Portland Basin Museum is housed within the restored nineteenth century Ashton Canal Warehouse in Ashton-under-Lyne. The museum combines a modern interior with a peaceful canal side setting. It is welcoming, family friendly and free, with something for all ages.

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Enjoy our temporary exhibition, and step back in time on our recreated 1920s street. Take a look into our old-fashioned kitchen and parlour to find out how we used to live. Explore the area's industrial heritage and discover what life was like down the coal mines or in the cotton mills. Find out more about local crafts and industries and marvel at our historic machines. There are trails and hands-on things for children to do, and younger children will love playing shop in our indoor play area.

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The museum is proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ by visitors on Trip Advisor and is accredited by Visit England as a quality attraction to visit.

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Current exhibition

In the museum entrance space is our temporary exhibition gallery, which we change every 6-8 months. Our current exhibition, Victory! looks at the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It features lots of objects used by local families during wartime plus items from the Manchester Regiment collection. The exhibition continues until 22 March 2026.

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Events and Activities

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We have many events and activities across the year, from our children's holiday craft activities, to adult art workshops, to bigger event days. Find out about our upcoming events in the What's On section of this website.

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Our collections

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Portland Basin Museum cares for thousands of objects that were made in Tameside or used by people who lived or worked in Tameside. Many objects are on display and we regularly change our special exhibition to showcase different collections. We’ll be regularly sharing these object stories in the News and Views section so there is always something new to discover.

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Museum Shop

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The museum shop stocks a wide range of retro and vintage inspired toys, cards and gifts. New to the shop is a range of confectionery inspired by the signage in the museum's 1920s grocer's shop. The museum shop is a great place to pick up unique gifts for Christmas and birthdays, as well as souvenirs of your museum visit.

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