Manx Museum
The national museum of the Isle of Man in Douglas, telling 10,000 years of Manx history with Viking treasure, a national art gallery and natural history.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Manx Museum opened in November 1922 and is the headquarters of Manx National Heritage, the island’s heritage organisation. It occupies the former Noble’s Hospital on Crellin’s Hill in Douglas, a building bequeathed by Rebecca Noble that stood empty for nearly a decade after the hospital moved in 1912. The first director was Philip Moore Callow Kermode.
A major remodelling between 1986 and 1989 added a large extension with a lecture and film theatre and an art gallery, and Queen Elizabeth II, as Lord of Mann, reopened the museum in 1989. The building also houses the National Library and Archives, which can be visited in a separate reading room.
The galleries follow the island’s story from the Stone Age to the present, starting with an introductory film. Displays cover prehistory, the Viking Age and its hoards of silver and gold, the story of Tynwald, Victorian tourism, the TT races, natural history and the island in the two world wars. The National Art Gallery shows work by Manx artists such as Archibald Knox, and the Exploratorium is a play gallery for young children.
Highlights
- Viking Gallery with silver and gold hoards
- National Art Gallery with works by Archibald Knox, William Hoggatt and John Miller Nicholson
- The Story of Tynwald, the oldest continuous parliament
- Mann at War gallery, 1750 to the present
- Exhibitions on the TT races and Victorian tourism
- Exploratorium play gallery for young children
Permanent exhibitions
- Viking Gallery – Viking-age silver and gold hoards from the island, with displays on the Norse settlement of Mann.
- National Art Gallery – Paintings and designs by Manx and Manx-linked artists, including Archibald Knox, William Hoggatt and John Miller Nicholson.
- Mann at War – A gallery on the island’s wartime role and military history from 1750 to the present.
- Founded
- 1922
- Operated by
- Manx National Heritage
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | –Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. |
|---|
Entry is free, with a suggested average donation of £10 that can be declined when buying a ticket. 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 main galleries are fully accessible, with lifts and ramps at level changes; the archaeology reference gallery is reached only by 13 steps. Three disabled parking spaces are opposite the entrance. There are accessible toilets, and the museum has the first publicly accessible Changing Place toilet on the island (users bring their own sling). Hearing loops at reception, shop and reading-room counters; a wheelchair can be borrowed; torches and ear defenders are available; there is a quiet room and sensory fidget backpacks. Descriptive tours can be arranged in advance. Assistance dogs are welcome. A downloadable access guide is available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Young children are welcome, and the Exploratorium gallery is designed for play. Sensory fidget backpacks can be collected at reception. There is pram access throughout via lifts and ramps, with baby changing in the accessible and standard toilet blocks, and breastfeeding is welcome. Food and drink are not allowed in the galleries; a picnic area is behind the car park.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Horse Tram Broadway stop
Bus routes 3, 3A, 22, 22H, 25 and 25H; Douglas Bay Horse Tramway (Broadway stop), Manx Electric Railway and Isle of Man Steam Railway stations in Douglas.
By car
Free parking
Small free car park at the museum with three disabled bays opposite the entrance. Chester Street Car Park (pay by coin or card) has a lift to level 8 and a footbridge to the museum. Nearby streets are in a two-hour parking disc zone that does not operate at weekends.
- Accessible parking
The museum stands at the top of the steep Crellin’s Hill. Douglas bus station is a 10 to 15 minute walk away. The step-free route is by lift from Chester Street Car Park and across the footbridge. Coaches use a bay on Finch Road at the bottom of the hill.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi for visitors. Gallery shop with gifts and souvenirs. The Bay Room Café is temporarily closed. There is no dedicated cloakroom, but coats and bags can be left in a hanging area next to the lecture theatre, which also has small lockers. There is an outdoor picnic area behind the car park.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
A lecture theatre and seminar rooms can be hired.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
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| Good to know | A free digital guide with extra behind-the-scenes content is available through the Bloomberg Connects app. The Story of Mann film runs in the lecture theatre every 30 minutes. Drones are not permitted. Descriptive and familiarisation tours can be arranged on request. |
