main entrance.
Head to the Power Hall to get up close to a jet engine, see inside the cockpit of a steam train and learn about the workings of various steam, gas and car engines, as well as the huge waterwheels located here.
Although it's hidden at the back of the site, we recommend a visit to the Station Building. Access is from the Upper Yard and you can learn about the history of the building and railway depicted through the photographs on display, before descending the stairs to the main entrance hall. Imagine the people who passed through here and wonder where their journeys took them.
Walk further through the Station Building to discover Wasted? The Trouble with Rubbish displays, with a number of practical exhibits highlighting the importance and impact of waste, reusing and recycling.
One of our favourites depicted the change in rubbish produced from 1898, today and predictions for the future. See if you can spot the mobile phone hidden in the tubes of waste.
Back outside again, you can access the 1830 Warehouse building located in the Lower Yard. Here you'll find the Connecting Manchester displays with an emphasis on communication and technology.
The Great Western Warehouse houses the Textiles Gallery (complete with various machines) and Revolution Manchester, which focuses on the science and industry aspect.
In this building, you'll also find the one area we all enjoyed, Experiment! A large section full of hands on scientific exhibits including: breaking sound beams to make music, testing your reflexes with sound and light, optical illusions, a number of mind bending puzzles to solve, such as making a square out of various shapes, building a pyramid with tennis balls, completing patterns on a number of square tiles and there's even the chance to lift a mini.
We recommend leaving this section until last as you may have trouble tearing the kids away, plus other areas of the museum may not have the same appeal once you've visited this one.
Across the road from the main entrance is the Air & Space Hall, which is well worth a visit. Here you'll find a large collection of planes and cars, as well as a Flight Simulator and Space Descent Virtual Reality with Tim Peake show.
Most memorable for us were the Roe Triplane, Rolls-Royce Roadster and the huge Avro Shakleton.
If you wish to eat while visiting the museum, you're welcome to bring your own picnics to enjoy in the designated areas within the Great Western Warehouse or Air and Space Hall.
There's also a Bistro located on the same level as Experiment! serving a number of hot meals such as pizzas, burgers, fish and chips or hot pot, as well as sandwiches, salads and children's meals.
For lighter meals and snacks, the Warehouse Cafe serves sandwiches, children's lunch boxes and a rather delicious selection of cakes.
You can easily spend a few hours enjoying the museum, and there's plenty to appeal to all ages, making it an ideal location for the whole family.
If you're visiting before September 23rd 2018, pick up a Bee in the City Explorer Trail Map from the museum reception desk and head out into the city for a bee hunt to find some of these wonderful creations:
