Located almost a mile outside the central core of the city this museum tells the story of Manchester Jewry and the people associated with it whilst also putting on special events and exhibitions. The building was built as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in the Moorish style in 1874 by the Manchester Jewish architect Edward Salomans.

The tours around the building for non-Jewish visitors are interesting for the insight they give into the religion. Notable members of the local Jewish community have included Chaim Weizmann, first president of Israel who was resident in Manchester for many years and the writers Jack Rosenthal, Howard Jacobson and Maise Mosco.

Opening Times
The museum is open Monday to Thursday 10.30-4.00 and on Sundays 10.30-5.00. Visits at other times can sometimes be arranged in advance. Ask at the time of booking.

Booking your visit
Booking ahead is essential if you are bringing a group of foreign students to the museum. This means the museum will know that the group are EFL students and you can benefit from the specially designed worksheets and talk about the museum and Judaism.

1. Contact the museum on tel.+44 161 834 9879 fax. +44 161 834 9801 or email at info@manchesterjewishmuseum.com and say you want to make a booking for EFL students.

2. When making the booking please give the following details: date and time of visit; your name and position/relationship to the students; name of organisation; which country/countries the students come from; number of students; age of students; students' level of English; how you are going to pay for the visit; special requests (i.e. if you are bringing Jewish students they will not need to be told the basics of Judaism so you could choose another topic i.e. history of Jews in Manchester).

3. Your booking will be confirmed and you pay on arrival.

Prices
Group discounts are available. Please ask at the time of booking.
Standard admission fees are: £3.25 for adults; £2.50 for students, children, senior citizens and the unemployed.

Transport
The museum is situated on Cheetham Hill Road (at the back of the Manchester Evening News Arena), approximately 1 mile from the city centre. The Jewish Museum is on the right hand side as you drive out of the city. There is a large sign outside.

If you are arriving by coach there is plenty of space to park right in front of the museum. This is free.
If you are arriving by bus there are frequent services from near Victoria Train station.

If you are arriving by car you can park in front of the museum or down one of the streets nearby.
If you are walking this will take approximately 20-25 minutes from the city (Victoria Station).

Other useful information

• Toilets are on the ground floor, one situated near the entrance and one at the back of the synagogue.
  
  
• There is no café or food available at the museum. If it is good weather students can sit on the grass surrounding the museum to eat their packed lunches. There is currently nowhere for students to eat inside the museum.
  
  
• Wheelchair access is only to the ground floor (the synagogue).
  
  
• Worksheets are available for EFL students as well as for other groups of students i.e. younger students. Staff at the museum can recommend which sheets are most appropriate to your group.
  
  
• Maximum group size for the museum is 55 students approx. A group of this size could be accommodated together in the synagogue but would have to split into two groups to go to the permanent exhibition upstairs. The worksheet and EFL talk have been designed to allow for this.
  
  
• There is small shop in the museum which sells books about Judaism and the Jewish community in Manchester as well as teaching materials and souvenirs. If students wish to visit the shop they should do so in small groups (max. 2-3 at a time) so it is probably best if they see the shop during the tour of the building rather than leave it until the end.