Free Museums in Leigh

"Grayson’s Art Club – An exhibition of works selected by artist Grayson Perry during Grayson’s Art Club, the popular Channel 4 TV series. All the works on display are very personal visual representations of lockdown, made by the public, well-known artists and celebrities for Grayson’s Art Club.Between Friday 2 July and Sunday 29 August. Other exhibitions are also on too."

"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."

"If you’re a lover of football, make a beeline straight to the former Urbis building where you’ll find the National Football Museum. The dramatic glass structure is worth a visit simply to admire the architecture, but fans of the beautiful game will delight at the vast array of exhibitions dedicated to their favourite sport inside, including a special area dedicated to the infamous World Cup win in 1966. Rotating events and exhibitions include the chance to brush up your own football skills or to have a go on a collection of retro arcade games."

"In 2001, the National Football Museum was transferred from Preston to Manchester. The museum has over 140,000 football artefacts such as boots, programmes, paintings and balls. To visit the primary exhibition, you will not pay anything."

"Opened on the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain, Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum is an eye-opening, sober journey into one of mankind’s darkest eras. Housed inside the more famous Maritime Museum in Albert Docks, ISM opened as a wider examination of the Maritime’s own slavery exhibition. Detailling Liverpool’s position in the British slave trade as a dock for imports and exports, the Museum shines a light on the Transatlantic Slave industry."

"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."

"1 km from city center 10 out of 10 places to visit in Liverpool. The Merseyside Maritime Museum is a famous museum based in the city of Liverpool is Merseyside, UK. It is one of the National Museums of Liverpool and an anchor point for ERIH. The seafaring heritage is brought alive within this museum."

"1 km from city center 6 out of 10 places to visit in Liverpool. Named after a Liverpool industrialist Henry Tate, the Tate gallery is the subsidiary of famous Tate gallery in London. Like its London counterpart, this one also has an amazing collection of classical and contemporary art."

"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."

"Take a journey through the city’s rich history at the Museum of Liverpool. At this delightful museum, you can explore Liverpool’s industrial past and its importance to the global shipping trade. As one of Britain’s most important ports, you’ll be able to discover the history of Liverpudlian life from early Neolithic settlements to the modern day."

"A glorious sister venue to London's Natural History Museum (both designed by Liverpool-born architect Alfred Waterhouse), it's worth a visit to the University of Liverpool's gallery and museum for its exterior alone. The Grade II-listed building's gothic terracotta design led to the coining of the term "red-brick" university and is a shining example of Victorian prowess; more so now after a recent £8.6m refurb. Expect a really creepy museum (fossils, taxidermy, skeletons and curios from the university's 130-year history), a special collections gallery (including the largest display of paintings and prints by wildlife artist John James Audubon outside the US), and a regularly revolving programme of contemporary art exhibitions."

"Housed within an impressive, Grade II listed building, VG&M is known for its collection of the work of wildlife artist, John James Audubon. Once you've checked out the art gallery, the museum has some curiosities worth taking a look at too: the National Pipe Archive and a display of dentures through the ages – not your average collection of artefacts. Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-5:00 Victoria Building, 150 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF 5 minute walk from LJMU Mount Pleasant Campus and 20 minute walk from LJMU City Campus."

"The Victoria Gallery & Museum is run by the University of Liverpool. The building itself is a beautiful, classic red brick Liverpool building and boasts many stunning weddings. The exhibitions range from the weird (false teeth) to the wonderful, and it is definitely worth a visit."

"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."

"Just turning 15 years old, this cinema and gallery is, in fact, a leader in visual arts. It strives to support local visual and media-based artists who are passionate about technology. The location offers space for video and new (sometimes experimental) media, creating a platform for many UK artists to explore."

"FACT on Wood Street is hoping to open again from May 19 with three brand new exhibitions including Biennial artists. Soft Boys, in the foyer gallery, is a short film about queer and trans joy, specifically within the Somali culture and community. It’s free, no booking needed."

"Sudley House is a well preserved Victorian merchant house located just south of Liverpool city centre. With a unique collection of artwork, this house has been lovingly restored and is now dedicated to the people who lived there."

"Open Eye Gallery is an independent, not-for-profit gallery that works with people to explore and celebrate diversity and creativity through photography. The founders believe photography is for everyone, putting socially engaged photography practice at the heart of the Liverpool community. It has become one of the UK’s leading photography spaces, presenting an international programme, as well as local and national exhibitions."

"With a focus on lenses rather than paint, Open Eye Gallery is a not-for-profit contemporary photography gallery on Liverpool Waterfront. Proudly independent and the only gallery in the north west dedicated to photography, Open Eye hosts regular exhibitions and houses a wonderful collection of photography dating back as far as the 1930s. 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1BP, United Kingdom"

"The Open Eye Gallerywas first established in 1977 and is housed on the waterfront of Liverpool. This not-for-profit gallery houses a collection of contemporary of photography, with workshops taking place. Promoting up-and-coming young photographers, anyone who steps foot in this gallery will be impacted by the powerful images and inspired to chase their photographer dreams."

"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."

"Travel a bit outside Manchester's city center to the Salford Museum and Art Gallery, which is situated int heart of Peel Park. First opened in 1850, the museum features both permanent displays and changing contemporary exhibitions, with free admission for all visitors. One of the museum's highlights is Lark Hill Place, a recreated Victorian street that lets visitors experience what life was like in Victorian Salford."

"Situated inside the largest LUSH shop in the world, LUSH Liverpool Spa shares a venue with four floors of gorgeous products, a coffee shop, a perfume lab, and even a florist. It’s safe to say that the minute you step inside, LUSH will transport you away from the hustle and bustle of the high street just outside. Enter true tranquillity…"

"Lush Spa Liverpool offers visitors the chance to spend a few hours away from the bustle of Whitechapel. One of eight locations across Britain, the spa is tucked away above the shop and fitted out like a cosy farmhouse. Treatments range from the “Validation” facial to the full body signature “Synaesthesia” treatment."

"The sister restaurant to The Italian Club is barely 5 minutes walk up the road from the original and serves equally delectable dishes with the same warmth and friendliness as its parent venue. But this is where you head if you’re craving sensational seafood – from fresh oysters and Scottish langoustines to mussel pots filled with garlicky sauce and classic seaside Italian risottos, all your favourite fishy delights are here. For a treat, try the Hot Seafood Sharing Platter which comes with a whole lobster."

"The second venue from the team behind The Italian Club, The Italian Club Fish serves all your favourite pastas but with seafood as the star of the show. It’s the perfect place to go if you’re a lover of fish because you know they’re going to do it justice. View this post on Instagram"

"Doing lots of little things right” is a definition of perfection – and this simple seafood restaurant in Chorlton is just that. The kitchen’s Essa grill is masterfully handled by co-owner (and former Lead Station chef) Recep Canliisik, who churns out char-grilled whole squid and seabream, Thai-spiced monkfish tail and possibly the best calamari in the UK."

"Doing lots of little things right” is a definition of perfection. And Oystercatcher – a simple seafood restaurant in Chorlton – is just that. The kitchen’s Inca grill is masterfully handled by co-owner Recep Canliisik, who churns out dishes such as char-grilled whole sea bream, and Tandoori-barbecued monkfish tail."

"This cute little neighbourhood restaurant in Chorlton specialises in super-fresh seafood and are known for grilling whole fish in their charcoal oven. The wine list is also excellent. Menus change weekly depending on what is fresh and seasonal but you can view samples on their website to get an idea."