IWM North - Manchester

Fay

Really enjoyed the visit to IWM North. It was free to enter and also enjoy the additional exhibitions especially ‘Chila Welcomes you’. I visited when large parties of school children were visiting, noisy but great to see them learning historical events and seeing exhibits. Lots to see and learn about. Would definitely return if visiting Manchester again.
Additional bonus and surprise to find the poppy installation and was able to experience it on my own
Has a great cafe with decent lunch menu as well and loved the shop which is bigger than the one in IWM in London & of course I spent money in it.
Highly recommend plus it’s in a great location near the BBC. ITV and coronation studios by the bay.

mc S.

This is a great museum. I enjoyed the Big Picture Show short films. You can easily spend 3 hours here. It is free. They have a café and a nice gift shop. The staff is friendly.

Gareth O.

I really enjoyed the Indian immigrant exhibition.

The exterior design of the museum is inspired as it imagines how war "fractures" the earth into pieces.

The gift shop and cafe are also worth a visit. I enjoyed my Eccles cake.

Aaron R.

Staff were lovely, gift shop could've been dangerous, the fact everything is orientated in a looped timeline makes things really easy to follow and the big picture shows are really informative and give a good perspective from a personal point of view.

Stephen P.

The exhibits of original items from WW1, WW2 and the Cold War conflicts were good and told a story. There's a big Harrier hung in the main entry hall. The main issue was that history stopped at about 2008, so the exhibits need bringing up to date, as regrettable war continues worldwide - to be fair, there was some video projection about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Entry is free although donations are encouraged.

Dmitrii C.

The Imperial War Museum North in Manchester is incredible! Its striking architecture by Daniel Libeskind symbolizes a world torn by war. The exhibitions are deeply moving, from soldiers’ personal stories to powerful artifacts like a World Trade Center fragment. Interactive features, like the 360-degree Big Picture show, immerse you in the history of conflicts from WWI to today. I especially loved the Northern Ireland exhibit—informative and touching. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and free entry makes it accessible to all. Great for families, with engaging missions for kids. Allow 2-3 hours to fully experience this powerful, educational gem! Highly recommend!

Andrew B.

Pretty poor, they could have done so much more with the space. It resembles an art gallery with one hall actually showing art whilst the other is dedicated to military items. You should be prepared for a lot of pictures and reading, with a sprinkle of actual military items.

M U.

It's a great place. Nicely organised, friendly staff, and a great cafeteria.

I think they show some documentaries every hour. We loved one which was on 1st World War. But we didn't like the other one (which was based on memoirs of an army personnel from a recent war (and there are lots of allegations of war crimes committed in that war). Maybe they should emphasize decolonisation of narratives, and reflect on that Wars are never wanted and it is the poor innocent souls who always lose the most.

But, this place is definitely worth a visit if you are in Manchester.