Power Up

Power Up is the hands-on gaming experience at the Science and Industry Museum, and it's open until 10 September 2027. It's set up as an interactive timeline that lets you play your way through five decades of video games, so you can start with the early days and work your way forward.

There are more than 150 consoles to try in person. It stretches from the 1976 Binatone TV Master and arcade classics like Pong and Guitar Hero right through to the PlayStation 4 and newer virtual reality experiences. The space is broken down into dedicated sections, with arcade machines, four-player set-ups, a big-screen FIFA sofa, and a Just Dance area. A selection of games developed in Manchester also features, alongside work by BAFTA Young Designer award winners. It's been one of the museum's key attractions since it first opened in June 2022, drawing thousands of visitors of all ages, and the experience is refreshed regularly.

It's open every weekend during term time and seven days a week during school holidays, so it works for a casual weekend trip or a longer stretch over the holidays. Day passes are £8 and an annual pass is £15, which makes it easy to come back more than once. The museum is on Liverpool Road, M3 4FP, in the heart of the city.