All the fun of Christmas and New Year may be over, but that doesn’t mean January has to be boring.
The perfect place to banish the winter blues opened in the heart of Manchester just a few months ago – the Museum of Illusions on Market Street.
(Image: NQ) We paid a visit on New Year’s Eve, not sure what to expect and I can confirm our minds were blown!
The former Sports Direct store has been transformed into an interactive exhibition that is the perfect blend of science and photo-worthy moments.
The truly mind-bending experience is the first UK location for the world’s largest and fastest-growing private museum chain.
Step inside and you’re greeted with an array of optical and immersive tricks that are fun for all ages – from holograms to full-scale illusion rooms.
One of the highlights is The Building Illusion, which sees you ‘hanging’ from a structure like a superhero. My two-year-old certainly came dressed for the part in his Spiderman costume while he seemingly shimmied up a drain pipe as I dangled my husband over the side of a balcony.
Striking a pose on the Building Illusion (Image: NQ) The Vortex Tunnel had my seven-year-old son clinging to the side for dear life, I was as convinced as him that we were turning upside-down. The illusion was real and we laughed a lot!
The science-meets-entertainment attraction has full explanations for how the exhibits work, such as the popular Ames Room that plays with your brain’s notions of shape.
The Ames Room (Image: NQ) This attraction really does take the notion of a dusty old museum and turns it on its head, quite literally in The Reversed Room that creates an interactive, tram-inspired illusion.
It was quite busy when we visited but easy to move around the dozens of exhibits that range from simple wall-mounted optical illusions to immersive experiences that challenge both mind and body. There were queues for some but they went down quickly and it took about an hour to complete the experience.
The Museum of Illusions is a brilliant science-meets-entertainment attraction (Image: NQ)
Tickets start from £17.50 and while walk-ins are welcome, visitors are advised to book their tickets for a preferred time slot in advance via moimanchester.com.
For the latest updates, follow @moi_manchester on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Ticket Prices – online / walk-in:
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Adult (15+) – £21.00 / £23.00
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Child (5-14) – £17.50 / £19.50
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4 and under – Free
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Senior (+65) – £17.50 / £19.50
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Student – £17.50 / £19.50
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Blue light card holders – £17.50 / £19.50 (Police, Hospital, Firefighters – all service providers with blue lights.)