Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Appleton Thorn

"The Northern arm of the Imperial War Museum does not disappoint and is a fantastic day out, showing how war affects people’s lives and is great for children to learn lots about the history of the UK during the times of war. At the moment there us a special Horrible Histories exhibition about the Blitz and we had a really lovely day when we visited last year. The exhibition finishes on 10th April and is well worth the visit."

"The Imperial War Museum, the huge silver structure across the water from MediaCityUK, will be back open from May 19. The main exhibition space, along with the Big Picture Show - which projects documentary-style footage and stories onto the walls of the gallery - will both return. The exhibition Aid Workers: Ethics Under Fire is also open, free to visit and extended until September 24."

"Good news for anyone who missed seeing Don McCullin’s incredible photographs of Liverpool and beyond because that exhibition has been extended until September 5 and can be booked now. You can also book tickets for free displays including Aliza Nisenbaum’s portraits of Merseyside’s NHS workers, the Biennial and two new displays of the Tate collection. Reopening is being planned for May 17."

"If you’re looking to get your art fix, you can’t beat the Tate. Housed in the Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool has been home to modern and contemporary art for over 30 years. Since opening, the Tate has held over 150 exhibitions and displays from a huge range of artists."

"This gallery is four floors and has a wide variety of art from the 20th century. There is also touring exhibitions from the mother ship on London’s Bankside. However, the gallery feels sparse but it is nice to go to wander the floors of art that is there"

"The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now. The Whitworth underwent a £15m redevelopment in 2015, which saw it double in size; the gallery now juts out into Whitworth park, seamlessly transitioning from old to new. It’s been met with national and international acclaim – for its new architecture and for its brilliant exhibitions programme."

"Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WU - Visit now. Salford Museum and Art Gallery is a friendly city museum close to Peel Park with special appeal to families; the highlight is Lark Hill Place, a charming Victorian Street installation. Salford Museum and Art Gallery began a phased reopening at the beginning of August."

"Travel a bit outside Manchester's city center to the Salford Museum and Art Gallery, which is situated int heart of Peel Park. First opened in 1850, the museum features both permanent displays and changing contemporary exhibitions, with free admission for all visitors. One of the museum's highlights is Lark Hill Place, a recreated Victorian street that lets visitors experience what life was like in Victorian Salford."

"A glorious sister venue to London's Natural History Museum (both designed by Liverpool-born architect Alfred Waterhouse), it's worth a visit to the University of Liverpool's gallery and museum for its exterior alone. The Grade II-listed building's gothic terracotta design led to the coining of the term "red-brick" university and is a shining example of Victorian prowess; more so now after a recent £8.6m refurb. Expect a really creepy museum (fossils, taxidermy, skeletons and curios from the university's 130-year history), a special collections gallery (including the largest display of paintings and prints by wildlife artist John James Audubon outside the US), and a regularly revolving programme of contemporary art exhibitions."

"Situated in a stunning, red brick terracotta building, Victoria Gallery & Museum houses collections focusing on the 120-year history of the University of Liverpool. Take the Tate Hall Museum for example, containing a rare selection of dentures from the Dental School collection as well as early x-rays, fossils, skeletons and a whole lot more. VG&M is definitely one of the more interesting pit stops in a tour of Liverpool."

"Art lovers should also check out The Victoria Gallery and Museum. Located in a spectacular red-brick building at the University of Liverpool, the museum - known locally as the (V&M) - includes large collections of sculptures and ceramics, along with an impressive array of paintings by the likes of Lucian Freud and J."

"Key to the redevelopment of the Ropewalks quarter of Liverpool, and catering for the needs of film and art lovers since 2003, FACT was founded on a remit to "use the power of creative technology to inspire and enrich lives". Tucked behind the bohemian Bold St, this futuristic-looking space – made up of three floors of galleries, cinema screens, a cafe and a bar – celebrated a decade since its launch, in which time it has played host to pioneering work from Pipilotti Rist, Nam June Paik, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Kurt Hentschläger. 88 Wood Street, fact.co.uk."

"Arts space and cafe LEAF was included in Guardian Travel's first "budget eats" guide to Liverpool, in 2008, and is still going strong, albeit at a new address. In the meantime, owner Natalie Haywood has branched out at the media arts centre, FACT, and at Oh Me Oh My, a weekday cafe in a grand, Grade II-listed property opposite Liverpool's totemic Liver Building. LEAF and FACT are natural allies – way beyond their preference for upper case logos – and last year cemented their union when LEAF opened the Garden cafeteria at the centre."

