Salford Museum and Art Gallery wins Best Medium Museum in Family Friendly Museum Award 2026

Run by charity Kids in Museums, the national award celebrates museums, galleries, historic homes or heritage sites in the UK that go the extra mile to provide a great experience for families.

Launched in 2004, the Family Friendly Museum Award is widely recognised as a benchmark for excellence in the heritage sector. Each year Kids in Museums receives hundreds of public nominations, which are whittled down to a shortlist by an expert panel. The final say goes to families, who pay undercover visits to each shortlisted museum over the summer holidays to decide the winner.

Competing against three other museums in the Best Medium Museum category, the museum clinched the win with family judges praising the museum’s welcoming atmosphere. Judges noted the wide range of engaging, hands-on experiences available throughout the museum, from sensory activities for babies to dressing up opportunities and interactive play for older children. The museum’s much-loved Victorian street was a particular favourite, with children enjoying the chance to step into the past. Other families appreciated the small touches, such as pull-along animals that children were encouraged to ‘take for a walk’ around the space. The affordable, high-quality holiday activities were repeatedly praised, with a wide variety of ages able to participate.

One family judge said: “This was a really enjoyable visit. Staff were attentive with a lovely welcome as we arrived… We felt the child centred approach all throughout the museum and gallery.”

From the moment you arrive, Salford Museum and Art Gallery offers a warm welcome for families, with plenty to discover together. Explore seasonal and exhibition-themed trails, including a nursery rhyme trail with Makaton, and enjoy play stations featuring toys, books, games, drawing and sensory activities. Families can also borrow Gallery Babies backpacks, Sensory Bags and choosing boards from reception.

Step into the Victorian Street, Lark Hill Place, where dressing-up clothes, replica food, and a children’s activity guide encourage imaginative play. There is also a range of staff-led activities throughout the year, including Gallery Babies sensory sessions for non-walking babies, as well as holiday crafts, messy play, artefact handling and storytelling.

Naomi Lewis, Head of Salford Museums and Galleries, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to win this award! At Salford Museum and Art Gallery, the whole team works hard to provide welcoming, memorable and joyous experiences. We’d like to thank Kids in Museums for helping us to highlight how important our younger visitors and their adults are!”

Alison Bowyer, Executive Director of Kids in Museums, said:

“Congratulations to Salford Museum and Art Gallery. Winning the Best Medium Museum category is a tremendous achievement. It’s clear how much our undercover judges enjoyed visiting Salford Museum and Art Gallery, with its excellent family activities and thoughtful facilities. At a time when museums and families face significant financial challenges, it’s great to see museums going the extra mile to ensure families can have an affordable fun day out.”

The Family Friendly Museum Award has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England.

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Salford Museum & Art Gallery has welcomed visitors since 1850, with fine art and social history collections, showcased through highlights like Lark Hill Place, a recreated Victorian street and the stunning Victorian Gallery. Our exhibitions programme showcases local, national and international artists, community groups and the students of Pinc College. Admission is free and visitors can enjoy a warm welcome, an airy cafe, shop and Salford’s Local History Library. We offer family-friendly activities, many of which are free or low cost, alongside a creative programme of artist events, workshops and tours. We welcome over 130,000 visitors a year.

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Between 2023 and 2026, it will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government, alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery, to support individual practitioners, arts organisations, museums and libraries, and to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live. Visit Arts Council England’s website to learn more about its work.