IWM North

Incredible museum where you can truly feel the history. A powerful place that honours the brave people who fought in the war, with thoughtful and moving exhibitions throughout. The displays are well presented, and there’s so much to learn and reflect on. There’s even a piece of the Twin Towers on display, which adds an emotional and global perspective to the experience. Highly recommend a visit ,beautiful, educational, and deeply meaningfuly

Very interesting. Be prepared to use all your senses in this visit! Lots of items on display with good information. Very good amount of interactivity. Enjoyed the enigma interaction to decode the message. Reading some of the letters on display brought a few tears. Guess the smells was very interesting. To have a chance to learn how things like chlorine gas and mustard gas smell was an unexpected part of the visit. There was a similar guess the feel display but we didnt do that! Need a good few hours to explore and read everything. Plenty of screens to watch and things to listen to. Was nice to walk around the quays afterwards to appreciate the world we have at the moment, after that blast through the history of war. Parking was very easy. Entry is free for everyone. There is a lift, if needed.

Took a trip to Manchester and went to the museum on a date. It was good, I learned about different things this date and took lots of pictures. Free entry and they also have a shop at the end where you can purchase a lot of things.

This was a fascinating museum to visit, running through the impacts of the two world wars for the most part! Info is shown about Britain adapting by 1944 to German attacks during the second world war and what was used amongst their military in the day-to-day, including the national registration identity card and the British MK XVII Contact Sea Mine from the period is also kept here. The Dennis fire fighting trailer pump from this war is an intriguing addition and the WE.177 is shown along with info about its creation, also discussing the raw power of this bomb which is impressive! Left vs Right battle before the first world war in Germany is a solid story to read about with posters of both sides from the revolution and there is also a wall with anti-fascist posters from people who predicted how evil it truly was, the unique design of a fighter plane with sticks all over is great too.

First time I’d visited here for almost 20 years. Still free entry, which is great. The collection & use of the space has improved a little over that time. A couple of interactive exhibits such as tank driving & an Enigma machine (both screen based) to have a play on. Parking is run by NCP but the pay machine was out of order so you may want to download the app just in case.

Would really recommend IWM North to anyone. Laid out really well and lots of historical pieces. There is a couple of interactive things for the kids to do also. The shop has a great selection of items as well. Took me and my 12 year old son 1 hour 30 minutes to go round and he was very impressed with the museum. Definately worth a visit if your in the area!

This war memorial museum is an absolute must-visit. The creativity is remarkable, with 3D animations shown every 40 minutes that bring history to life. The experience feels surreal, with real artifacts, remnants of war, powerful survivor stories, and the sacrifices made by our heroes on display. Knowledgeable staff explain war strategies in detail and even let visitors try on different types of soldier helmets and armour used throughout the years. For a free tour, the quality is outstanding, though donations are welcome, and there’s also a great shop with Imperial War Museum branded gifts. The action stations are a fantastic way to interact and experience real-life wartime scenarios. Truly worth the time, highly recommended!

Great visit to the Imperial War Museum. Gift shop, toilets and cafe can be found on site. As there is no charge to enter your support by donation would be appreciated gift boxes are by the side of the reception. Alternatively buy a exhibition catalogue for £6. Staff are wonderful really friendly and helpful. All in all its well worth a visit to IWM and while your in the location hop over the bridge to the Lowry centre where its also free to look through LS Lowrys pictures and paintings

We only visited to see the Northern Ireland exhibition. It's a very light touch. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seriously studying our horrible history. We lived through this civil war for about 30 years. There's no sense from this exhibition that the British Army murdered 13 innocent people in Derry and it took over 50 years for a British prime minister to apologise after failed cover up and repeated denials. There's nothing about State sponsored murders. There were no CS gas canisters on display although they were routinely used and impacted many innocent folks living in their homes. The rubber bullet on display isn't the first generation I saw used - the ones I saw were far thicker and larger and I saw them fired at head height which wasn't permitted. The murderous IRA and their loyalist equivalents aren't condemned either. Northern Ireland was a hopelessly divided place from its creation over 100 years ago and I'm not convinced it's changed much for the better.

