Explore Knowsley's social history through engaging displays of local people, businesses and industries including watchmaking, pottery and mining.

Prescot Museum is a social history museum dedicated to telling the story of Knowsley's people, places and businesses. Located in a contemporary shopping centre setting, the museum combines traditional displays with modern surroundings, making history accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages. The museum's extensive collection features over 14,500 objects, including photographs, tools, costume, domestic items, coins, badges and architectural fragments. Displays focus on the region's industrial heritage, showcasing the history of watchmaking, pottery manufacture, cable making and coal mining. The colourful, informative exhibits reveal how local people lived and worked throughout history. Prescot Museum also houses Kirkby Gallery, Knowsley's contemporary art gallery, which features a changing programme of exhibitions, events and activities. The venue is currently refreshing its displays with new objects and images from the collection, ensuring visitors always have something fresh to discover. The museum welcomes families and welcomes donations relating to Knowsley's history. Educational programmes and research facilities are available for those seeking deeper engagement with local heritage.

Venue Details

What this place offers

Toilets

Public transport nearby

Accessible toilets

Free WiFi

Baby changing facilities

Food available

On-site parking

🐕Dog-friendly

Parking nearby

Pushchair friendly

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Andy Day

9 months ago

Really enjoyed the hour or so I spent there, browsing the display cases, and reading the explanatory sheets provided. It's free to visit.

H

Happily Wandering

a year ago

I popped in as it was close to my dentist. It's a shame the clock museum went. Here in the shopping centre you will find a small museum inside a library. A nice little collection explaining Prescots history

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Geoff Pottenger

2 years ago

A very concise display of local history, interesting but limited to a few pieces of what is a complex hidtory. However there are lots of information boards scatered around the shopping area that elaborate on some aspects of the towns history. Its free so no real complaints and I got to see more of the town than I expected. Its a shame that the old museum had no close, but the organisers of the museum have done a great job of maintaining the essence of a museum, with such limited resources

T

Tina Ball

10 years ago

The Museum has lots to offer and even more on display than it did previously! There are lots to do, look at and find out more about. Family First Saturdays offer fun for family visitors on Saturdays between 12.30 to 3pm - well worth going along to!

G

Geoff Conway

13 years ago

You can't really call it a museum. It's the sort of display you may expect to find in a school corridor. Unfortunately lack of visitors to the old museum probably made it an easy decision for the accountants and so we got what we deserve - a few glass cases in a one stop shop. Tragic.

Reviews last updated: 7 October 2026