Best Arts and Culture Places in Leigh

"Manchester is home to two world class Art Galleries - The Manchester Art Gallery in town and the Whitworth Art Gallery on Oxford Road, by the university. There's also the recently redeveloped and reopened Gallery of Costume in Platt Fields Park - which you'll pass most days on your commute from Fallowfield to the Uni. All of the galleries house impressive permanent collections (which are free) and regular special exhibitons (which aren't)."

"Housed in a beautiful building with wrought-iron staircases, this splendid collection includes pieces by luminaries such as Valentin Serov, Ilya Repin and Vasily Tropinin, as well as a good sampling of socialist realism, 14th-to-18th-century icons and European old masters. You’ll also find portraits of Princess Maria Tenisheva, who created the Flyonovo estate outside town. There are some English captions throughout."

"Inside this stunning building, you will find interesting and thought-proving exhibitions that show how war has shaped the world. Throughout the year there are new exhibitions exploring different stories, events and peoples experiences. The kids will enjoy getting hands-on in the TimeShack where they will find object handling sessions and storytelling sessions, and also getting creative in the Learning Studio where they can make something craft to take home!"

"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."

"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."

"On Deansgate in Manchester is the John Rylands Library, a late-19th century Victorian building in a Gothic style. What’s so different about this library is that it looks a lot more like a cathedral than a place for housing books. It is considered by many as Manchester’s most beautiful building and houses some of the earliest books ever printed."

"The Tate is one of the most intimate galleries in Liverpool where you can get close and personal with some of the biggest names in the world of art. You will not be charged to enter the gallery however; some special exhibits might cost you something. Exhibits normally change regularly therefore, it’s important to check online to have an idea of what will be displayed."

"Needing no introduction, Tate Liverpool is one of the country’s leading galleries of contemporary art. Situated in a former docking warehouse on Albert Dock, Tate’s calendar includes a regularly revolving, versatile run of exhibitions, with a lot of them offering free entry."

"The docks are home to the Liverpool Maritime Museum, the Beatles Story, the International Slavery Museum and the Tate Modern Art Gallery. This is a great place to stop off for coffee or lunch."

"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."

"The city's foremost art gallery is the national gallery for northern England, housing an outstanding collection of art from the 14th to the 21st centuries. Its strong suits are Pre-Raphaelite art, modern British..."

"Art, art, everywhere, and not a drop to drink, or something like that. One of the largest collections of art in the north of England, the Walker Art Gallery is …"

"Key to the redevelopment of the Ropewalks quarter of Liverpool, and catering for the needs of film and art lovers since 2003, FACT was founded on a remit to "use the power of creative technology to inspire and enrich lives". Tucked behind the bohemian Bold St, this futuristic-looking space – made up of three floors of galleries, cinema screens, a cafe and a bar – celebrated a decade since its launch, in which time it has played host to pioneering work from Pipilotti Rist, Nam June Paik, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Kurt Hentschläger. 88 Wood Street, fact.co.uk."

"FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4DQ - Visit now. Since opening in 2003, Liverpool’s FACT (AKA the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) has supported artists working with new media, commissioned countless (and occasionally seminal) artworks and dedicated itself to digital media. Three arthouse cinemas screen both popular and cult films, two galleries show new work, and other spaces within the building are regularly used for digital and new media events."

"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."

"Creative, colourful and undoubtedly collectable, whether you’re after keepsakes, candles or cute baby clothes The Nest is home to a showcase of high-quality Liverpool-born Art and Design. The lovely folks you’ll meet behind the counter say they want to offer something a little bit special without it having to be exclusive or expensive, which we think is pretty much everything you need in an indie."