"Just turning 15 years old, this cinema and gallery is, in fact, a leader in visual arts. It strives to support local visual and media-based artists who are passionate about technology. The location offers space for video and new (sometimes experimental) media, creating a platform for many UK artists to explore."

"CFCCA is the UK leader in Chinese visual culture, with a reputation for debut solo exhibitions and a roster of internationally-renowned artists; impressive considering that, three decades ago, it was just a series of events in Manchester’s Chinatown. As Manchester’s Chinese population is second only to London’s, the centre’s heritage is particularly important; now represented in a new archive and library. Best feature: A vibrant events schedule, spanning film screenings to workshops and even Mandarin lessons"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"CFCCA reopens with a duo of exhibitions investigating and unpicking themes of belonging, identity and citizenship in a globalised and hyper-connected society. Housed in CFCCA’s Northern Quarter galleries, the exhibitions are just a few minutes’ walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. Multiplicities in Flux brings together works by contemporary artists Grace Lau and Eelyn Lee in a dialogue around identity and belonging."

"Contemporary Six – The Gallery is a leading independent art gallery located in the heart of the city centre of Manchester opposite the beautiful Town Hall. Established in 2010 by Alex Reuben, the gallery is known for offering a warm and friendly welcome to art enthusiasts, collectors, and new visitors and explorers to the city. Specialising in original paintings, landscapes, portraits, abstracts handmade prints, sculptures, and ceramics."

"From Darrell Evanes’ scrap metal sculpture to Matthew Bourne’s natural abstracts, Contemporary Six’s repertoire is all encompassing. Having outgrown its former location of Royal Exchange Arcade, the gallery - founded by Alex Reuben in 2010 - now occupies an airy space on Princess Street, where it represents around 40 artists. Best feature: Contemporary Six offers the Own Art Scheme, which allows buyers to pay in monthly instalments"

"Entering Grosvenor Shopping Centre from either Bridge Street or Eastgate Street you can’t help but feel a sense of calm come over you as the beautiful partly Edwardian Mall echoes a very gentrified era of shopping with light showering down upon you through the beautiful glass ceiling. It houses around 70 shops from high street fashion to toy shops with what seems like miles of different brands lining it’s halls. Some feel the Grosvenor Shopping Centre is one of the best shopping centres in all of Cheshire, let alone CH1 Chester."

"Enjoy the Grosvenor Shopping Centre situated in Chester city centre located within Roman walls, shop an array of high street brands with independent stores too. There’s also a great selection of cafes to take a well-deserved break."

"Based in the Northern Quarter, this café serves breakfast and lunch dishes including a large range of hot dishes. One TripAdvisor traveller said: “I usually venture in here for the Full English (and then I'm so stuffed I never need to eat again all day!) or the Indian Panini but I tried one of the specials today and was not left disappointed."

"Well, we think you should venture on down to Pot Kettle Black located in Barton Arcade. Whether you want to fill that hole in your tummy, or just need your coffee-fix, this place has got you covered. Let their talented Baristas make you a cup of coffee that will take you to beverage heaven."

"Pot Kettle Black serves an impressive menu of breakfast fit for any breakfast lover from 8 am – 4 pm. Awarded the best tea and coffee shop in Manchester, it’s also a great place to go if you just want a coffee. You can get breakfast here from just £6!"

"Pot Kettle Black is an award-winning speciality coffee store based on the ground floor of No.1 Spinningfields. As well as tasty brunch dishes, they’re passionate about coffee and dedicated to quality. Looking for something different?"

"Seed & Cherry in the trendy Northern Quarter offers a unique artisan coffee experience. Alongside this, you can enjoy breakfast or brunch which includes a variety of healthy and creative recipes served as small plates. Its unique menu means you can try a variety of European and Mediterranean style savoury brunch dishes and still have room for its famous French toast."

"Not so much a restaurant as a market trader in the acclaimed food hall Mackie Mayor, Honest Crust still deserves a place on this list for knocking out the city’s best pizza."

"If you find yourself shopping in Chester, you will undoubtedly find yourself passing the big yellow M sign that is McDonalds. So if you are wanting something cheap and cheerful with a lot of seating, why not enjoy a delicious McDonalds breakfast, and if you have been out the night before and wanting to cure a sore head then there is nothing better than a breakfast like this. Let’s be real, we’re all guilty of heading to McDonald’s after a night out on the town drinking at some of the best cocktail bars in Chester and there’s no shame to it!"

"But I was really uneasy about the amount of people being allowed to come into McDonald’s without a mask two customers had them on but weren’t on there face the was only one person with an exemption badge on and several didn’t seem to have a mask at all. Surely this shouldn’t be happening having just come out of lock down really effected my lunch visit today. 26/03/2021: Came this evening."