Wow, I was thoroughly impressed with this museum. It wasn't somewhere I was particularly keen to visit, but it's free and we had some time to kill in Salford Quays, so we thought we would have a quick wander around. Well, to be honest, I didn't want to leave! The museum presents a history of war from World War I until present day Afghanistan. This is done in such an informative and interactive way it will appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. I have to admit that I didn't even know how WWI started until I visited here (the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Serbia if anyone's interested). The items they have on display are fascinating and emphasise the written words immensely well. My favourite interactive item was the mystery smells from the trenches - uumm, is that mustard gas or smelly feet?! There were models of planes, tanks and barrage balloons. There was exhibits about the role of women in WWII, there was information on the Cold war, the Falklands war, the Gulf war etc etc. It was a little depressing to watch history repeating itself over and over again but in a world full of politics, religion and greed (and oil) this is consistently going to be the result. The shape of the building is also unusual so you never really know how far around the museum you are. The building design from the outside is beautiful and contemporary but at the same time fits well into its surroundings. They usually have a special exhibition - this one was on war correspondents, but unfortunately I ran out of time to look around. There is a coffee shop and gift shop at the end, and plenty of staff available if you need to ask any questions. Best of all, the museum is free to enter, they just ask for donations and you can also buy a guidebook with all proceeds going towards the running of the museum.

Confession time. I had a huuuuuge crush on one of my university lecturers. I was in my final year at Salford University and he-who-cannot-be-named (let's just call him Izzard, due to his resemblance to cross-dressing comedian Eddie Izzard, except this Izzard didn't wear heels, he was Izzard in masculine mode. You know what I mean) was teaching a course on Representing the Holocaust. Ahh, humanities degrees. Where else can you willingly apply to strike severe depression into your heart for an entire semester. It was, however, a revelatory and I think necessary module, as I learned far more than I ever thought possible. (I learned that contemporary military history students take themselves far too seriously, but that's not relevant.) So, one particular part of the module involved visiting the Holocaust memorial at the Imperial War Museum on a field trip with Izzard himself. The museum is fantastic, so much so that I've since dragged several people there. The place is an architect's dream, jagged and bold, jutting out of the landscape like an unashamed sore thumb. At the very peak of the building's height is a lift you can go up, which is an experience I thoroughly enjoyed but I'd advise against those with vertigo giving it a try. The exhibits are excellent. My heart broke when I saw concentration camp memorabilia behind a glass case, including the very same uniform and wooden shoes Primo Levi was describing in the memoir we'd read prior. I have to admit, reading his account beforehand made the haunting little outfit in front of me far more poignant, but the paraphernalia the War Museum surrounds it with makes it highly emotional anyway - letters to loved ones, relatives, bits and pieces that were confiscated, ID cards and the like. It's visually impacting, that's for sure. The museum has an excellent cafe upstairs as well as an extensive gift and souvenir shop. I'd urge anyone who has the remotest interest in contemporary history or politics to go. It may not be the happiest of days out, but you'll learn about important historical events and come away with a feeling of knowledge and worthiness.

Has it really been three years since I last reviewed the Imperial War Museum North? This in no way reflects my frequency to the museum! On a recent visit from the other half's parents, we returned once again to have a look around and explore the Media City area. It was freezing, as Manchester naturally is, so we went directly to the museum, which is handily located across the bridge from the Media City tram stop (as opposed to Harbour City, which used to be the most conveniently located.) We were warmly welcome by front of house, then wandered upstairs to the exhibition spaces. The special space is currently occupied by WW1; you can walk from 'street to trench', learning about conscription and real life war stories along the way. The recording of veterans and women on the front recounting their personal stories was enough to tip me over the edge at that particular time, but they are very emotional and moving. The main exhibition space hasn't changed dramatically but still retains its impact, especially the large projection shows that happen on the hour, which are a very clever use of the size of the room. The window frames from the Twin Towers probably hit me the most powerfully due its closeness in time, and it's 'good' (not a word I really want to use!) to see the breadth of war being represented. I hope the IWM continues to go from strength to strength as the Quays grow in popularity.