"Discover The Nest on the Royal Albert Dock on your next shopping trip to pick up arts and crafts by local artists. There's everything from prints, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and all sorts of other items for you to explore. View this post on Instagram"

"Providing an ambitious programme of exhibitions since 2006, as well as affordable studio and project spaces, this is the city's most exciting artist-led space. The gallery is a magnet for promising and emerging contemporary artists and curators; boasting past exhibitors Jamie Shovlin, Pil and Galia and Laura Buckley, plus collaborations with establishments ranging from Tate Modern to Blackpool's Supercollider. In a business park at the edge of the city centre, this place may feel somewhat off the beaten track, but persevere; it also means that artists get large and affordable workspaces, making The Royal Standard a much-needed nurturing ground for independent and innovative art events, talks, pop-up galleries and collaborative projects."

"The Royal Standard is an artist-led gallery studio and workshop that supports over 45 artists and provide them with a good avenue to explore their craft and share their talent with other people. By delivering regular exhibitions, events and training, they aim to support further all emerging talents and help them to continuously enhance their skills. Through different commissioned works, auction and sales, they help all artists showcase their work for people who would want to purchase their art."

"Working with 45 artists, The Royal Standard is an artist-led gallery, studio complex, and registered charity. Its main aim is to offer opportunities for recent graduates and emerging artists and provide affordable studio space, free public exhibitions, events, and training. There are officially five project spaces, but the venue mainly focused on creating a dynamic hub for contemporary art within Northern Lights in the Baltic area of Liverpool."

"Lupo Caffè Italiano, located at the Boat Shed, Exchange Quay, serves award-winning Italian coffee. Italian-flavours continue to run through its daily-changing menu which has previous included crostatina with nutella, stuffed peppers and pistachio, and white chocolate muffins. The cafe also makes Italian birthday cakes with custom designs."

"Supplying freshly baked goods to the most popular eateries in the city as well as operating a charming café of their own, Wild Loaf are among our favourite bakeries in Liverpool. Not only do they have a reputation for making top-notch sourdough bread but their uniquely flavoured doughnuts bring in crowds from far and wide. Try anything from Cheesecake filled doughnut, freshly baked cinnamon rings and the refreshing yet flavoursome Lemon and pecan creations."

"A post shared by The Wild Loaf (@the_wild_loaf) on Feb 13, 2019 at 3:02am PST. Tucked away just off Hardman Street, The Wild Loaf micro-bakery is a real hidden gem of Liverpool. Their doughnuts are mini marvels filled with heavenly flavour combination and our favourites are topped with delicious fresh fruit and cream."

"Liverpool is a city of makers and dreamers and every now and then, those two come together in fantastic fashion. Jessica Doyle is an art student by trade, but is now less Jackson Pollock and more sourdough. If you see one of her loaves, you can see her degree wasn’t wasted, they’re pure art in their very own right."

"Spaceport is described on their website as ‘taking an inspirational journey through space, as you walk through several themed galleries’, ‘which all feature a large variety of interactive hands-on exhibits’. The galleries and the exhibits are OK, but there is a a twenty five minute film played out on the domed ceiling of the theatre which is for me where Spaceport comes into its own. The film, about whether there is life anywhere else in the universe, had my kids, me, and the rest of the theatre were gripped."

"For fans of outer space and space travel, Liverpool’s Spaceport makes a perfect day trip. The centre features a number of rooms centred around different themes, including the solar system and spacepods, each with their own hands-on activities. There is also an ‘interactive zone’ with activities and games based around gravity and light."

"Escape the city and journey into space on a visit to Liverpool’s Spaceport science center. Explore the universe via interactive displays, take a ride on Explorer 1, and marvel at the mysteries of the cosmos in the planetarium on a family-friendly day out."

"This is the area on top of Liverpool One and is great to visit in the sun. Being so high up you get a great view down into the modern shopping centre and out towards the docks area on the Mersey, as well as being able to walk through a garden area to get some nice floral shots. They have seasonal events at the park such as a beach in the summer and Christmas stalls in the winter."

"Head over to Liverpool ONE to chill out on Chavasse Park after an afternoon of shopping. This city centre green space is is the perfect location to hang out on the grass, grab a drink in one of the overlooking bars or head to one of the many events that happen on the lawn. View this post on Instagram"