House of Manannan
Heritage centre in Peel, built around the former railway station, with Celtic, Viking and maritime history and the longship Odin’s Raven.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The House of Manannan occupies the former Peel railway station, which opened in 1873 and closed in 1968 when the line from Douglas was shut. The old station building was used to house Odin’s Raven, a two-thirds scale replica Viking longship, after it sailed from Norway to Peel in 1979. The building was extended and reopened as a heritage centre in 1997, run today by Manx National Heritage.
The visit is a guided journey through about 2,000 years of Manx history, hosted by the sea god Manannan. On the ground floor, reconstructions of an Iron Age roundhouse and a Viking longhouse sit alongside Odin’s Raven and displays of Viking art and objects. A 19th-century street scene recreates Peel, including the smells of the kipper yard.
Upstairs galleries cover the Irish Sea, the island’s maritime trades with a sailmaker’s loft and a chandler’s shop, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and the history of nearby St Patrick’s Isle. A gift shop, a coffee station and a temporary exhibition gallery can be visited without an admission ticket.
Highlights
- Odin’s Raven, a replica Viking longship that sailed from Norway in 1979
- Reconstructed Iron Age roundhouse and Viking longhouse
- Nineteenth-century street scene of Peel with kipper yard
- Maritime displays including a sailmaker’s loft and a chandler’s shop
- Gallery on the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Permanent exhibitions
- Odin’s Raven and the Viking Age – A replica Viking longship, a reconstructed Iron Age roundhouse and a Viking longhouse with Viking art and artefacts.
- Streets of Peel – A recreated nineteenth-century Peel street with a kipper yard, a sailmaker’s loft and a chandler’s shop.
- Isle of Man Steam Packet Company – A second-floor gallery on the ferry company, followed by a gallery on St Patrick’s Isle.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Manx National Heritage
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £14 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children are admitted free; those aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companions of disabled visitors are admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | £7Over 18 with a valid student card. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Discounts for pre-booked groups of 15 or more paying visitors, booked 7 days in advance. |
A voluntary £1.50 donation is added to tickets and can be declined at the ticket desk. Free entry for Friends of Manx National Heritage members (named member with card and photo ID), GO Explore Heritage and GO Platinum Reserve pass holders. Holiday Passes and Annual Passes are available; they are named and non-transferable. Some special events cost extra.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The three floors are fully accessible, with a main lift and platform lifts where there are steps. A few galleries have heavy non-automated doors; staff can help. Accessible toilets are near the entrance and on the second floor. Free disabled parking bays are in the rear car park and at the front of the building. Hearing loop at reception, wheelchair loan, torches and ear defenders available. Assistance dogs are welcome. A downloadable access guide, floor plan and film transcripts are available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
Young children are welcome and there are interactive galleries and special activity areas for them. The dark ground floor with the roundhouse and longhouse can feel scary; torches and ear defenders are available and staff can help families start upstairs. Prams can be taken everywhere by lift or left in the cloakroom. Baby changing is in the accessible toilet and the ladies’ toilets on the ground floor.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus stop outside the entrance (drop-off from the Douglas route only)
Bus routes 4, 4B, 5, 5C, 6 and 6A.
By car
Free parking
Large free car park behind the building, additional spaces at the front and an overflow car park off Mill Road.
- Accessible parking
The bus from Douglas takes about 25 minutes. The stop outside the museum is for arrivals from Douglas only; the main Peel bus stop is a steep 10 minute walk away by the cathedral and town hall. Coaches park in the overflow car park off Mill Road.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
Coffee station café on the ground floor and a gift shop. Lockers take £1 Manx coins. Free Wi-Fi is mentioned only for the second-floor education suite. Bus Vannin GO Cards can be bought or topped up on site.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
A second-floor education and conference suite can be hired; venue hire and weddings are offered through Manx National Heritage.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The displays follow a set route from the ground floor to the second floor, with film transcripts for the ground and first floors. Descriptive tours can be arranged in advance. Drones are not permitted. |
