At the House of Manannan, the Island’s mythological sea god, Manannan, welcomes you to his fascinating Kingdom and guides you through the Island’s rich Celtic, Viking and Maritime past.

• Step inside a Celtic roundhouse.
• Listen to our storyteller who tells a troubled tale.
• Watch Manannan speak from the gently falling waters of Spooyt Vane.
• Stroll though a Viking longhouse from Cronk-ny-Merriu.
• Gaze at mist rising through stone crosses and listen to stories which span over a thousand years.
• Join the crew of Odin’s Raven Viking longship as they return from the battle of Clontarf.
• Explore 19th Century Peel quayside and discover the sights and smells of a Manx Kipper Yard.
• Walk through the quayside warehouse and discover sailmakers, coopers and chandlers shops.
• Visit ‘Spit Corner’, eavesdrop on conversations and listen to the superstitions of the fisherfolk.
• Buy memorabilia of your visit in the shop.

Information for Disabled Visitors:

This site has its own car park with disabled parking spaces available. A convenient drop off point is located in front of the main entrance. There is level access to the entrance. The inside of the building is fully accessible to wheelchair users. There are public lifts to upper floors. Wheelchair accessible toilet facilities available. Wheelchair available on request at reception desk. Guided tours can be arranged for visually impaired and blind visitors and large format information about the site can be provided. Staff receive disability awareness training. Registered assistance dogs are welcomed. It is the policy of Manx National Heritage to admit the assistant or carer of a disabled person free of charge.

Visitor Information

Open seven days a week, all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day).

Admission Charges: £3.00 Children (under 18 years) and Students, £6.00 Adults, £14.50 Family (2 adults and 2 children). Free admission is available to holders of a valid 5 Site Pass, 10 Day Heritage Explorer Pass, ACE Card holders and reciprocal agreement members.

House of Manannan and Peel Castle Combination Ticket: £4.25 Children (under 18 years) and Students, £8.50 Adults, £20.50 Family (2 adults and 2 children).

How to get there

• By foot and road: situated on Peel Quayside, signposted in Peel.
• By bus: 4, 4B, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 8
• Parking: small public car park nearby with blue badge parking.
• Separate coach park nearby.

Whilst planning your journey around our beautiful Island, you will find our Visitor Information page useful when planning visits to the Isle of Man's amazing museums, interpretive centres and historic sites. Alternatively, you can click here to watch a short film on the Story of Mann.

Additional Information

Using state-of-the-art display techniques, the House of Manannan explores the Celtic, Viking and Maritime traditions of the Isle of Man. This exploration of themes essential to Manx nationhood was declared British Museum of the Year and given an award by the Society for the Interpretation of Britain’s Heritage for the Interpretation of Britain’s Heritage. Sitting by the harbour in the City of Peel, the award-winning building draws upon Manx vernacular architecture and looks across to the stronghold of Peel Castle.

Manannan is the Island’s great mythological sea god and protector who could shroud the place with a cloak of mist to protect it from its enemies. As a shapeshifter, Manannan could appear in many guises and in his ‘House’ he himself acts as the visitor’s guide sometimes a god, sometimes a sailor, sometimes in other forms.

The story begins with the pagan Celts who built great roundhouses and responded to the Christian missionaries who fished the Irish Sea for souls. The Christian Celtic Island was threatened by the force of the pagan Viking incomers who settled, married into the local families and converted to Christianity themselves.

Throughout its history the Island has sat like a roundabout in the middle of the Irish Sea and was the heart of the medieval Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. The Island and the Manx people play a fascinating part in maritime history with ships and sailors travelling all over the world. For such a community, the sea is an important partner in many activities be it fishing, travelling or even smuggling and shipping companies act as one of the Island’s lifeline links with the neighbouring islands.

The House of Manannan explores and presents the dramatic story of the Island’s history. It brings to life themes which are both ancient and modern, and encourages the visitor to go out and explore the richness of the Manx landscape.