IWM North is the Manchester branch of the Imperial War Museum, on the Trafford Park side of the Manchester Ship Canal, opposite The Lowry at Salford Quays. Daniel Libeskind designed the building as three metal shards that together suggest a globe broken apart, and the entrance sits in the tallest of them. Inside, the galleries follow conflict from the First World War to the present day, with artefacts, uniforms, personal stories and audiovisual shows. It suits anyone who wants a serious history visit with some hands-on displays, from decoding messages to a spy-themed section.
The building
IWM North opened in 2002 as one of five branches of the Imperial War Museum. Daniel Libeskind designed it with three interlocking metal shards, which are named for air, earth and water. The design was meant to create a sense of disorientation, which the architect considered fitting for a museum about war.
The entrance is in the 55-metre-high air shard. The permanent exhibition is on the first floor, in the earth shard. Libeskind also designed Berlin's Jewish Museum.
The site was chosen with care. Factories on the land made munitions, tanks and engines during both world wars. The building was also constructed on a Manchester Blitz bombsite.
What is inside
The museum holds tens of thousands of artefacts, images, sound recordings, works of art and films. The main gallery runs as a timeline from 1914 to the present, with objects and personal stories from veterans and civilians at each stage.
The main hall displays a Soviet tank, the first British gun fired in the First World War, and a fragment of bent steel from the World Trade Center. Audiovisual shows use sound and projected images to bring the conflicts into the room.
Special exhibitions have covered life in Britain during the Blitz and artistic responses to conflict. The museum also has a spy-themed section and displays on wartime communication, secret intelligence and codebreaking.
Visiting with children
The museum is family-friendly and has kid-friendly activities. The spy section and the decoding and smell activities give children something to do between the galleries.
Some explanations are written for adults. Be ready to read them aloud for younger visitors. A family trail sheet is available from the Welcome and Information Desk.
Assisted listening devices are available for those who need them.
Food, shop and facilities
There is a restaurant and a café on site. The café serves food and drinks, and the restaurant is listed among the on-site services.
The gift shop sells books and souvenirs. The restrooms are kept clean, and there are changing tables for babies.
The entrance, lift, restrooms and seating are wheelchair accessible, and there is a wheelchair accessible parking lot.
Getting there
The address is The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1TZ. The museum sits on the Salford Quays waterfront, alongside MediaCityUK and The Lowry theatre and shopping complex.
From the Quayside, you can see Manchester United's stadium across the water.
Häufige Fragen
Do I need to book tickets?
Booking tickets in advance is recommended. Reserve before you travel, especially if you plan a visit on a busy day.
How long do you need?
Plan two to four hours. The galleries are large, and the audiovisual shows and interactive displays take time.
Is IWM North suitable for children?
Yes. The museum is family-friendly and has kid-friendly activities, a spy section and a family trail from the Welcome and Information Desk. Some explanations are written for adults, so be ready to read them aloud.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, lift, restrooms and seating are wheelchair accessible, and there is a wheelchair accessible parking lot.
Is there parking?
There is on-site parking, which is paid, and paid street parking nearby. Parking apps can help if a machine is out of order.
