Purpose-built to tell powerful stories of over a century of war, IWM North makes full use of its extraordinary architecture to deliver an award-winning immersive experience.

Opening Times

10am to 5pm daily.
Open every day except 24 to 26 December.
The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, M17 1TZ (view map)

IWM is a charity

Your support helps IWM to share powerful stories of war and conflict with current and future generations.

Discover IWM North

  • A wide view of the Poppies at IWM North

    See moving artwork Poppies now on permanent display. The installation is one of many artworks at IWM North created in response to war and conflict, including the architecture of the building itself.

  • Pair of visitors looking at a cabinet of objects
    © IWM

    Walk through a timeline of history from the First World War to the present day. Explore a vast collection of over 2,000 objects, each one with the power to move, surprise, inspire and change your perspective – from the First World War field gun that fired the opening British round on the Western Front, to the twisted rust-ridden steelwork retrieved from the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York. 

  • Big Picture Show at IWM North
    © IWM

    Immerse yourself in the 360-degree cinematic Big Picture Show that uses voices, sounds, music and imagery to ignite curiosity about challenging topics. Six shows bring a broad range of stories into powerful focus, reflecting not only on the immediate effects of war, but also what happens when the guns stop firing.

Visit IWM North

Wall display inside the main exhibition space at IWM North
© IWM

Explore the timeline from the First World War to the present day, immerse yourself in the Big Picture Show, discover the forgotten histories of service personnel and civilians and see conflict through the eyes of artists.

Its unique purpose-built exhibition space gives powerful voice to extraordinary stories of ordinary people, forced to live their lives in a world torn apart by conflict.

This is a place where every object on display, every contemporary work of art and every exhibition is designed to live long in the memory. 

Change your perspective at IWM North

 

Exhibitions and Installations

Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles

View of a hastily constructed barbed wire fence that runs across a terraced street to mark a dividing line between republican and neighbouring loyalist areas of Belfast, Northern Ireland during The Troubles in April 1972.
© Rolls Press/Popperfoto via Getty Images
View of a hastily constructed barbed wire fence that runs across a terraced street to mark a dividing line between republican and neighbouring loyalist areas of Belfast, Northern Ireland during The Troubles in April 1972.
22 March to 29 September 2024
IWM North

The Troubles engulfed Northern Ireland in conflict for nearly 30 years. It was – and remains – a contentious period, with roots going back centuries.

This free exhibition invites visitors to further their understanding of the Troubles through the multiple perspectives of individuals affected by the conflict.

How you can help

As a charity, now more than ever IWM needs your support to ensure we can continue to tell personal stories and experiences of conflict for current and future generations to come.

Volunteer Nikki in action

Volunteer with IWM

At IWM we are extremely proud to be a volunteer involving organisation with over 1000 volunteers across our five sites. Our volunteers help bring to life the stories of our collections, care for our many significant objects and promote great customer experiences.

IWM Membership

Become an IWM Member

Help tell the stories that deserve to be heard by supporting us as a member. Uncover a host of benefits including free standard admission to Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and IWM Duxford.

A Balloon Site, Coventry
© IWM (ART LD 2750)

Donate Now

Make a donation to IWM and help us to tell the stories of those affected by conflict, launch our ground-breaking exhibitions and deliver our world-class learning programmes. 

Stories from the museum

No other museum tells stories that matter more than these.

  • ATS girls using an identification telescope.
    ATS girls using an identification telescope. © IWM TR 476

    History

    From the First World War to the present day, explore our articles on war and conflict, and its impact on service personnel and civilians. 

  • Visitors explore the IWM North collection
    © IWM

    Museum Collection

    Explore around 800,000 items online that tell the story of modern warfare and conflict, collected by the museum since 1917.

  • IWM Stories Thumbnail

    IWM Stories

    IWM Stories is a video series from the Imperial War Museums that tackles big conflict questions.

    We look at some of history's most important conflicts and examine how they were won and lost. 

Sign up and discover more...

Learn more about Imperial War Museums and be the first to hear about the latest exhibitions, events and offers. Sign up now and get 10% off online shop purchases.

IWM Gifts

Browse our carefully curated edits to find that perfect gift for a loved one.
Free delivery on orders over £50