The Imperial War Museum North in Stretford is offering a free day out for families, with a spy-themed exhibition and daily 'spy school' activities running through the summer holidays. The museum is free to visit and is located on the edge of Salford Quays, making it an option for keeping children occupied during a week of forecast rain.
Spy exhibition closing soon
The current exhibition, Spies, Lies and Deception, explores the world of espionage through real-life stories and artefacts, including match boxes used to communicate secret messages and moulds designed to disguise footprints. The exhibition closes on August 31.
Interactive elements for children include the 'Mission Room', where young visitors can follow a top-secret exhibition trail and gather information to see if they have what it takes to succeed in the world of spies. The exhibition has a reading age of eight and over, though younger children can visit with their parents or carers.
Daily spy school activities
Throughout the summer, the museum is running a 'spy school' in the Libeskind Room, daily from 10am to 4pm. Children can explore the stores of real-life spies, test their skills with interactive family activities and see if they can graduate from 'Spy School'.
The main exhibition space examines different aspects of war, including technology, communication and women at war. Large artefacts on display include a Harrier aircraft suspended from the ceiling, a British nuclear bomb and a piece of wreckage from the September 11 attacks on New York's World Trade Centre.
Visitor reviews and practical details
Visitors have praised the museum on TripAdvisor. One review, from Helena H, said: “A great visit. All staff and volunteers were polite, helpful, professional and gave us such a warm welcome. The exhibition was fascinating and the coffee in the cafe was good. Highly recommend.”
Another reviewer, InsightManchester, wrote: “Informative, entertaining and interesting. I took my 8 year old Grandson who really enjoyed the museum. There were lots of interactive child friendly activities. The museum is free which makes it available to everyone. He really loved doing the family spy trail.”
The museum's cafe is open from 10am to 4.30pm and serves hot meals, sandwiches and cakes. The museum is at Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1TZ.