The IWM North explores the impact of conflicts from the last 100 years on people and society. The striking building (designed by Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind) occupies a site overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal in Trafford Park, coincidentally an area which was heavily bombed during the Manchester Blitz in 1940. There's a series of images on the reception area's wall which shows how the design of the building was created. The architect imagined a globe shattered by conflict into three interlocking shards: representing war fought in the air, on the earth and on the water. Parked outside the museum building is a solitary ex-Iraqi Army T-55 tank which was captured by the British Army in 2003. You enter the museum via the bottom of the air shard and there's a viewing balcony with views of the Manchester skyline (you have to pay for this, however). You're first met by a seven metre tall three dimensional sculpture (The Crusader) which is covered with a web of war-torn buildings. I must have stared at this for about ten minutes. On the first floor there's a permanent exhibition on display in the cavernous main space, as well as regular exhibitions in a separate gallery, supported by hourly audiovisual presentations which are projected on to the walls themselves (for which you just have to stop and watch/listen as they are thoroughly interesting). The permanant exhibits are in chronological order around the main exhibition space, with six 'silos' showing displays scattered throughout the gallery. The floor itself gradually drops away like the curvature of the Earth, which was a great touch. Alongside the number of large artefacts (which includes a Harrier jet and a car from East Germany) is one which is particularly sombre in nature: a huge twisted piece of steel from the North Tower of the fallen World Trade Center. Even if you're not particularly a fan of history, this museum is an absolute must visit as what you see sticks with you long after you leave - exactly what is supposed to happen. Tip: the water shard accommodates a cafe with views of the Manchester Ship Canal.

Amazing War Museum whats free to get in, But you can donate if you like, Its amazing architecture of steel is striking from the outside as well as the inside, the exhibits are amazing and everything about the place is pretty chilling which is based on World War 1 and 2 and more up to date things like a part of structure from the World Trade Centre from 9/11. Its a fantastic museum to see when youre in Manchester.

A very interesting place to see part of history related to war. It is also very interesting how it designed the interior. A lot of artifacts and small videos to see! I recommend it. I think once an hour or at two hours there is a presentation which engulfs all the museum because there are a lot of projectors and on every wall, a video is displayed while you can hear the explanations throughout the rooms. It is very interesting especially when you can hear how the bombing happened during the 2nd Second World War. There is no fee for entrance. There is a small restaurant at the ground level to eat something light or have a coffee.

I have visited this free museum on countless occasions and have never become bored of it. Libeskind's amazing angular building which was designed to represent a broken globe houses a timeline of warfare from WW1 to the present day, themed silos, moving exhibits, amazing audio-visual shows, thought-provoking special exhibitons, a scary viewing tower, a café.... Needless to say I was very jealous when I heard that my housemate had her work's Christmas do here - right among the exhibits! Unlike Emma-Louise, I am no history buff. I mean, I took GCSE history, and have a degree in German which inevitably touched on some aspects of history, but I would never voluntarily read a history book. I would strongly recommend this museum for people like me - there isn't too much information to read, just plenty of well laid out exhibits which tell their own stories. I am a particular fan of the Trabant, a car which I often saw driving the streets of the small East German town in lived in for a year. My friend was moved to tears by the letters sent out to war widows informing them that their husbands would not be returning. I was kind of dubious about taking my 8-year-old niece here. After all, war is boring, right? However, she loved it so much that we were still here at closing time (after spending over 2 hours inside!). There are several interactive exhibits for children where they can guess the smells, dress up in camouflage and create their own symbol. She especially loved going up the clunky lift to the viewing tower and scaring other visitors by informing them that her uncle was so scared he had to go down the stairs. This costs 90p for adults but is worth it if you haven't been before and you don't have a fear of heights. I went to the museum a couple of weeks ago to catch the popular exhibition of war photographer Don McCullin's photos. I would certainly recommend a visit to this free exhibition which depicts life in pictures from his childhood in the London ghettos, to his war photographs from all over the world, to his recent landscape photography. The exhibition is on until 13th June 2010.

I'm not a massive fan of war history but this place is pretty damn cool - and free. Situated next to the canal at Salford's MediaCityUK, you can't miss its impressive, iconic exterior. But the thing that impressed me the most was a short film by the folk who produce Horrible Histories, which was projected on the walls of the museum's main room. They'd made it funny, colourful and easy for kids to understand, it was fab. There are also loads of interactive bits and pieces for kids (or adults with short attention spans) to enjoy... One thing did freak me out though - the museum has a piece of twisted metal from inside one of the twin towers, post 9/11. It sent shivers down my spine because it doesn't seem like that long ago since it happened. I'm fine with World War II tanks and cannons etc but that was a bit much for me and I had to run off in search of something fun. The gift shop is great though - they sell all your usual branded rubbers, bookmarks and pencils as well as vintage style telephones and radios. Some really good present ideas!

