Free Museums in Ardwick

"The greatest evidence of this lies in the historic Manchester Art Gallery. Boasting an eclectic mixture of classic and contemporary work to suit all eyes and tastes, every person from the curious to the connoisseur can find something to light their fire at the Manchester Art Gallery. The art collection here spans an impressive 6 centuries!"

"Located in the city center, the Manchester Art Gallery houses a vast collection of art, from historical pieces to contemporary exhibitions. The museum often features special exhibits, as well as frequent events and talks, and it's free to all visitors. The opening times can vary, so check online for the current hours."

"If you are a culture seeker, the Manchester Art Gallery is the perfect place for you to be. Over 25,000 works of art from all over the world adorn the walls of this popular gallery of art. But the interesting part is that isn’t just a display of art."

"About: The National Football Museum is home to over 140,000 pieces of footballing memorabilia - including the FIFA Collection. The museum explores the beautiful game through world class exhibitions and displays, looking at football from every angle, telling the stories that matter the most. Address: Urbis Building, Manchester, M4 3BG"

"For fans of football, or sport in general, this museum is a must see. There are a range of important collections of football memorabilia as well events and exhibitions that teach you about the incredible history of football in England. Visit their website before your trip to see what’s on and book tickets."

"Over the past 125+ years, the Whitworth has seen many transformations but none so much as its recent £15 million development, resulting in accolades such as RIBA National Award and Art Fund’s Museum of the Year 2015. Now home to an internationally important collection numbering 60,000 works - blending high-profile names like Blake, Spencer, Rembrandt and Moore with fresh new talent - the gallery’s principal aim remains the same: ‘the perpetual gratification of the people of Manchester’."

"The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now. The Whitworth underwent a £15m redevelopment in 2015, which saw it double in size; the gallery now juts out into Whitworth park, seamlessly transitioning from old to new. It’s been met with national and international acclaim – for its new architecture and for its brilliant exhibitions programme."

"Take a walk right down to the end of Oxford Road and you’ll find The Whitworth. An impressive and ornate red-brick structure, this popular Manchester art gallery certainly looks the part from the outside – and once inside visitors will find over 60,000 internationally important artworks to explore. Everything from weaving to sculpture is included within its recently refurbished walls – and best of all, much of it is free to explore."

"Popular permanent attractions of The Victorian Gallery and Lark Hill Place (re-creation of a typical northern street during Victorian times), as well as an ever-changing exhibition programme. The Museum also provides activities for children during the…"

"The municipal museum was founded in 1848 and moved into its purpose-built Neoclassical home in 1857. This is one of the UK’s oldest town museums and the building has kept its original character. As with the best municipal museums, the collection is a big jumble of local industrial artefacts, Egyptology, Roman archaeology, coins, ethnographic displays, items from the Civil War and zoological and botanical specimens."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user JohnShipley89 used under CC BY 4.0. Warrington Museum & Art Gallery is Warrington’s premier art gallery and houses over 200,00 exhibits and objects, covering everything from local history to numismatics, from archaeology to ethnology. Located right in the centre of town, the Warrington Museum & Art Gallery is very easy to find and well worth a visit."

"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"

"CFCCA is the UK leader in Chinese visual culture, with a reputation for debut solo exhibitions and a roster of internationally-renowned artists; impressive considering that, three decades ago, it was just a series of events in Manchester’s Chinatown. As Manchester’s Chinese population is second only to London’s, the centre’s heritage is particularly important; now represented in a new archive and library. Best feature: A vibrant events schedule, spanning film screenings to workshops and even Mandarin lessons"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"CFCCA reopens with a duo of exhibitions investigating and unpicking themes of belonging, identity and citizenship in a globalised and hyper-connected society. Housed in CFCCA’s Northern Quarter galleries, the exhibitions are just a few minutes’ walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. Multiplicities in Flux brings together works by contemporary artists Grace Lau and Eelyn Lee in a dialogue around identity and belonging."

"Nestled between Garstang Road, Sir Tom Finney Way and Blackpool Road, Moor Park's size is the first thing that comes to mind - as it is Preston's largest, and oldest park. Split into several areas, the park has a small observatory owned by the University of Central Lancashire, a bowling green, skate park and several fields. Over the years, Moor Park has played host to many music events hosting names such as Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Rihanna."

"It is on the eastern side of the centre of Glossop and fringes onto the Conservation Area of Old Glossop. There is a car park at Corn Mill and on-street parking is available nearby. Again, it's not technically a theme park, but with this much going on for free, it deserves a mention."

"If you’re going to be visiting Legoland, be aware that Manchester’s SEA LIFE centre is located right next door and a joint ticket can be purchased for both destinations. You can roam the centre, walking through tunnels of exotic fish and coming face to face with sharks and stingrays; your kids can also have a go at diving in the immersive sea trek experience. Anyone can participate in this fantastic activity (the only one of its kind in Europe), wearing a special breath-easy helmet and a wetsuit to ensure that they are safe and comfortable during the ten-minute dive into the deep."

"Location: Intu Trafford Centre, Barton Square Bridge, Stretford, Manchester M17 8AS. Sea Life Manchester is one of the country’s top-rated aquariums and is home to thousands of fish as well as sharks, stingrays, and spider crabs. Meanwhile, two giant green sea turtles (Cammy and Ernie) are a major attraction too."

"Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9LW - Visit now. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has been lovingly restored; you can now sit at her desk, see where Charlotte Brontë hid behind the curtains, and have tea in the downstairs café."

"Where: Liverpool Street, on an unlikely crossroads in Salford. Best Dish: Pig’s trotters with chilli, onion, spring onion and sesame. This restaurant of many names (Mr Fresh? Peking Duck?) offers a no holds barred Chinese menu with a Beijing accent, filled with gizzards, feet, tongue, lungs, kidneys, trotters and stewed chicken with mushrooms."

"Chinese is one of those foods that you never stop craving – so it’s pretty handy for us Salford students that the Peking Duck is only a 5 minute drive (or 15 minute walk) from the main campus. With unbeatable prices, the Peking Duck will satisfy for sure. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!"