Best Arts and Culture Places in Peak Dale

"About:  Manchester Art Gallery is a place where everyone can discover, enjoy and learn about art. The gallery is home to a rich collection of 17th century European art, Pre- Raphaelite paintings, Craft & Design and Contemporary art. Address: Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL"

"Explore collections that tell the stories of conflict, from the First World War to the present day in IWM North’s Main Exhibition Space. Discover the forgotten histories of service personnel and civilians, see conflict through the eyes of artists and immerse yourself in the Big Picture Show this summer. This is a place where every object on display, every contemporary work of art and every exhibition is designed to live long in the memory."

"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!"

"Imperial War Museum North is a museum in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. Imperial War Museum North is situated 400 metres west of Lowry Outlet Shopping. Photo: pit-yacker, CC BY-SA 2.0."

"If you’re ever in Manchester, DO NOT leave this city without going to see the John Rylands Library. For any one who felt the pain of not receiving a letter to Hogwarts on their 11th birthday (admit it, we’ve all been there), this might just make up for it (maybe). The exterior of the library is a mix of old and new, with red brick complemented by modern glass architecture."

"Particularly in its reading room which is still in use today. The library is dedicated to John Rylands, a cotton merchant who was instrumental in Manchester’s early development and is a truly stunning display of Gothic architecture. Read more: Best things to do in northern England"

"Millennium Gallery, Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 2PP - Visit now. Branching off from the impressive glass dome structure of the Winter Gardens (one of the largest of its type in the UK), Millennium Gallery is home to the Sheffield’s extensive Ruskin Collection and Metalwork Collection – capturing the Steel City’s industrial heritage in more than 13,000 objects – alongside two impressive temporary exhibitions spaces."

"Designed by some of the most renowned architects in the UK, the Millennium Gallery is a piece of art in itself. But the reason people visit is for the eclectic collections it’s home to, including the Ruskin Collection: watercolours, drawings, prints, coins, manuscripts, and illustrated books used to inspire Sheffield’s Victorian workforce. The Craft and Design centre exhibits a modern take on Victorian themes."

"Sheffield Millennium Galleries is an art exhibition and museum. This glass building is situated near the Sheffield Theatre, the central library, and the mainline station. They have a huge collection of metalware including cutlery, flatware, and holloware."

"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."

"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."

"Reopened in 2015 after a £15m transformation, Manchester’s gallery in the park is home to an internationally important collection of art, including significant work by William Blake and J.M.W. Turner. It also hosts an exciting roster of visiting exhibitions and events. Visit the website for the latest information."

"Located just down the road from our Peel Park campus, this lovely little place combines art with coffee, tea and cake. The tea room offers a very relaxed atmosphere, as well as daily home-baked cakes, while the upstairs gallery is home to six week long exhibitions with work by local artists, including some from Salford students. Hot drinks are reasonably priced and the decor is stunning."

"Yvette Fielding opened this tearoom and even pours the tea herself – so if you want a dining experience with a difference then this is sure to be it. The venue itself is set next to the famous Manchester Cathedral with views that look across towards Salford. It is virtually impossible to walk past without being tempted to go inside and enjoy a slice of cake or an afternoon tea."

"Starting life in 1995, S1 Artspace was initially an art studio run by volunteers in Sheffield’s west district. Since then, it’s grown into an organisation that pioneers new artwork and ideas from artists from all walks of life, from recent graduates to international superstars. Over 500 artists have been featured over the last 20 years, including seven Turner Prize nominees and six winners, so the calibre is always high."

"OKitchen Bar & Restaurant is situated in Didsbury Village in South Manchester, providing Korean and Japanese cuisine alongside a cocktail bar that offers a wide variety of drinks for brunch and dinner. They are open from Monday through Sunday."

"An interactive journey back in time, the Stockport Air Raid Shelters offers a glimpse into how people lived during the wartime blitz. Explore the labyrinth of tunnels filled with displays, posters, recreated living and sleeping areas, and a bunker, all accompanied by an audio guide highlighting the cultural, political, and social aspects living in the shelters. I Opening Times: Tuesday-Friday 1-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm."

"The Stockport Air Raid Shelters are a jolting walk back in time near Manchester. Located about 6 miles from the main Manchester area and in great Manchester, this place is an interesting, short excursion from the city Centre. The place will transport you into a dark time- the Britain of the 1940s during the war."

"Stockport Air Raid Shelters, Great Underbank, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 1NE - Visit now. Stockport museums are beginning a phased reopening of their sites. The first to re-open were Bramall Hall and Stockport Air Raid Shelters."

"Seconds on foot from the futuristic architecture of Salford Quays is a splendid Tudor mansion, home to the Radclyffe family for 300 years. The surviving parts of Ordsall Hall are built on two ranges around a courtyard knot garden, the south dating to the 15th century, and the west range completed in 1639. These both incorporate older elements dating back 750 years."