Motivated by a favourable listing in the Metro and a man on the bus who smelt of hamsters, I visited the Manchester Museum for the first time yesterday to see Ben Hall’s wildlife photography.

It was strange seeing an image of rabbits living happily in their natural North West habitats, and then turning to find a stuffed relative in a glass case.

Many of the images on display felt iconic, so it was all the more impressive to read that this is Hall’s first major exhibition. It runs until 1 July and entry is free.

The rest of the museum was packed with parents whose kids were running riot and shouting things like: “Look granddad! A hedgehog!” Personally, I preferred the kangaroo rat on display.

I was also very impressed by the collection of mummies on display, which made a small boy cry. The museum operates an open-cask policy that few museums seem inclined to follow.