Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. The Museum of Making  is a modern museum, opened in 2021, beside the River Derwent and near the centre of Derby across a small park from the cathedral. The museum entrance is into a grand civic hall that includes a suspended Rolls Royce jet engine and a disassembled Toyota car. The museum has a variety of exhibitions on making and manufacturing, often themed by the material used, though perhaps "making" is rather a broad remit, leading to a somewhat fragmented narrative. The Museum of Making What's Here? The Museum of Making is an ambitious modern museum in a historic silk mill. This is a museum based around objects rather than a central activity such as a particular industry, though there is a small exhibition on silk making and on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site, which was supported by a friendly volunteer on my visit. The entrance opens into the airy Civic Hall, which features a Rolls Royce jet engine and a Toyota car, both suspended from the cei...

In Brief.  The Kelham Island Museum is a compact but surprisingly comprehensive museum on the industrial heritage of Sheffield. Located by the River Don, in a former factory site, the museum captures the history of manufacturing in Sheffield and the diverse products made from its steel, from saws to ships. The museum is densely packed with exhibits, and includes as a highlight the River Don Engine, the most powerful working steam engine in Europe, which is worth seeing in action. A Bessemer Converter outside the museum. What's Here? The Kelham Island Museum is located in an industrial site by the River Don, adjacent to a mixture of historic industrial buildings, typically repurposed, and modern offices and flats. The museum is near part of the Upper Don Walk, which provides a chance to see other post-industrial areas, though this is much more low key than the Leeds Waterfront . The museum itself has a collection of themed spaces, so that it is possible to follow the evolution of ...

In Brief. Quite a few National Trust properties run festive lighting events, and at Dunham Massey this is on a grand scale. We visited the Dunham Massey trail several years ago, and my recollection is that it was quite a low-key affair; think illuminated trees in the gardens. However, for 2022 there is a much more substantial event, with a series of installations, timed entry slots, on-trail catering and crowds. There has been significant effort put into making a spectacle of walking through a garden in the dark and cold, but if you learn anything from this blog for a visit in 2023, it should be  wrap up warm! The hall from the gardens. What's Here? This is a book-ahead event, with ticket prices that would pay for a trip to Pizza Express if you fancy something more predictable and inside. The carpark was largely full when we arrived for our 7:30 slot, and visitors are channelled along a path past larger-than-life illuminated deer to the largest of several Christmas Market style ca...

In Brief. Jodrell Bank  his best known for the Lovell Telescope, which when completed in 1957 was the largest steerable radio telescope in the world; with a diameter of over 75m, it is still an impressive site. As a visitor attraction, in addition to a walk round the Lovell Telescope with several associated displays, there are also several Pavilions, some with exhibitions. The most noteworthy of these is the First Light Pavilion which opened in 2022, with an engaging exhibition on the history of the Lovell Telescope and an auditorium with a large curved screen showing space documentaries. The Lovell Telescope What's Here? The centerpiece of a visit to Jodrell Bank is likely to be following the path adjacent to the Lovell Telescope, which includes several display boards on the history and use of the telescope. This includes an early application tracking Sputnik 1 . It is still a striking sight, and the information provided, along with some associated exhibits, provide insights into ...

In Brief. York is a serious tourist destination, and it certainly isn't possible to "do York" in a day. So choices need to be made, and I chose to walk the walls for an overview, visiting the castle part way round, and to finish at York Minster . The walls are around two miles, and provide access to the gates and the castle, as well as views of the rivers and the city. The castle keep is compact and somewhat interesting, with commanding views, though for a site of this size the entry fee is as steep as the climb. The Minster is the real deal, grand on the outside, and with remarkable interior spaces; worthy of time and respect even if visiting churches is not your thing. Approaching York Minster What's Here? York has a long history, which is reflected in its rich and varied architecture, and different periods are also represented in well known museums on the Vikings and on Railways.  So, there are different possible flavours to a day trip to York, but the choice is so...

In Brief. The Hepworth Wakefield , named after the sculptor Barbara Hepworth who was born in Wakefield, is a bold modern gallery on the banks of the River Calder.  The building itself, which was opened in 2011, contains ten light and spacious galleries, five of which are focused on the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, with the remaining five housing temporary exhibitions. There is also a garden alongside the gallery with densely planted borders and some additional sculpture.  The Hepworth from the garden. What's Here? The Hepworth seems like a successful take on what a modern gallery can be. Anchored on the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth, whose work is represented by examples from throughout her career including early figures through assorted experiments with different materials and forms, to a scale model for the 6m tall Winged Figure. There is also a room that includes various tools from her workshop, and a discussion of how certain sculptures were made. These a...

In Brief. Dunham Massey is a perennially popular National Trust property, with an 18th Century mansion adjacent to pleasant (not too) formal gardens and a substantial deer park. Much of the interior of the hall dates from the early 20th century, so most visitors come from the grounds, which include good spaces for picnics as well as longer walks. The mansion from the gardens. What's Here? Dunham Massey offers three distinct environments: a house with exhibitions and a few grand spaces, a relaxing formal garden for perusing or picnicking in, and a deer park for longer leisurely walks.  The original hall dates from the 17th Century, though with significant subsequent remodelling, and much of the interior dates form the early 20th Century.  Thus the fabric of the house doesn't capture the history of its occupants in the same way as, for example  Lyme does, but there is a grand main hall, an ornate state bedroom, and an interesting exhibition on the building's role as a mil...