Salford Museum & Art Gallery

What it’s like

Free wander round a rebuilt Victorian street and hands-on galleries, with Victorian toys to play with along the way.

The big draw here is Lark Hill Place, a recreated Victorian street indoors with shopfronts and displays your kids can poke about in rather than just look at. There's a stash of Victorian toys to play with too, plus regular "Get Hands-on" activities and sessions aimed at under 5s, so it's not a place where you're constantly saying "don't touch".

It's free to get in, which makes it an easy one to slot into a rainy afternoon without watching the clock. Opening hours are shorter at weekends, 11.30am to 4pm rather than the weekday 9.30am start, so a weekday morning gets you more time if you can manage it. Under 8s need an adult with them, and they ask for at least one grown-up per five children, which is fine for a family but worth knowing if you're bringing a group.

There's a ramp and a lift, so pushchairs and wheelchairs get step-free access to every floor, though the floor in Lark Hill Place itself is a bit uneven with low kerbs around the shop displays, which is worth a mention if you've got a toddler prone to tripping over their own feet. The café does hot food until 2.30pm and snacks until 4, with vegetarian and vegan options and a proper children's menu, and it's peanut-free if that matters to you.

Parking is the one thing that stings a little. The car park out front is small and charges apply, £2.50 for up to three hours rising to £9 if you're there all day, though blue badge holders park free for three hours. Salford Crescent station is a two-minute walk if you'd rather leave the car at home altogether.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Under 8s, with sessions aimed at under 5s too

Parking

£2.50 up to 3 hours, £5.50 for 3-6 hours, £9 over 6 hours

Food

Café serving hot food until 2:30pm and snacks until 4pm, including vegetarian/vegan options, children's options, peanut-free

Wheelchairs

Ramp and lift access. Step-free access between galleries

Getting there by bus or train

Salford Crescent railway station, 2 minute walk away

• Weekday openings start earlier at 9.30am, weekends don't start till 11.30am
• Blue badge holders get three hours free parking
• The café stops hot food at 2.30pm but snacks run till closing
• Salford Crescent station is a two-minute walk if you want to skip the car park charges
• Bring enough adults if you've got a group of five or more children

Plan your visit

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