Best Arts and Culture Places in St Helens

"I love the Art Gallery and have the Gallery a great place to visit with children and offers something a little different to enjoy with your children. The Gallery has several exhibits which are free for the public to enjoy. I love that the Gallery have tried to be really child friendly and for those with younger children, there is explorer tool belts for family groups with children aged three to six."

"Manchester Art Gallery always have brilliant temporary exhibitions. Thanks to these guys I discovered Raqib Shaw, who is now one of my favourite artists. Manchester Art Gallery also have great permanent exhibitions with an emphasis on the Pre-Raphaelites."

"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."

"From personal survivor accounts to common conflict themes, the Imperial War Museums explores the human aspect of war and the effect it has on everyday life before, during and after. Featuring one-off exhibitions as well as a main showcase and connected to other similar museums around the UK, the IWM shines and light on the conflicts Britain and the Commonwealth have been involved in since World War I. Focusing on the many changes war has brought to the UK, from the role of women in society to technology and science advances."

"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."

"Of the city's older buildings, the real gem is the John Rylands Library on Deansgate, a little masterpiece of Victorian Gothic nestling amid a forest of shops and office blocks. From the outside, the library looks so like a medieval church, with its turrets and stained-glass windows, that it comes as a surprise to learn that it is barely a hundred years old. Inside, it is a bibliophile's dream, a warren of dusty, book-lined rooms, with pride of place going to an original fragment of the Old Testament.Contact: library.manchester.ac.uk"

"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"

"0 km from city center 4 out of 12 places to visit in Manchester. John Rylands Library is considered to be one of the oldest gems in the city of Manchester. It is considered to be a masterpiece with Victorian Gothic style of architecture and it is any book lover's dream place."

"An acclaimed branch of the Tate Gallery, Tate Liverpool, has been established in the Albert Dock. As chance would have it, the London Tate Gallery - established at the end of the 19th century with a legacy from the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate - found space in the warehouses where raw sugar was stored before being refined. The ground floor of the 'Tate of the North" has exhibition halls and galleries dedicated to contemporary art as well as works on loan from the London gallery. Admission is free."

"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."

"As well as the Beatles Story, you’ll also find the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Tate Liverpool, and the International Slavery Museum. Finally, football fans might want to take a stadium tour of Anfield – the home of Liverpool FC."

"This is one of few art galleries that manages to seamlessly mix paintings, sculpture, and decorative art starting from the 13th century to the present day. It is home to contemporary art – including work by David Hockney, Lucian Freud, and Bridget Riley – as well as a collection of winning paintings from the John Moores Painting Prize and more traditional pieces from Renaissance masters, Tudor portraits, and Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite collections. There is something for every art lover, old and young."

"1 km from city center 5 out of 10 places to visit in Liverpool. The Walker Art Gallery is one of the best art galleries in UK and it was opened in 1877. It exhibits a collection of national as well as international art and now it has a large part of Italian Renaissance collection."

"Liverpool gallery with one of the largest collections of art outside London which includes Tudor portraits, renaissance works, Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art and contemporary pieces by David Hockney, Lucian Freud and Bridget Riley."

"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."

"Found in Whitworth Park, the Whitworth Art Gallery is part of the University of Manchester and owns more than 60,000 works of art. It was first opened in 1889 and now showcases paintings by the likes of William Blake, Thomas Gainsborough, and Camille Pissarro. There is also an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, as well as a wallpaper collection, which includes more than 5,000 examples of vibrant papers."

"Address: The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER. Phone number: 0161 275 7450. Part of the University of Manchester, this collection of over 60,000 pieces ranges from historic fine art to contemporary art, prints and sculptures."

"The creative concept of husband and wife team Ellie & Steve, Liverpool Gift Gallery is a cheerful independent bringing the work of over 40 local artists – including Ellie – to West Derby village as well as attracting the attention of online Art lovers. There’s a framing service available and gorgeous gifts including cute, personalised items for every occasion. Visit Liverpool Gift Gallery here"

"Yes, we know, it's not strictly Liverpool, but it is well worth the short train journey across the river. For visitors to the Lady Lever, its location in the picturesque model-village of Port Sunlight will make for a pleasing, if slightly uncanny, addition to the experience. Both the village and the gallery itself are a legacy of the benevolence of English industrialist William Hesketh Lever, who wanted to share his collection with the public, even personally selecting works for display."

"A grand focal point in the picturesque village of Port Sunlight, this gallery is named after Lady Elizabeth Lever, the wife of Lord William Lever, a Victorian-era entrepreneur who founded the village to house his factory workers. Its collection boasts some of the 19th century’s most decorative arts. Selected by Lord Lever for exhibits at the gallery, it is still considered to have some, if not the best works displayed to the public from his own art collection."

"Okay, so it’s not strictly in Liverpool, but the Wirral is close enough. Founded by William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925), the Lady Lever Art Gallery is dedicated to his wife Elizabeth and still features a large offering from his personal art collection, including the best collection of Wedgwood Jasperware in the world."

"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"

"\In 1924, upmarket department store Hendersons opened on Church Street where you’ll now find H&M. The Hendersons store was known as a real special occasion shop, renowned for intimidating Beauty Counter ladies who also sold chocolates!. The store went on to be so successful, it sold to Harrods in 1948, but Liverpool’s branch of Hendersons will always be linked to tragedy after the worst fire damage seen in the city since The Blitz, took hold of the building in June 1960, bringing the city centre to a standstill and resulting in 11 people losing their lives."