Northwest Computer Museum

A hands-on museum of computing history set on the fourth floor of a converted Leigh mill. Visitors can try out a large collection of computers from the 1970s onwards, including home machines, games consoles and a room of working arcade cabinets. Many of the exhibits can be switched on and played, and there are shelves of games to borrow for play on request, as well as computer magazines and books to read. Displays explain the history of each machine, and there is a replica Apple I to look at. Older children with an interest in gaming, coding or electronics tend to get the most from it, and the staff are happy to show how the machines work. The museum also runs school visits, programming workshops and evening events, and a cafe serves food and drinks on site.