Free Museums in Darwen

"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."

"This free to visit museum is one to add to your Manchester itinerary if you have kids that love art and art history. There’s plenty to learn about the city’s artists and culture. Families with younger children should make a beeline for the Clore Art Studio, which is an interactive space developed by artists."

"Located near St Peters Square, Manchester Art Gallery houses both permanent and temporary exhibitions. We were made to feel very welcome visiting with children. Kids can borrow ‘explorer tool belts’ for free containing engaging activities to complete whilst visiting the gallery."

"National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 3BG - Visit now. The National Football Museum attracted 100,000 visitors in the first six weeks of opening. It continues to be hugely popular – expect football-related displays and exhibitions, a café and an extensive shop."

"The National Football Museum offers visitors the chance to explore the history and culture of the sport. The National Football Museum offers visitors the chance to delve into the history and culture of the beautiful game, with exhibitions including Geoff Hurst’s red England shirt and ball from the 1966 World Cup Final and Diego Maradona’s Hand of God jersey."

"Click here for a special special Football Museum Championship menu Ok, now that I read this myself, I think I should have at least had a quick peek."

"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’."

"With an eclectic collection that includes historic fine art and contemporary art works, a fine collection of textiles from across the world, sculpture, prints, wallpaper and more, there’s lots to enjoy at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Cornelia Parkers Exhibition, Whitworth Art Gallery. A highlight of the fine art collection is work by famous pre-Raphaelite artists including Holman Hunt, Rossetti, Millais and others."

"From Wednesday May 19, the stunning Whitworth gallery will be partially reopen to the public, with a film screening of Imran Perretta: the destructors on display. The cafe will be back open too, but the full gallery will be up and running again by July 1, in time for its MIF21 summer exhibition. Plan your visit at whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit."

"We’ve only ever been to the one in Blackpool and it is a lot of fun. There is something for everyone to see, reminisce over and enjoy. The kids enjoyed the Bushtucker trial section and the Spiderman scene."

"We really wanted to visit the waxworks but weren’t expecting to stay long as we thought the kids would be bored, especially as they were quite young."

"Surrounded by the University of Salford, this sizeable museum is on the south side of Peel Park, mapping the history of Salford and with a large inventory of Victorian art. The museum dates to 1850, and would be worth a visit just to appreciate its Italianate Renaissance-style galleries. These have been arranged to reflect the layout of a Victorian museum, with paintings, decorative art and sculpture all competing for your attention in the same space."

"You might recognise The Horror Crypt from The Killers music video for Here with Me, but this quirky spot on the promenade has recently undergone a facelift - transforming it into an exciting walk-through attraction. You'll find genuine props from horror movies & TV shows, terrifying special FX, animatronics and life size displays based on some of your favourite scary movies and histories most feared murderers - complete with many an unexpected surprise. A must-visit for any horror fan and definitely not for the faint hearted."

"Kelvin Mercado, also known as Peg Man, breaks the record of how many pegs one person can put on their face with 163, at the launch of Ripley's Believe or Not 2014 annual. Ripley's is home to a unique collection of strange and extraordinary exhibits in eight galleries across two floors. It's the only place in Blackpool where you'll find authentic shrunken heads, a fertility statue that has helped with over 1,000 pregnancies, and a two headed calf and see the world's largest and smallest men."

"Located near Preston Dock, the Ribble Steam Railway museum invites you to hop aboard a heritage train ride on one of their working steam trains. The museum makes a fantastic and interactive day out for all the family, delving into Preston's historical links to steam trains and Preston Dock. See their Diesel Locomotives, Steam Locomotives, miniature railway, and much more."

"Serving the most delicious and well-portioned breakfast meals, their pancakes are a real highlight for guests. Stacked high with all the toppings, menu items include berries and cream, banoffee, peanut butter and bacon with maple syrup. Each stack includes three buttermilk pancakes, and there’s even vegan options available too!"

"Frankie and Benny’s do a bottomless breakfast from Friday to Sunday. “Enjoy free refills on your favourite breakfast dish when you visit us before noon. So will it be the warm and fluffy pancakes, mouth-watering eggs benedict or the classic British fry up?"