Best Arts and Culture Places in North Downs

"Manchester Art Gallery is the original useful museum, started in 1823 by artists, as an educational institution to make sure that the city and all its people grow with creativity, imagination, productivity, and health. It is free and open to all people as a place of civic thinking and public imagination, it promotes art as a means to achieve social change. It has been at the centre of city life for almost 200 years, created as the Royal Manchester Institution for the Promotion of Literature, Science and the Arts."

"Grayson’s Art Club – An exhibition of works selected by artist Grayson Perry during Grayson’s Art Club, the popular Channel 4 TV series. All the works on display are very personal visual representations of lockdown, made by the public, well-known artists and celebrities for Grayson’s Art Club.Between Friday 2 July and Sunday 29 August. Other exhibitions are also on too."

"If you’re visiting the main gallery, you won’t need to book a ticket—you can just walk in. There will be lots to see including a new display, What is Manchester Art Gallery?. , which introduces the gallery, its origins, how the collection was formed and how it relates to Manchester and its people."

"Imperial War Museum North (IWM North), Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M17 1TZ - Visit now. IWM North was designed by Daniel Libeskind, whose beautiful waterfront building was based on a globe shattered by war and houses a permanent collection, special exhibitions and events that consider the many ways conflict shapes society. The museum is open again now with a number of changes in place to ensure your visit is safe and enjoyable."

"Imperial War Museum North, one of five branches of the Imperial War Museum, centers on the impact of modern conflicts on people and society. Found in Trafford Park, the museum's location and building is worth the visit alone, with amazing modern architecture right on Salford Quays. The museum's main exhibition, which has free admission, looks the impact of war on our culture via 2,000 objects, photographs, and interactive displays."

"Lovers of both books and architecture will delight in one of Manchester’s most beloved buildings. This neogothic structure is filled with one of the most extensive collections of literature in the entire country, but it’s not just for academics. Spend a few hours getting lost in its many rooms, staircases and corridors to fully appreciate the attention to detail of the building."

"Manchester's second most important art gallery is arguably its most beautiful, following a restoration that saw the doubling of its exhibition space through the opening of its sides and back, and the construction of glass-screened promenades. Inside is a fine collection of British watercolours, the best selection of historic textiles outside London and galleries devoted to the work of artists from Dürer and Rembrandt to Lucian Freud and David Hockney."

"The Whitworth relaunched in 2015 after a massive refurbishment and only went on to win an award for Museum of the Year by the Art Fund in its first year. They have a constantly changing display of collections and a wide spectrum of art in their temporary exhibitions. The Whitworth is located in South Manchester, I would recommend taking public transport as it’s quite a walk otherwise."

"After an extensive renovation project, the Whitworth is the best place in the city to view a collection of exciting contemporary art. Keep your eyes peeled on their exciting events calendar, pay a visit to their fabulous restaurant with sweeping views of the surrounding park and pick up a picnic basket of art supplies to spark your own creativity."

"If you’re looking for locally crafted ceramics, prints, jewellery or art work, Manchester Craft and Design Centre is the perfect place to discover something unusual. Located in a former Victorian fish market, the beautifully restored building is home to two floors of studios, where artists, potters and craftspeople create and sell their work in one space. There’s also a great café on the ground floor and you can often discover interesting art installations or musical performances there."

"Described as ‘The place to make, see and buy contemporary craft and design in the North West’, Manchester Craft & Design Centre is situated in the centre of the city’s creative Northern Quarter. The centre has been managed by Manchester City Council since 1982 and has been helping both practitioners and design enthusiasts through its work. The centre houses 18 working studios as well as organising exhibitions and events to promote local talent."

"In the heart of the Northern Quarter, you’ll find this hub of creativity inside a former Victorian fish market. Local artists and creatives have set up studios inside, creating and selling art, prints, sculptures, jewellery and ceramics from their own unique spaces. There’s also a cute little cafe and occasional musical performances and exhibitions."

"Contact Theatre will be heading out across Manchester this summer for a series of outdoor performances. Contact is an Oxford Road theatre and performing arts venue creating and producing its own shows, as well as hosting tours from the world’s best theatre companies. Contact will be heading out across the city this summer, delivering a series of outdoor performances before its building reopens to the public in September 2021."

"This underground bohemian non-profit café serves also as an exhibition space for local up and coming artists; so enjoy coffee and lunch, while admiring the latest art installation, in the company of creative individuals. Tucked away, just off Oldham Street, lit with a neon pink sign, and a quirky window display, follow the artwork down the stairs as you are led into the café. Greeted by a buzz of chatter, an assortment of miss matched comfy chairs, and a book case with books to borrow, you are instantly made to feel welcome."

"This not-for-profit establishment located in the heart of Manchester has combined creativeness with non-alcoholic beverages and craftsmanship. This is the perfect place to head if you’re looking for a relaxed yet fun atmosphere. Regular events and art exhibitions are extremely popular here, the delicious cups of hot coffee are just a great bonus!"

"blazefarm.comWildboarclough, Macclesfield SK11 0BLREAD: Blaze Farm review. Over on the Cheshire side of the Peak District is Blaze Farm, selling their exclusively homemade Hilly Billy ice-cream in over 15 different flavours, including Chocolate Orange, Ginger, and Toffee Malt Ball, amongst your more traditional flavours of vanilla and strawberry. Plus they have seasonal flavours such as Christmas Pudding and Irish Cream."

"In a stunning patch of the Peak District, Blaze Farm is a working farm that is completely free to enter. Children will be able to meet the goats, sheep, donkeys and chickens, and there are seasonal activities to catch like lambing in springtime and sheep shearing in summer. The farm is extensive and has nature trails ushering you into woodland and meadows."

"Blaze Farm is one of our favourite places to visit with our boys who love visiting the farm animals and following the nature trail. Whilst the homemade Peak District ice-cream is the main reason people visit, they also serve a pretty awesome hot chocolate too!"

"Right across the road from the Crescent, at Ann’s Well is where you can sample Buxton’s famed mineral water – just remember to bring a bottle. The water comes out at 28°C, so just above room temperature and unlike many natural springs has a smooth taste with a little aeration. Percolating from a mile below ground, the spring also picks up some harmless radiation."

"Sample some of the town’s famous healing waters for yourself at St Anne’s Well, just in front of the Buxton Crescent. By drinking the water you’ll be following in the footsteps of some very famous individuals, including Mary Queen of Scots, who was commanded by her sister, Elizabeth I, to visit Buxton and ‘take the waters’."

"Buxton is famous for it’s drinking water, so why not fill your water bottle straight from a spring deep under ground?. Located in the historic Crescent area here, this geothermal spring marked with a shrine to St Anne runs at a constant 28°C. Unlike many natural springs has a smooth taste with a little aeration."

"One of the newest kids on the block is the stunning Indigo Hotel near Victoria Station. The building retains many of its original features and has a laid back bohemian vibe with 187 bedrooms styled to reflect Manchester’s industrial past. The Mamucium Restaurant and Bar is overseen by former Lowry Hotel executive chef Andrew Green, so if it’s tempting tapas you’re looking for, or you just fancy some locally sourced beers, Hotel Indigo has it all."