Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Preston Brook

"Opposite the Lowry on the south side of the Manchester Ship Canal in Trafford Park is one of five branches for the Imperial War Museum, opened in 2002. This remarkable building, with three interlocking metallic shards (invoking air, earth and water), was designed by Daniel Libeskind and intended to induce a feeling of disorientation apt for war. The entrance is in the 55-metre-high “air shard”, while the permanent exhibition is on the first floor in the “earth shard”."

"Imperial War Museum North (IWM North) is also worth visiting, especially if you have an interest in the history of warfare. Opened in 2002, this branch of the Imperial War Museum is a popular attraction for its collections of fighting vehicles and aircrafts. Highlights of a visit include audiovisual presentations and exhibits dealing with the history of warfare and its role in shaping civilization."

"Manchester also has an important history when it comes to war and conflict over the past hundred years. The Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) is an interactive space built solely for the purpose of telling the most vital, powerful stories of war from across the region. The entire structure was built around an impressive, genuine fighter jet!"

"Tate Liverpool is the only place in the North to be for modern and contemporary art from the world over. Since opening its doors in 1988 Tate Liverpool has become one of the most visited art galleries outside of London and has a stunning array of work from the National Collection, as well as regular exhibitions of some of the finest art there has ever been, including exhibitions and events relating to Gustav Klimt, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Keith Haring, to name just a few."

"Opened in 1988, Tate Liverpool has been at the forefront of contemporary art in the city. Housed within a former docking warehouse on the picturesque Albert Docks, the Tate regularly hosts events, workshops and exhibitions and offers plentiful free displays. Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock|© Tate Liverpool/Facebook"

"Liverpool is famous for its art collections and Tate Liverpool is one of its most well-known galleries. Tate Liverpool features work from the Tate Collection which showcases British art from the 16th century to the present. Tate Liverpool specialises in contemporary and modern art."

"Over the past 125+ years, the Whitworth has seen many transformations but none so much as its recent £15 million development, resulting in accolades such as RIBA National Award and Art Fund’s Museum of the Year 2015. Now home to an internationally important collection numbering 60,000 works - blending high-profile names like Blake, Spencer, Rembrandt and Moore with fresh new talent - the gallery’s principal aim remains the same: ‘the perpetual gratification of the people of Manchester’."

"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."

"Housed within an impressive, Grade II listed building, VG&M is known for its collection of the work of wildlife artist, John James Audubon. Once you've checked out the art gallery, the museum has some curiosities worth taking a look at too: the National Pipe Archive and a display of dentures through the ages – not your average collection of artefacts. Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-5:00 Victoria Building, 150 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF 5 minute walk from LJMU Mount Pleasant Campus and 20 minute walk from LJMU City Campus."

"In this fascinating museum, you will find a range of collections displaying the weird and the wonderful from nightmares in a bottle, Victorian dental surgeries, and a fine art collection. This variety of exhibits is bound to inspire everyone and teach you something about almost everything!. The Victoria Gallery and Museum aim to give visitors a unique insight into the curiosities from the 127 years of the University of Liverpool."

"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"

"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."

"Not only a great place to catch the latest films, it also puts on regular exhibitions by a range of international artists focusing on creative media and digital technology. You’ll find three galleries to explore as well as a café and bar where you can talk art and film with friends. Opening Times: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-6:00 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ 8 minute walk from LJMU Mount Pleasant Campus and a 15-minute walk from LJMU City Campus."

"Liverpool's much-loved independent cinema and arts centre holds the title of the UK's leading organisation for the support and display of film, art and new media. FACT hosts a wide range of activities, screening and events for the whole family, including a Kids' Club film, accompanied by games and activities for young movie fans, on Saturdays. The weekly Big Scream Club is exclusively for parents and babies under one year old."

"The municipal museum was founded in 1848 and moved into its purpose-built Neoclassical home in 1857. This is one of the UK’s oldest town museums and the building has kept its original character. As with the best municipal museums, the collection is a big jumble of local industrial artefacts, Egyptology, Roman archaeology, coins, ethnographic displays, items from the Civil War and zoological and botanical specimens."

"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."

"Follow the green light of this secretive bar to find Liverpool’s only absinthe and cognac establishment. There’s no door to this concealed cocktail bar – just a staircase with a singular green light at the top. Some Place means serious business."

"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"

"Opposite the Lowry on the south side of the Manchester Ship Canal in Trafford Park is one of five branches for the Imperial War Museum, opened in 2002. This remarkable building, with three interlocking metallic shards (invoking air, earth and water), was designed by Daniel Libeskind and intended to induce a feeling of disorientation apt for war. The entrance is in the 55-metre-high “air shard”, while the permanent exhibition is on the first floor in the “earth shard”."

"Imperial War Museum North (IWM North) is also worth visiting, especially if you have an interest in the history of warfare. Opened in 2002, this branch of the Imperial War Museum is a popular attraction for its collections of fighting vehicles and aircrafts. Highlights of a visit include audiovisual presentations and exhibits dealing with the history of warfare and its role in shaping civilization."

"Manchester also has an important history when it comes to war and conflict over the past hundred years. The Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) is an interactive space built solely for the purpose of telling the most vital, powerful stories of war from across the region. The entire structure was built around an impressive, genuine fighter jet!"

"Housed within an impressive, Grade II listed building, VG&M is known for its collection of the work of wildlife artist, John James Audubon. Once you've checked out the art gallery, the museum has some curiosities worth taking a look at too: the National Pipe Archive and a display of dentures through the ages – not your average collection of artefacts. Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-5:00 Victoria Building, 150 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF 5 minute walk from LJMU Mount Pleasant Campus and 20 minute walk from LJMU City Campus."

"In this fascinating museum, you will find a range of collections displaying the weird and the wonderful from nightmares in a bottle, Victorian dental surgeries, and a fine art collection. This variety of exhibits is bound to inspire everyone and teach you something about almost everything!. The Victoria Gallery and Museum aim to give visitors a unique insight into the curiosities from the 127 years of the University of Liverpool."