The IWM North is a one of my fail safe options of things to do with new visitors to Manchester or just for a cultural day out. The architecture of the building is absolutely magnificent and has to be seen by any visitors to the city, or anyone really. The museum itself, without meaning to sound condescending, does what it says on the tin. The permanent exhibition is really educational and really quite emotive in places. Every time I visit, I shed a tear. I have been to some of the other 'special' exhibitions over the years and all have been brilliant. I have never eaten in the cafe but understand the views are brilliant. My fellow Yelpers may be surprised to learn that you can hire out the main exhibition space for events. I went to the PA Awards Dinner there and it was great to see this space in a different light. There were over 200 people in this space, though I think 150 might give you more space. The food was tasty - a smoke salmon starter with balsamic sauce, chicken main and creme brulee for desert. We had a champagne reception and good wine on the table. There was also room for a small dance floor. Definitely a place to visit and a place to consider for corporate events or even personal ones such as weddings, birthday parties etc.

A few times I have been here and it's always been the same, but I suppose that's history for you haha. There is a good selection of things to see here all quite spread out in a tall open building and some nice designs on the walls. There's some cool vehicles and guns, some life size such as tanks. At certain times of the day they have a projector show on inside where all the walls have projected videos onto them and your advised to sit down, relax and learn more about the wars history with a voiceover explaining things. You can also go up to the top floor where there's a glass window in which to see the views of Salford in. All in all not a bad place to go.

Daniel Libeskind's first UK building and a simply wonderful one at that. Given that a shortfall in budget made him adapt his design rather than walk away like a spoiled brat is testament to this architects attitude and expertise. This was apparently designed after Daniel Libeskind through a ceramic teapot out of the window - the shards were then rearranged to form the basis of a new design (the shards representing a world broken by conflict). It looks fantastic from most angles and my only concern is that it's a little tucked away from, well, anywhere. Although for myself and friends, the walk across the ship canal bridge (from the Lowry) isn't that far, for elder people it might just be a barrier to going to see what is a high quality museum. However, there's talk of a tram stop nearer to the Lowry and IWMN and a brand new bridge over the ship canal from the media city to this museum. It's interior is as baffling as the exterior. It's quite easy to lose your sense of perspective and balance as it happens - floors are set at angles as are the ceilings and soon enough you'll almost be lost in a cathedral like alcove. Whilst there's rather less substantial artefacts (i.e. tanks etc.) than in the London branch of IWM, there's a whole host of personal correspondence relating to war, which actually bring the strife of conflict much closer to home. Every half hour or so the museum is completely taken over by a series of projections displayed on the huge walls dominating the interior. These are set against a soundtrack containing sound effects (quite loud - might make the younger kids jump out of their skin) and commentary about the effects of war across the world in the past and it's continuing misery today. A must see visit, but make sure you have the time to view the attraction more closely. IWMN contains a gift shop (and a good one at that) and a café.

Concentrating on people's experience of war, rather than the hardware, it's a fascinating introduction for people and keeps all ages interested. Lovely piece of architecture too.

Great museum on the war, some good exhibitions on as well. It's free to get in and it well worth a trip to have a look around. It's quite hands on as well so it's good for kids

As the months towards the next student loan get shorter, sadly I get increasingly poorer! Being bored in the flat was not an option as the sky was blue, even if it was freezing outside it had to be embraced. We wanted something cheap and so we settled on the Imperial War Museum(free). Having done an A level in history and been on many a trip to various museums throughout the years, it's safe to say that I have seen my fair share. The Imperial War Museum is one of the most interesting in appearance, although learning there was only one floor was slightly shocking given the size of it but once you step inside the museum space, you understand why! The staff were friendly and informative, the interactive stations would be good for children as would the vehicles and sea mines dotted around the exhibition. One of the best parts was when the room went dark and a moving video started playing all around, relaying the history of a soldier who had died in Afghanistan; from what I understand they show a different video every hour. The museum holds many personal items from various, and that is what bring these stories to life and what makes them special. A visit to the Imperial War Museum is most certainly an afternoon well spent!

