Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Rainow

"The Northern sister to London’s Imperial War Museum, the Manchester venue is just as engrossing, and sobering as it’s southern equivalent. Built on the ruins of the docklands industrial area, which was bombed heavily itself during the Blitz. A stunning collection, ranging from World War memorabilia to sections of the World Trade Center wreckage can be found in one of the best collections to be found in any museums in Manchester."

"IWM North highlights the impact of war on people's lives through their stories and artefacts, plus military vehicles and aircraft and audio-visual displays. There are a range of special exhibitions, educational events and children's activities on offer…"

"From Wednesday May 19, the stunning Whitworth gallery will be partially reopen to the public, with a film screening of Imran Perretta: the destructors on display. The cafe will be back open too, but the full gallery will be up and running again by July 1, in time for its MIF21 summer exhibition. Plan your visit at whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit."

"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."

"In the old Peak Hydrophathic Hotel (1880) the Buxton Museum and Gallery has exhibitions for archaeology, history and geology, all sourced in the town and the Peak District. The Wonders of the Peak exhibition presents a timeline from the Big Bang to the Victorian period. You’ll learn how the range was formed and inspect fossils of Pliocene mammals that once prowled the Peak District, like scimitar-toothed cats and cave lions."

"Sundays and Bank Holidays from midday to 16:00 (March to September only). Buxton Museum and Art Gallery provides an interesting, fun and free way to learn about how the landscape of the Peak District was shaped over time. The award-winning ‘Wonders of the Peak’ gallery will take you and the kids on a journey through the ages, from the Big Bang all the way to the Victorian era."

"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."

"Manchester's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art will reopen both of its galleries on Wednesday May 19. Exhibitions Multiplicities in Flux and Autopsy of a Home, which originally opened in October, will be back until June 13. Booking is advised at cfcca.org.uk but walk-ups are welcome."

"While idling in the Pavilion Gardens you could call in at this gallery in the main building next to the tourist information desk. The Gallery in the Gardens is a platform for painting and arts and crafts by more than 40 local artists and craftspeople. Their works are for sale and include textiles, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, embroidery, glass, linocuts, etchings, woodcarvings and prints."

"Since you’ll find yourself within The Pavilion Gardens, you might want to pay The Gallery in the Gardens a visit. It’s an art gallery featuring paintings, ceramics, and other crafts by local artists. Support the local artists’ high-quality masterpieces by making a purchase or two if you can."

"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"

"Home to a collection of impressive oil paintings, ceramics, local history and a fine selection of the famous Leek Embroideries. Walk in the footsteps of William Morris, D.H. Lawrence, Oscar Wilde and John Betjeman."

"A Tafford Centre pit stop isn’t the same without some warm topped cookie dough!. My Cookie Dough has reopened at the shopping centre – returning with a large list of flavours to try from Red Velvet to Fudge & Honeycomb (which you can customise by adding your own choice of toppings and ice cream). My Cookie Dough also launched a Build Your Own kit which you can have delivered straight to your doorstep containing all the ingredients you need to make enjoy your My Cookie Dough experience at home."

"My Cookie Dough has a seriously committed following, judging by the crowds at its Manchester Arndale stall (it recently opened another at the Trafford Centre too). Big dollops of dough are baked until warm and crispy, but still soft enough to dip into with a spoon, then loaded with various sauces and toppings. Indulgent flavours include red velvet and Nutella, white chocolate and raspberry, Oreo, fudge and honeycomb, Biscoff, and coconut chocolate."

"Taking the humble traybake to new heights, My Cookie Dough is among the best dessert shops in Manchester. Their Slutty Brownie stacks are a mouthwatering mess of chocolate brownie, crushed Oreos and their house cookie mix, served up as chunky slabs and coated in a hefty drizzle of Nutella. With locations at both the Trafford Centre and the Arndale, you won't have to travel far to get your hands on these bad boys."

"There for the Baking lives up to their name: their passion for cakes comes first!. The bakery is spearheaded by Viv – a passionate baker with a sweet tooth!. They are extremely accommodating of special orders, especially when it comes to dietary restrictions."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chemical Engineer used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Sheffield Cathedral, officially known as The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, is a stunning catholic church in Sheffield. It showcases a majestic combination of Gothic and contemporary architecture with a 15th-century tower and a high wooden ceiling."

"It would not be much of an Instagram trail without the one thing that makes our great city a city!. The Sheffield Cathedral is a striking building that really takes some beating, it is also a popular spot for city-centre workers to stop and enjoy some lunch on a sunny day."

"The Lounges are a group of modern, fun and slightly quirky restaurants. “What is it that people love best about Lounging?"

"Newly revamped by the True North brewery, the Punch Bowl has been given a new lease of life. The usual great offering from a True North pub. Dogs welcome in the pub, but not the restaurant area."