[1][2][3] The museum tells the history of workers' rights and democracy in Great Britain and about people's lives at home, work and leisure over the last 200 years.

It also includes material relating to friendly societies, the welfare movement and advances in the lives of working people.

The Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative History Society operated a collection at Limehouse Town Hall between 1975 and 1986.

[4] The museum moved to Manchester and re-opened in 1990 at the Grade II* listed former Mechanics' Institute at 103 Princess Street.

[12] The museum actively collects contemporary material; it has tried to find and acquire, among other things, the EdStone upon which Labour engraved their six main manifesto pledges in the 2015 general election, and the copy of Mao's Little Red Book which shadow chancellor John McDonnell threw across the House of Commons dispatch box at George Osborne.