IWM North is one of the most striking buildings in Manchester and I've been keen to see what is inside. The gallery space was smaller than I was expecting but you could still spend a good few hours here looking at the detailed exhibits. There is basically one permanent gallery and one exhibition space. At the moment the exhibition is on the first world war so it feels a little bit repetitive and somewhat disjointed as there are similar exhibits in the permanent collection. However it is all fascinating. I especially found the individual stories and social history element very moving and illuminating. Some of the ways the exhibits are presented are really original and attractive - for example there is a silo in the main hall with filing cabinets you can pull out which contain individual stories e.g. of PoWs. Another thing they have is the Big Picture show which is projected all around the walls of the main hall, although it was a bit lacking in content I thought - it leapt from the first world war to an individual who died in Iraq without really, ironically, giving the bigger picture of the impact of those wars and those in between. The drawback to IWM North is that the layout is a bit strange - the main exhibition hall has a lot of stuff round the edges with silos pushed right up against creating very narrow corridors which are not good for museum flow. You seem to be constantly is someone's way. Also, my friend was a bit disappointed there wasn't more hardware on display. I personally am not very interested in the machine aspects of things, but I can see what he means. Perhaps this is something they are intending to develop. I would not bring young children her (under 8s) because by definition the content is very adult and I thought some of the children looked quite scared during the Big Picture show, which inludes bombing noises. The cafe has a great view over the quays with windows stretching its entire length.

What an incredible place. A true gem of Manchester, the Imperial War Museum North is how modern museums should be. It's full of space, interesting design and layouts, not to mention incredible exhibits. The exhibition space is beautiful. Different zones merge into each other. The exhibits themselves blend artifacts, video and audio to really immerse you in the history of the second world war. At certain times during the day the museum has a presentation with a twist. The main hall becomes a cavernous mix of images, light and sound, as video and pictures are projected onto the jutting and angular walls of the museum. It's brilliant, and truly original. You can take a lift up to the top of the building, affording great views of the Lowry Theatre, Salford quays and Manchester as a whole. If you're scared of heights like me, then the walkway up on the viewing platform can feel a bit weird. It's steel, but full of holes so that you can see straight down into the deep space below you. I concentrated on the views outside and managed to do ok. I'd also suggest the stairs as the lift can be a bit rickety! The Imperial War Museum North is excellent, making the history of Britain's wars real, thought-provoking and engaging.

Stunning design and location. Great exhibits with a lot of information. Some things that will appeal to kids under 12, but this is really focused for teens + up. Entrance is free and parking is just a few pounds.

Confession time. The Imperial War Museum in London has been on my list of things to do and I have never gotten around to it. I hear great things about it, but there is always something else we end up doing. However, our recent visit to the Imperial War Museum North really makes me want to go see the one in London now. I'm not sure where the parking for the museum itself was, but we decided to park at the outlet since we were most likely going to have lunch there, meaning we could get our parking validated and essentially have a free four hours. The walk from the outlet is nice... on a sunny, warm day with a lot of Kodak moments to be had. We actually entered the museum from the side facing the canal rather than the main entrance on the other side. In fact, we ended up using the main entrance as our exit. Rebellious, that's us. In keeping with the fantastic-ness of the UK, the museum is free to enter, of course donations help keep the place running. We decided to purchase a book for £5 that provides some explanations and information about the museum. Not a necessary purchase, but nice to have. Currently there is an exhibit about the impact of WWI on the Northwest. My favourite part of that exhibit were the hand written letters that were on display. In this exhibit no photos are allowed, except in the area where there are costumes to put on. The museum does a good job of displaying items and information about various conflicts, not just one particular war. In the main exhibit hall, I'm not sure there is a method to making your way around as it is a huge space with items all over with six silos (rooms) addressing specific ideas, for example Perceptions of War or Science and Technology. We had come in right as a 'Big Picture Show' was starting. Every hour for about 15 minutes, the main exhibit hall becomes a screen for different aspects of war, we happened to see the one called Rotten Rationing. I didn't remember seeing a schedule of what is shown at each hour (I thought it was the same one over and over), but if you take a look on the website you can see which show is shown and perhaps plan your visit accordingly. There were some quite moving parts of the museum, for example I found the piece of one of the fallen World Trade Centers and the video of footage from the Vietnam to make me a bit teary eyed. However, there were also interactive stations, some perhaps geared toward a younger patron. It is interesting how young some of the children were that were accompanying their parents. We tried out some of the interactive exhibits, a game racing to Checkpoint Charlie from either side of Berlin, controlling a tank, etc. One activity was guessing different smells of war. Let's just say that you should probably have a strong stomach for it. I didn't do it, but Mr. Snarky's reaction was all I needed to know that I made the right decision. I think this museum is really well done. I know there are some issues with how close some of the walls are, making very narrow walkways and certainly with school field trips wandering about, it did make it difficult, but I am going to assume that it was done that way on purpose. There is a cafe and you can pay a small charge (£1.50 for adults) to go to the top of the shard. The gift shop is nice and I quite like all of the wartime posters/postcards. There are your run-of-the-mill souvenirs, toys for children... and adults, and a large section of books to browse. It certainly keeps your attention and I really think it is worth a visit... not to mention it is free!

