Thank you for booking your school visit to IWM North
IWM is committed to ensuring all school visits are supported as best as possible. Please review the information on this page ahead of your booked school visit and ensure you have completed the necessary preparations to help us make your experience a success. Our Public Engagement and Learning team look forward to welcoming you!
Prepare for your Visit: Essential Information and Checklist
In advance of your visit, please check and follow the steps below:
- Read the Terms and Conditions for your booking, particularly our Cancellations Policy. If you wish to cancel your booking must you must do so in writing to [email protected]. If there are any charged elements to your visit please be aware that cancellations made 28 days or less before the visit date will incur a 100% administration fee for which you will be invoiced.
- If your booking includes any entrance/session fees please check our Payment Options below and make suitable arrangements for payment.
- Check the schedule and timings sent on your Booking Confirmation email are correct and include any Learning Sessions you wish to attend. Any amendments should be requested by emailing [email protected] .
- Teachers are advised to carry out a preliminary visit to complete their own Risk Assessment. To do this you may find the Risk Identification information useful.
- Ensure you have shared with us during your booking any important information on access needs for your group so we can best support your visit. You may find this additional information on Accessibility useful.
- Plan your journey to IWM North to allow sufficient time – further information on parking, public transport and arrival instructions can be found below.
- If you have booked any Learning Sessions, please read the relevant information for your session below and ensure all accompanying staff and pupils are prepared.
- Read the What to See information below and create a plan for your day to meet your students needs. Download and print our Activity Sheets to inspire your visit. We recommend that large classes are broken into smaller groups within the galleries to ensure that students and other visitors all get the most out of their visit safely. Please ensure that your students are supervised in line with our Code of Conduct.
IWM North Information for Coach drivers
Information for coach and minibus drivers for pre-booked group visits to IWM North
Information to help you plan your visit
Pay in advance of your visit:
A single payment for the whole group can be made using a credit/debit card by phoning our payment team Monday - Friday 9am – 4pm on 020 7416 5399. Please note once payment has been taken, the group numbers cannot be reduced, the date cannot be changed and payment cannot be refunded.
Pay by invoice:
We will send an invoice for the full cost of the visit or the relevant administration fee to your finance department following your visit. Payment may be made by BACS or cheque. Cheques must be made payable to Imperial War Museum Trading Co Ltd.
Visiting us by tram
IWM North is easily accessible via the tram. Metrolink offers fast, frequent and fully accessible transport to and from Manchester city centre.
Take either the Eccles line to MediaCityUK and walk across the footbridge to reach the museum.
Or for a faster route from the city centre, take the intu Trafford Centre line to Imperial War Museum.
Visiting us by bus
X50 from Piccadilly Gardens to Trafford Centre. This services stops outside IWM North. Please note, this bus replaces the No 291. See TFGM website for timetables.
250 from Piccadilly Gardens to Trafford Centre. This service stops on Wharfside Way, Trafford Park. Alight at Village Circle and walk back to Elevator Road; continue on foot to IWM North on Trafford Wharf Road.
50 from East Didsbury via the City Centre and Salford Crescent to MediaCityUK. This service stops on the Salford side of The Quays by The Lowry. We are a short walk across the canal by footbridge.
For timetable enquiries, call 0161 228 7811.
Visiting us by car or coach
Leave the M60 at Junction 9 and join Parkway (A5081) towards Trafford Park. At the first island take the third exit onto Village Way; at the next island take the second exit onto Warren Bruce Road. Turn right at the T-junction onto Trafford Wharf Road.
Alternatively, leave the M602 at Junction 3 and follow the signs.
Visiting us by train
Plan your journey to central Manchester train stations and continue by tram.
Our carpark is open every day, between 7am- 7pm. Secure parking is available for 160 cars, including designated parking spaces for Blue Badge holders, available on a first-come, first-served basis (regular charges apply). IWM is a charity and the income from car parking provides vital funds for the museum, to allow us to continue to develop exhibitions and learning programs. The car park gates close at 7pm, and access cannot be granted after this time. Please ensure you leave the carpark before 7pm.
Payments must be made upon exit, and can only be made by credit or debit card payment. Our payment machines do not accept cash payments. You can either pay at our payment machine, by phone, or online at ncp.co.uk/paylater after your visit. You need to make your payment within 24 hours after leaving the carpark.
The car parking charges are:
0-4 hours £5.00
4-6 hours £7.00
6-8 hours £8.00
8-12 hours £10.00
Coach parking is charged at £15.00 per day
Vehicles cannot be slept in or left in the carpark overnight.
We don’t currently have charging points for electric vehicles.
Our car park is managed by NCP carparks. Season tickets and coach parking can be purchased at our payment machine, by contacting NCP, or online at ncp.co.uk.
Please read the Terms and Conditions available within the carpark. For all queries regarding parking, PCNs, or assistance, please contact NCP directly on 0345 050 7080.
- Please go to the Group Entrance on the car park side of the building near the tank.
- Beside the Group Entrance you will see Man on Fire, a sculpture created by award-winning sculptor Tim Shaw. This dramatic work inspires strong feelings in the viewer. It uses powerful imagery and draws on challenging themes. This teacher resource is designed to provide more information on the sculpture and the artist.
- Wait until your specific arrival time to get off your coach.
- In case of early arrival, please remain on the coach until one of our Meet and Greet Volunteers has come to collect your group.
