Free Museums in Preston

"Operated by Manchester City Galleries, the Manchester Art Gallery is a multi-award winning, world-class venue and one of the region’s most popular cultural destinations. The gallery displays an alluring range of art including esteemed contemporary works, photography, design and decorative art, as well as older historically significant works. With 19th century British paintings, major Pre-Raphaelite works and a collection of works by the impressionistic artist Adolphe Valette, Manchester Art Gallery is a destination of national and international importance."

"In the heart of the city centre, just off St Peters Sqaure, you can find one of the country's finest art collections in spectacular Victorian and contemporary surroundings. Highlights include outstanding pre-Raphaelite paintings, craft and design and early 20th century British art."

"Home to two of Europe's top football teams - Man City and Man United - Manchester is a great place to pay homage to the country's favorite sport. First stop should be the National Football Museum. This football shrine features fascinating memorabilia related to the sport, including such gems as the very first rulebook, as well as historic trophies and clothing."

"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."

"Manchester's second most important art gallery is arguably its most beautiful, following a restoration that saw the doubling of its exhibition space through the opening of its sides and back, and the construction of glass-screened promenades. Inside is a fine collection of British watercolours, the best selection of historic textiles outside London and galleries devoted to the work of artists from Dürer and Rembrandt to Lucian Freud and David Hockney."

"Reopened in 2015 after a £15m transformation, Manchester’s gallery in the park is home to an internationally important collection of art, including significant work by William Blake and J.M.W. Turner. It also hosts an exciting roster of visiting exhibitions and events. Visit the website for the latest information."

"The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester has a very Instagrammable restaurant. With all glass walls it feels like your in the middle of nature. You have beautiful views over the park in which you can find the Whitworth Gallery."

"The Madame Tussauds museums are famous around the world for their realistic wax figures of famous celebrities. Although the main museum is in London, there are a number of Madame Tussauds in other major cities, and Blackpool is one of them!. And just like the London version, Blackpool’s Madame Tussaud’s museum doesn’t disappoint for the slightest moment."

"If it’s action, adventure and celeb selfies you’re after, then Madame Tussauds is the place to go. There’s a new Marvel Comics attraction, which feels just like you’re stepping into a comic strip and coming face to face with your heroes. Our boys loved attempting to lift Thor’s hammer and a New York taxi Hulk-style!"

"The museums in Salford give the very essence of its citizens and rich culture. If you are looking for something deeper and more meaningful, head to the museums in city. Explore the cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical side of Salford with these museums."

"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"

"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."

"Manchester's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art will reopen both of its galleries on Wednesday May 19. Exhibitions Multiplicities in Flux and Autopsy of a Home, which originally opened in October, will be back until June 13. Booking is advised at cfcca.org.uk but walk-ups are welcome."

"as the name would suggest, our last suggestions may not ‘geographically’ qualify as Blackpool…… but its right on the boarder (basically, on Blackpool Airport..and has a Blackpool postcode….. which makes us wonder if they’re just being posh by putting ‘lytham’ in the name lol) and one which a lot of you will pass without knowing on your way into the town. Just off Squires Gate lane is located the Lytham Spitfire Centre. For a fiver (per adult – kids £3 ands under 10’s free!!) you can look around the centre and see some of the spitfire restoration going on plus….."

"Located at Blackpool Airport, and constructed for the RAF at the outbreak of World War II, Hangar 42 was home to various RAF and Polish Squadrons, operating night fighter cover for Preston and Merseyside Docklands. Today, it has been transformed into a visitors centre and retains many of its original features from when it was active. A dedicated team of volunteers portray life in the RAF for both air crew and ground crew during those desperate days of World War Two."

"Stood high on Castle Hill dominating Clitheroe’s skyline for over 800 years, Clitheroe Castle Museum is now open after a complete makeover and offers a day of exploration for all the family. Explore the hands-on galleries, collections and displays which reveal amazing stories and take you on a journey through 350 million years of history."

"Found in the South Shore area of Blackpool, the Half Way House is a beautifully restored, family-friendly gastropub. One of Blackpool's oldest pubs serves fanta..."

"Facilities are children’s play area, a visitors centre with toilets, a pond, a conservation area with a dipping platform, angling. Once the ash tip for east Manchester’s power station, it was greened up in the 1980s and since recent investment, is a key green space within the Medlock River Valley. Clayton Vale is a Local Nature Reserve and is a great place for families to enjoy woodland and riverside walks, cycling, picnicking, or pond dipping."

"We are on Blackpool’s South Promenade, within walking distance of the Pleasure Beach.So, whether you are seeking a stop-off point along Blackpool& ..."

"General pub - Dining - Sports viewing - Prom outside seating. South shore promenade pub with sky sports and great food"

"Another Northern Quarter-based independent cafe where I have spent (and continue to spend) many many many hours is Foundation Coffee. Not only is it a perfect place to work or study, but they also serve a great breakfast, brunch and lunch – making Foundation Coffee a perfect place to meet up with a friend as well as getting some stuff done. It’s one of the coffee shops I always take people to when I’m showing them around Manchester because I feel like it captures the atmosphere of the Northern Quarter really well."

"With two spots in the city, one in the heart of the Northern Quarter and one on Whitworth Street, Foundation is quickly taking over Manchester’s speciality coffee scene. The Northern Quarter spot is vast, and whether you’re shopping or browsing one of the city’s central galleries, you’re probably no more than ten minutes walk away. Choose your brew (if you can) from the huge menu and grab some brunch or a bake from the counter while you wait for the rain to pass."

"Now with two locations in the city, Foundation Coffee House has large spaces which are somewhere between a co-working space and a cafe. People are certainly encouraged to linger. The coffee is top notch as are their espresso martinis (technically a coffee, right?) which draw many people in after work."

"With a huge range of sandwiches, kebabs and vegetarian options too, you might need to take a look at the menu before you go. The mexican rice, which comes in different varieties, is a huge hit with customers of all ages. Popular amongst students for it’s fantastic range of comfort food and reasonable prices."

"137, The Orient, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 8EQ. Cafe Rouge are a chain of French restaurants. “Whatever the time of day, we have a dish to suit your mood; from steak frites and boeuf bourguignon to a selection of croques, baguettes and vegan options too – all on our menu of classic French food with a contemporary twist.” They offer breakfast and brunch dishes such as the Grande Breakfast (two free-range eggs, two Cumberland sausages, sweet cure bacon, beans, mushroom, tomato, black pudding, sautéed potatoes and sourdough toast), Pancakes (three warm pancakes topped with your choice of sweet cure bacon, banana and maple syrup, or fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and pineapple with fruit compot, and French Toast (two slices of sweet brioche bread topped with your choice of sweet cure bacon, banana and maple syrup, chocolate sauce, banana and hazelnuts or fresh seasonal fruit, honey and vanilla crème fraîche)."

"63 Degrees is a small, family run restaurant, bringing a little taste of Paris to the Northern Quarter. This is proper, grown-up dining - with tablecloths (remember them?) - but without the stuffiness of a restaurant that takes itself too seriously. Perched in one of the trendiest districts of Manchester, the food staunchly opposes the hipster fad-fest that surrounds it."