Not only a local but a real national treasure, the Imperial War Museum North is an ark of artefacts and information but also of memories and attitudes related to the conflicts of this century and the last. The main exhibition room is a flowing space with exhibits running in chronological order exploring the broader social and political contexts but also the personal minutiae of people living in or alongside war. There are cases focusing on the issues surrounding the declaration of war on Germany in 1939 (predictably enough accompanied by that oft-repeated radio announcement by Neville Chamberlain) but also those examining discontent and opposition voiced by protestors and troops alike to the invasion, and subsequent war in, Iraq. In the second exhibition space the museum runs limited exhibits and showcases including, most recently and until the 13th of June, 'Shaped by War' an excellent photo-biography of the war photographer Don McCullin which I highly recommend taking a look at. From the rubble of post-Blitz London to the jungles of Vietnam and Cambodia, half a century of conflict and its effect on soldiers, civilians and Don himself are tracked in sometimes terrifyingly raw detail. Fantastic. Warning though - if you are coming without kids avoid school holidays or at the weekend, when it becomes clogged with nippers.

Good place to visit when the weather is not too good. The café is expensive but makes up for this with the amazing views over the Salford Quays. Unfortunately, we have been informed by a guard that it will shortly be moved downstairs so they may well lose customers then. We were really impressed with the exhibits and the picture shows in the museum which are all free apart from the main exhibit "Fashion on the Ration" which you have to pay an admission fee for. However there is one problem with the museum and that is the person that they get to answer their telephone at weekends! I telephoned this morning to find out what time the museum closed as I was not sure what their winter opening times are. The telephone was answered by a female who had her mouth full of food and I was hardly able to understand a word that she was saying! Completely unprofessional that she is answering the telephone eating food. Surely they have enough staff employed by the museum to be able to spare someone who can answer the telephone in a professional manner.

Until the IWM North my impression of a war museum was based entirely on a childhood experience of visiting the Museum of the Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia. Due to the impact of the Second World War and the Nazi invasion on the USSR, the history of war was diligently collected, studied, and taught. There were tanks, planes, and various guns and bazookas, but it was a very different item that remained forever in my memory. It was the flayed skin of a concentration camp prisoner, complete with hairs and fingernails. It was the most outrageous item on display, and as kids we were fascinated, scared, and repulsed by it all at once. Of course, compared to the above, IWM North is not that exciting. Being an island, Britannia experienced wartime hardships in the way, very different from either France or Russia. This is not to say that the British war efforts and losses in the two world wars were fundamentally different. However, the story of British partaking in wars is often more a story of the armed forces, rather that of civilians, and let's face it, we're forever more interested in people like ourselves. IWM North hosted several important exhibitions over the last few years. They collaborated with the RIA-Novosti archive in London to bring to Manchester a selection of Soviet photographs; they commemorated the Air Forces in Against All Odds exhibition; they tackled the problem of prisoners of war; and they regularly have photo exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, and themed weekends. The collection and all the exhibitions you may attend can overwhelm you, and to relax there is a cafe overlooking The Lowry and Salford Quays. They serve very decent food and drinks, including wine.

Situated next to the Lowry the Imperial War Museum is well worth a look. Free entry and lots to see. We went to see the 'animals at war' exhibition, there are always different things showing though. The building itself can't missed, the design is not to everyone's taste though, don't forget to go up in the lift to the viewing gallery to take in the views of the Ship Canal and Salford. Nice location on the waterfront so visit in nice weather and go for a leisurely stroll along the famous Manchester Ship Canal and pop in the designer outlet for a spot of shopping.

