Description
Looking for the best things to do with kids in Bolton? Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive is a fantastic, family-friendly cultural attraction located right in the heart of Greater Manchester.
Admission to the museum and aquarium is completely free of charge for all visitors, making it an accessible and budget-friendly day out. It features a world-renowned ancient Egyptian collection, local history galleries, and Greater Manchester's only public aquarium housing thousands of aquatic animals from global freshwater habitats.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids in the North West, this cultural venue combines hands-on learning with an astonishing array of natural history and aquatic life.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
What makes Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive unique?
- Greater Manchester's only public aquarium featuring over 70 varieties of freshwater fish from across the globe.
- World-class Egyptology galleries housing more than 12,000 genuine ancient artefacts, including a recreation of a pharaoh's tomb.
- Interactive learning spaces providing children with engaging, hands-on experiences across local history and natural science.
- Stunning civic architecture situated within the historic Le Mans Crescent civic centre.
What are the top 5 highlights to see?
- What can you see in the Aquarium basement? This hidden underwater world brings together over 70 types of freshwater fish from rivers and lakes in South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Children love peering into the meticulously recreated habitats, which range from Amazonian streams to African swamps.
- How does the Ancient Egypt Gallery bring history to life? This gallery is widely celebrated for housing one of the UK's finest collections of Egyptian items outside of London. Families can walk through a full-scale burial chamber and view authentic 3,000-year-old mummies, amulets, and jewellery.
- What makes the Bolton's History galleries exciting for kids? Young explorers can journey through the town's industrial past via interactive displays and recreated historical street scenes. It provides a fun, visual way for children to understand how local cotton mills and coal mining shaped the region.
- What is unique about the Archive and Local Studies? This section safeguards centuries of historical documents, photographs, and maps detailing the heritage of Bolton. It serves as a fascinating stop for older kids and teens interested in local ancestry and historical research.
- Where can you find the 'Unpacked' room? This quirky gallery displays rotating selections from the museum's vast reserve collections chosen by local volunteers. Families can spot wonderfully eclectic objects ranging from vintage household items to unique natural science specimens.
13.59 miles
