You know that feeling when you’re trying to think of a fun day out, but you’re so bored of bowling and mini-golf and picnics and art galleries? We get it. If you’re always on the hunt for new, different things to do in the general Greater Manchester area, we have something that might pique your interest.
There are already 50 official ‘Museums of Illusions’ across the globe, but there aren’t any in the UK – until now. Well, until later this month. The company responsible for the most Instagrammable gallery experiences has finally announced the opening of its first British location, and it’s going to be in Manchester.
You may be wondering what exactly this place will have to offer, and the answer is quite a lot. You’ll be able to visit a walk-in kaleidoscope, take a trip through a ‘vortex tunnel’, and experience an ‘infinity room’. We’re not entirely sure what the last two are either, but they definitely sound intriguing. You’ll also ‘be treated to custom-made installations that celebrate Manchester’s unique culture and heritage’, which is yet another mysterious yet alluring sales pitch.
Steven Buchan, the company’s general manager, said that Manchester was the perfect place to debut these tricks to British eyes, saying: ‘Market Street, with its bustling atmosphere and central location, perfectly complements our mission to make interactive, educational experiences accessible to everyone.
‘The Manchester location will offer a unique experience that blends our globally recognised exhibits with specially curated installations inspired by the city's iconic landmarks and cultural heritage, making it distinct from our other locations around the world.’
While this is the first Museum of Illusion in the UK, it isn’t the first museum in the country dedicated to immersive optical illusion-type exhibits. If you can’t wait to be wowed, try out the Twist Museum or Paradox Museum in London, which both feature similar stuff.
Tickets at Manchester’s Museum of Illusions will start at £23 for adults and £17.50 for concessions and blue light workers. The grand opening is September 27, and you can book your tickets from the museum’s website here. Prepare to be deceived!
Museum mad
Not into illusions? Don’t worry. We’ve got rankings of all of our favourite museums in the UK, as well as the best immersive museums, and some pretty spectacular sculpture parks across the country.
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