The Imperial War Museum North is located by the water of Salford Quays, close to Manchester. It is easily accessible by bus or tram, or if you are coming from further away they do have plenty of space to park. Entrance is completely free, there is the option to buy the guide book or make a donation towards the running of the museum. The theme is obviously 'War' but more specifically the museums exhibits focus on the world wars, with smaller exhibits for other historic conflicts. There are plenty of objects of interest, weapons, clothing, tanks, planes etc. There are also some interactive exhibits to get you involved in the sights and smells of war. Really good way to spend an afternoon, not enough to keep you busy for any longer than that.

Although in a very imaginative building and surrounded by the Salford Quays whose regeneration is fabulous, this museum is just plain boring. Most of the history on show is through read alone panels and very little comes through other media sources. This means that if you get bored easily by reading or you are distracted easily, then nothing you read goes in. You loose the plot and eventually nothing makes sense. Not my cup of tea at all.

The imposing architectural masterpiece of Daniel Libeskind stands proud in the Salford area worth the visit for the building alone. I have seen two exhibitions in the visiting exhibition space Don McCullin and, War Correspondents both were fantastic with friendly helpful staff and an effective amount of written information balanced with visual and physical exhibits. Cheap parking for the day also makes it an ideal park and ride (tram) into Manchester itself.

Quite good to visit. Has a few interested exhibits. The lift to the top didn't feel to safe though lol

It takes no less than three hours to walk through all the galleries. The museum is built like a compressing box and a labyrinth to emphasise the overwhelming sense of displacement that comes with war and its effects. The video projection started every 40 minutes or so, and felt like an unnecessary interruption, but at the same time it gives you a chance to rest. The version of History told here is debatable, especially the recent years of the war in Afghanistan.

This museum is a must visit on everyone's list. A thought provoking place,somber atmosphere. Leaves you feeling blessed. Highly recommend visiting. The world trade centre installation made a powerful impact on me and left me feeling quite emotional. After a look around the museum,we payed a small contribution to visit the observation deck. Take a lift in the elevator that transports you 100 feet up. Great views over Salford Quays and beyond!

Deffinetly a must go to for anyone interested in history. Plenty to see and can't go wrong with free entry.

Its a little strange looking on the outside and not that easy to find far from most places but near the lowry. As it is free I would say it's definatly one to do with the kids in the holidays. I went because I had to but wouldnt like to visit again as I don't agree with war.

This museum like many others in manchester is also free and also worth a visit.The architecture of the building is awesome to look at and is meant to be like a shattered globe and to stand for a world destroyed by war.It was opened in 2002 and the three areas stand for different things from 1900 onwards.these are land , sea and air.There is a great audiothing you must visit which is called the big picture.

This is an interesting place to spend a wet afternoon. We got there quite easily by tram from just by John Rylands library. The exterior of the building is an impressive art work in itself, and it looms on the skyline of the eerily empty Salford Keys. Once inside the atmosphere is dark and gloomy, and black and white films of war stories are projected on the walls whilst the sound booms around the room. The exhibits are interesting and informative. I was surprised by the focus of the museum, it is more about the public's experience of war and how it affects everyday life than combat as I thought it would be. It is worth going up the tower for the view, and we had fun buying foam planes from the gift shop and flying them off the top!

The Imperial War Museum is worth visiting just to see the building itself because it is an amazing piece of architecture. It is an abstract building made of steel and houses some wonderful exhibitions on all aspects of war. They have a film show every hour which is projected onto the actual walls of the building, a modern take on the usual viewing room and in the main hall cars, a plane and even an army tank feature on show. Also many of the exhibits are interactive making it perfect for children. Instead of glamorising war it is more of a warning of war, so you do not leave feeling depressed. Highly recommended.

With the eerie excess of the aluminium that is the imperial war museum north is one of the city's treasures. The soaring 29 metre tower is accessed by a peculiar angled lift ride, but it's worth and for the view over the city and salford quays. Focusing on real people's experiences of war, this place doesn't preach but the strikingly audio/visual display certainly makes you question your conceptions of war especially in the world we live in when governments are so eager to use force on both innocent people and on other weaker governments. Highly recommended.

great looking buiding from the outside and even better cos it's free. You wouldn't tend to go back but close to lowry shopping and small walk from man utd's ground..well worth a visit but it will probably be your last for a while..can be little scary for smaller kids when it goes pitch black

I thought the building was hideous!!! I loved the museum though, I cried almost all the way around. I haven't been back for a while I must go soon.