- Once your group has entered through the Group Entrance, you will be given a numbered box by one of our volunteers to place your groups, coats, bags, and lunches into. This room is not supervised so please take any valuables with you.
- Where possible we ask groups to leave coats on coaches as we have limited storage in the cloak room.
For safety reasons and to give children the best possible visit, all groups must follow the adult to child ratio in our Code of Conduct. We reserve the right to refuse admission to groups that do not meet the minimum ratio. We expect all groups to be actively supervised.
- For Primary aged students, there should be one teacher per ten students (1:10 ratio). Primary-aged students are required to be always within sight of an accompanying adult whilst at an IWM branch.
- For Secondary-aged students, there should be one teacher per fifteen students (1:15 ratio). Secondary-aged students may explore IWM branches independently so long as their behaviour is sensible and they are within hearing distance of an accompanying adult.
Please note, as a condition of your booking, your organisation will be liable for the cost of any damage to property resulting from reckless behaviour by members of your group, or from the negligence of responsible adults in regard to their supervision of the group. This property is not exclusive to, but includes, items in our collection or in our care (including large vehicles and aircraft), and those of our partners. It also includes buildings and other property belonging to IWM or our partners.
- Main Exhibition Space – Trace the history of conflict from 1914 to the present day by following the Timeline
- Discover more about key themes, such as women in wartime, the Empire and the legacy of war
- Big Picture Show – A 360° audio-visual experience in the Main Exhibition Space. The shows cover a range of subjects, including rationing, remembrance and life on the home front during the Second World War. Take a look at our Big Picture Show times
- Special Exhibition Gallery and WaterWay – These exhibitions change regularly
Exhibitions may display material relating to the consequences of conflict. Teachers should consider what is age-appropriate for their students.
For further information visit our What's Here pages.
We have Visit Resources and Activity Sheets for primary and secondary school groups ready for you to print and download! We kindly ask that your students bring pencils to use within the museum rather than pens, to avoid any damage to exhibition spaces.
- Your booked lunch slot can be found in your Booking Confirmation email.
- Lunch slots are provided in the Green Room which is right beside the Groups Entrance where your bags and lunches have been stored on arrival.
- The Green Room can accommodate up to 70 students at one time and is the only area inside the museum where packed lunches can be consumed.
- Please note, you may be sharing the lunch space with another schools group.
- There is a café serving hot drinks and food throughout the day. Please note, IWM cafés are cashless, and therefore will not take cash as payment.
- Our museum shops are open, and you are welcome to visit them in small groups. If you are interested in reserving Gift Bags to collect on the day, please let us know.
- Our museum shop provides a wide range of books, CDs, DVDs, clothing and accessories, posters and stationery, souvenirs and gift ideas.
- For our younger visitors we have an exciting range of games, toys and souvenirs as well as a selection of children's books. There are also educational resource materials and children's activity books on sale.
PLEASE NOTE: The gift shop is not always able to accept cash so please ask one of our volunteers or retail staff upon your arrival if you plan to visit the shop.
To make any changes to your booking or request specific information not available on our website, please contact our Customer Services team at [email protected] or on on 0207 416 5000.
Gift bags
Gift bags are available from the IWM North shop.
They cost £5 each and can be paid for in advance or invoiced afterwards.
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Souvenir gift bag
- IWM North Air exterior postcard
- IWM North photographic magnet
- Red IWM mini button badge
- Red IWM North mini notepad
- Red IWM North grip pen
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Evacuee gift bag
- Evacuation Information postcard
- Identity Card booklet (facsimile)
- Evacuation coin set
- Egg bouncy ball
- Evacuee tag
Please contact [email protected] or telephone the IWM London shop on 0161 836 4007 for further details.
On the Day of Your Visit
Late Arrival: If you are running late please call 07970894446 (or if not available
020 7416 5000).
On Arrival
Head to the Groups Entrance located near the Coach parking, where groups will sign in and must provide an emergency contact number for the School Visit Leader. Contact Details will be securely disposed of at the end of each day.
All supervising adults will be given an orange lanyard to make you easily identifiable to our staff during your visit – please return these at the Groups Entrance as you leave.
Schools Meet and Greet
The Public Engagement and Learning team provide a Schools Meet and Greet service delivered by a specially trained group of IWM volunteers. You will be greeted upon arrival, provided with essential practical information for a safe visit, and briefly introduced to the site to ensure you can find everything you need.
The Bag Room and Green Room are both located beside the Groups Entrance, and there are Toilets beyond the Shop as you enter the Museum.
During your visit, look out for IWM Volunteers wearing red around the museum, who will be able to answer your questions and share their enthusiasm for IWM’s Collections.
Health and Safety
You will be given key information on Health and Safety upon arrival, including Fire Evacuation. Additional information is included in our Risk Identification which we recommend you read as part of your preparation. Please note that responsibility for group members remains with your group leaders at all times. Please ensure the group leader keeps their mobile phone on and audible at all times in case of emergency.
Learning Sessions
If you have booked any Learning Sessions please read the teacher information in advance and check your session timings carefully. Our facilitators leading the session will meet you at the pre-arranged Schools Meeting Point for your specific session. These are clearly marked and volunteers will be able to point them out to you on arrival.
Please note that responsibility for group members remains with your group leaders at all times and students should not be left unsupervised during the Learning Session.