Free Museums in Appleton Thorn

"A superb collection of British art and a hefty number of European masters are the highlights at the city's top art gallery. It's home to the best assemblage of Pre-Raphaelite art as well as a permanent collection of pre-17th-century art, mostly by Dutch and early Renaissance masters. It also hosts exciting exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The gallery runs a free hour-long highlights tour from 2pm to 3pm Thursday to Sunday."

"Whilst it may not boast the beautiful parkland of its Whitworth partner, this Mosley Street gem nonetheless has plenty to offer: not least a world-class art collection, and everything from highlights tours to mindful drawing. Visiting with children?. Make sure to visit the onsite café, which has a pay-as-you-feel kids’ menu in partnership with Real Junk Food Manchester."

"Standing proud for almost 200 years, Manchester Art Gallery was created as a gallery for everybody and for life. It features British and European art from the 18th and 19th century, as well as contemporary art. And the best part is that it’s always free to visit!"

"For the die-hard football fan in your family, this is a great place to visit. Discover the history of the beautiful game and see the many collections displaying famous kits and even trophies. The Hall of Fame showcases the sport’s greatest players and icons."

"The National Football Museum will reopen from Thursday 27th May. £5.00 or free for Manchester residents Plan your visit"

"There are two new displays of both powerful and thought-provoking artworks including Shane D’Allessandro's striking painting of the Union Jack - an ode to the Windrush generation capturing the Caribbean contribution to British Society. The painting has a personal story for Shane whose paternal grandparents were part of the Windrush generation and who supported Britain during and after World War Two. Lambeaux (scraps) by Giles Eli-Dit-Cosaque is a fantasised diary reconstructed from disparate elements."

"Another of Liverpool’s great museums which should hopefully be reopening from May 18 with its permanent displays including Enslavement and the Middle Passage, which looks at how enslaved Africans were taken to work on plantations in the Americas, and Challenging Histories, a collection of contemporary artworks which show how artists have responded to the history of transatlantic slavery and its legacy."

"Yet another popular attraction on Albert Dock, the Merseyside Maritime Museum celebrates the history of the port of Liverpool. Here you’ll be able to check out full-sized vessels, maritime paintings and an exhibition on the city’s links to the Titanic."

"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."

"If you’re looking to get your art fix, you can’t beat the Tate. Housed in the Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool has been home to modern and contemporary art for over 30 years. Since opening, the Tate has held over 150 exhibitions and displays from a huge range of artists."

"This gallery is four floors and has a wide variety of art from the 20th century. There is also touring exhibitions from the mother ship on London’s Bankside. However, the gallery feels sparse but it is nice to go to wander the floors of art that is there"

"Comprising around 60 photographs and personal accounts, the exhibition documents one of the darkest periods in the city’s history, as we mark its 80th anniversary this month. Visitors will also be able to view a portrait of 19th century boxer Jem Wharton by Liverpool artist William Daniels, part of the National Portrait Gallery’s COMING HOME project. Other highlights include the House of Suarez Vogue Ball dress and L8 Against Apartheid, a new display highlighting the history of the community’s role in the anti-apartheid movement, and the fight to free Nelson Mandela."

"Know all about Liverpool’s ethnic, cultural, musical and sport history at the Museum of Liverpool. The displays are precise, self explanatory and perfect for learning about the city, especially if you are travelling with children."

"Liverpool's storied past is explored through an interactive exploration of the city's cultural and historical milestones: the railroad, poverty, wealth, Brookside (a popular ’80s and '90s TV soap opera set in the..."

"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."

"Opened in 1922, the Lady Lever Art Gallery is located on the Wirral and is one of the National Museums of Liverpool. It is regarded as one of the finest art galleries in Europe and is home to a collection of items and paintings."

"Travel back in time to the industrial revolution at the Quarry Bank Mill. Oozing with heritage, you can experience the ‘sounds and smells’ of steam and water-powered engines, explore the cotton mill to learn about spinning, weaving, the production of material, and the history of the textile industry, tour the Apprentice House for a glimpse into the lives of pauper children, stroll the beautiful gardens, or walk the Styal Estate, filled with woodlands and streams. Interactive, engaging, and educational, the museum exhibits and friendly and knowledgeable staff make Quarry Bank Mill a great day out for all ages."

"Since opening their doors in November 2015, Hope Mill Theatre has become one of the most successful independent venues in England. Located in Ancoats, they produce full scale musicals from their Grade II listed former mill. The theatre will be reopening this summer, as well as hosting Hope Fest, an outdoor arts and culture festival."

"This wonderful independent venue, located out in New Islington, was one of the few theatres that managed to reopen last year after lockdown. It'll be back again with a reduced capacity and socially distanced seating for a Meet Me At Dawn, from HER Productions. You can get tickets at hopemilltheatre.co.uk."

"Set in the historic heart of town is the Storyhouse building which houses, not only a library and restaurant but a theater and cinema too. A very popular place, it puts on lots of excellent plays and performances with countless cultural events and films also shown during the year. Since its opening in 1936 as an Odeon cinema, the Art Deco building has been at the center of cultural life in the city."

"Storyhouse is Chester’s theatre, cinema and arts centre housed in a rejuvenated 1930s art deco Odeon cinema building. The Storyhouse’s theatre transforms from an 800 seat proscenium (the Touring Stage) to a 500 seat thrust (the Storyhouse stage)."

"Storyhouse is the place to visit to get your arts and culture fix, including a library, theatre, cinema, community hub, cultural centre and restaurant. Take a look at what events are coming up during your stay."