A bit out of the way, in the white elephant that is Salford Quays. However, a great purpose built exhibition space, beautiful to look at from the outside, and also has an excellent viewing platform to look out across Salford/Manchester. And who knows, when the BBC arrive in Salford Quays, the area might actually get going after all these years.

As a visitor to Manchester I was looking for something to entertain my 18 month old daughter for the day. This was absolutely perfect. We both loved the exhibits, the hands on activities and the lovely welcoming feel of the museum. The staff were all incredibly helpful and friendly and the facilities were very good. The museum was really accessible and I had no problem with my buggy. The food in the cafe looked delicious but I only had time to sample the coffee and a homemade cake. The cafe offers a "ration bag" for kids where they can pick five items. The options were good and fresh, healthy food was available. (my daughter picked a sandwich, some fruit, cherry tomatoes, a yoghurt and some chocolate buttons which she munched on happily). The highlight for my girl (except for the chocolate buttons) was the family room which is exceptionally well equipped with toys, books, colouring in and craft supplies. All things considered we had a great day out and I would highly recommend visiting IWMN.

The IWM north is situated near the Lowry centre and reachable from the public tram to the Harbour city stop. Its a free day out but I would say its only interesting to those who like the history of war. Although its a great building architecturally, inside not much is done to try and capture attention of the 21st century child. Its definitely a trip for the adults, kids will nagging to leave unless they are interested in that kind of thing. There is a large projection show on the interior walls every so often, talking about various war topics which is about the only interesting thing about the IWM.

I moved to Manchester three years ago,and didn't even know the place was here until I had a random trawl of t'internet brought on by a fit of boredom.So having piqued my curiosity,I decided to hop on the bus to Salford Quays (X50) and take a look...All I can say is WOW! I have never been much of a fan of the aesthetics of modern architecture but the angular construction makes even the dimmest ignoramus (myself included) gasp in awe. having asked the elderly,but very friendly Car Park Attendant exactly where the entrance was (it's hidden around one of the acutely angled corners) I took a step in the general direction he had indicated, when my gaze fell on a captured Iraqi T34.When you get up close to it,you have to feel for the five man crew who operated these things in blistering desert conditions for months at a time (fortunately as we are informed later on,the Desert Storm campaign only lasted 100 days) On entering we walk around a huge spotlight (presumably ww2 era,although I forgot to ask) and on to the shop/entrance and up a short flight of stairs into the museum proper...I wont spoil the experience by giving you a blow by blow account of what you will find in there,but rest assured,you will be Shocked...Awed...Disgusted...Saddened...and inspired,while at the same time,being thoroughly enjoyable,and very informative.Sound weird?Well do yourself a favour and go for a look yourself and you'll see what i mean.Very well done to IWMN

Visited a few months ago, somewhere I'd been meaning to visit for years.apart from 2 members of staff I don't think I have ever encountered such a miserable group of people, no smiles no greetings, just wandering round in pairs totally oblivious to the visitors. Sadly disappointed in the place, dim lighting in most areas. All in all probably one of the most depressing visits anwhere. Northen people are renowned for their hospitality and friendliness, God alone knows where these staff members were hired. I smiled at the Security Guard and said good afternoon as I walked out, nothing just a stare from him. Wouldn't go back again or recommend this to anyone.Phoned the day after to voice my concerns, told somebody would get back to me, still waiting.Disgrace to the City.

An architechturally interesting builiding in a formerly run-down area. The museum itself is fascinating and the staff are inciteful and friendly. Only a short walk from Old Trafford and The Lowry shopping centre, making in a great afternoon out.

The IWM North is impressive and interesting if you're into militaria and the history of war. If you're not, or if you've come expecting to see lots of tanks and guns and airplanes and the like, you'll surely be disappointed. The exhibit is relatively small and if you're not the kind of person who reads all the boards, explanations and notes, you'll be done within 30 minutes. All the large equipment they have on display is an American Sea Harrier hanging from the ceiling, the turret of a German WW1 A7V tank, a soviet WW2 T32 tank and an artillery gun or the other and that's pretty much it. The "trench experience" or what they call it is really just like watching the beginning of 'Saving Private Ryan' blindfolded on super loud and is not really as spectacular as they say it is. All in all I did nevertheless enjoy it but I can definitely see how people can find it super boring, especially after having seen the IWM London.