If you’re on the hunt for ideas to entertain kids in Greater Manchester this half term, the Power Up exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester is definitely one to consider. I took my nephews, aged 10 and 7, over the recent summer holidays and it was a big hit with them. And the best part? Its not just fun for actual kids, its perfect for big kids like myself who grew up playing PC and console games! And as it’s indoors, it’s also the perfect activity for a rainy autumn day in Manchester.
What and Where is Power Up?
Power Up is a special exhibition showcasing video games throughout the years, and it’s entirely interactive so you can play on all of the games! You’ll find it in the main building of the Science and Industry Museum, in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery on Level 1.
When is Power Up On?
As Power Up is a special exhibit it’s not open every day during term time, only on Saturdays on Sundays. But the great news is, they do open every day during school holidays (check their dates here). I’ve also read that during this coming October half term the museum is opening earlier at 9am, which is ideal for keeping to daylight hours.
What Can I Expect?
The exhibition is contained in a single room, which is organised into various sections. You’ll find the Console Timeline down one wall, showcasing the oldest consoles such as the Atari from 1978, all the way up to 2013. Then there are areas/stations for different playing styles, such as 4 player, fighting games, sports games, driving games, handheld games, physical games like the Wii, and PC games. There are also arcade games and cutting edge VR gaming stations, and character/brand specific setups for Disney, Zelda, Mario, Lego and Sonic. Interestingly there are also sections for new generation games, Manchester made games and newly developed games from Bafta young game designers, so not everything in the exhibition was familiar. Most of the consoles or sections show additional information and facts on plaques, so there’s an opportunity to learn as well as play.
Our Power Up Exhibition Highlights
The best part about Power Up is there is something for everyone! We were more than happy to explore together but also split up and play on whatever took our fancy. The room isn’t huge so there was no chance of getting lost.
I loved seeing the oldest computer game set ups and attempting to play them, as well as playing favourites from my younger years including Mario Kart 64, Street Fighter II, Worms and Monkey Island. My nephews on the other hand enjoyed the more modern consoles, playing FIFA on the big screen, Minecraft, the VR games, and online multiplayer gaming. But together we also enjoyed Wii Sports, DK Bongos on the GameCube, Tennis on the 1976 Binatone TV Console and Pacman on an arcade table.
Despite clearly being a popular exhibition, it wasn’t too busy and we could always find something to play on. We must have spent 3-4 hours in there, and at no point were we bored! As well as being fun, I think its a great way of showing younger generations what computer gaming looked like when it started, and how far its come in only a few decades.
What Does it Cost and How to Book
Booking feels a little confusing because you have to book a general museum ticket (free) as well as your Power Up ticket which is £8 per person. When booking you have to select an arrival time slot, although when we arrived 20 minutes early we were still allowed to enter, so I don’t think this is too strict. The great news is, you can stay as long as you like – all day if you wish – which I think is amazing value for £8! You could explore the general museum and then visit Power Up, or if you’ve done the museum before (like we had) you can spend all your time playing video games. You also get a wristband so you can leave and re-enter if you like.
Other Top Tips for Your Visit
I would always recommend getting public transport into central Manchester, as parking is so expensive! The Science and Industry Museum is closest to Deansgate Train Station, but is also walkable from Salford Central Train Station, and the closest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield.
If you’re enjoying a visit with kids to this part of Manchester, I can recommend lunch at Bills in Spinningfields. During the summer holidays they offered free dining for 2 kids with every paying adult, and the kids menu was pretty good! I think they do the same promotion every school holiday. We also stopped off at Hey Little Cupcake, also in Spinningfields, for a sweet morning treat on the way in.
