Free Museums in Rainhill

"One of the finest collections in England, the Manchester Art Gallery is a beauty that will blow your mind. The £35 million transformed art gallery is home to 25,000 pieces of artwork, and it’s going to be a pleasure to watch. Located in Victorian with spectacular artworks displayed at exhibitions in innovative ways, this is going to be fun-filled."

"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."

"Address: Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street, Manchester M4 3BG. I’m probably as good at football as a pregnant sloth, but Manchester is obviously famous for its two football teams; Manchester United and Manchester City. Guided tours of their stadiums come with a charge, but you can visit the National Football Museum in Manchester city centre for free."

"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."

"At the Merseyside Maritime Museum you can explore the nautical heritage of Liverpool. Alongside finding out about Liverpool’s central role in the American Civil War and Battle of the Atlantic, tour a historic Liverpool pilot cutter moored in the Dock and take a trip round the adjacent Pier Master’s House. For families the museum recommends:"

"A museum built on the role of Liverpool in Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, the Merseyside Maritime Museum is perhaps one of the most heart-touching museums in the country. The exhibits all showcase the city’s rich sailing story with plenty of articles to read and interactive exhibits perfect for children."

"An acclaimed branch of the Tate Gallery, Tate Liverpool, has been established in the Albert Dock. As chance would have it, the London Tate Gallery - established at the end of the 19th century with a legacy from the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate - found space in the warehouses where raw sugar was stored before being refined. The ground floor of the 'Tate of the North" has exhibition halls and galleries dedicated to contemporary art as well as works on loan from the London gallery. Admission is free."

"As a sister gallery to the other “Tates” in both London and Cornwall, Tate Liverpool is a beautiful space housing some beautiful art pieces from the Tate Collection. Located on the waterfront in Liverpool in what used to be a warehouse, Tate Liverpool was designed by James Stirling and opened in 1988. Within the space, you’ll discover the national British Collection of art from the year 1500 to the present day as well as modern art."

"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."

"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."

"The Museum of Liverpool reflects the city's global significance through its unique geography, history and culture. Visitors can explore how the port, its people and their creative and sporting history have shaped the city. The museum opened on 19 July 2011 in a purpose-built landmark building on Liverpool's famous waterfront."

"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."

"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."

"Arts space and cafe LEAF was included in Guardian Travel's first "budget eats" guide to Liverpool, in 2008, and is still going strong, albeit at a new address. In the meantime, owner Natalie Haywood has branched out at the media arts centre, FACT, and at Oh Me Oh My, a weekday cafe in a grand, Grade II-listed property opposite Liverpool's totemic Liver Building. LEAF and FACT are natural allies – way beyond their preference for upper case logos – and last year cemented their union when LEAF opened the Garden cafeteria at the centre."

"Not only a great place to catch the latest films, it also puts on regular exhibitions by a range of international artists focusing on creative media and digital technology. You’ll find three galleries to explore as well as a café and bar where you can talk art and film with friends. Opening Times: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-6:00 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ 8 minute walk from LJMU Mount Pleasant Campus and a 15-minute walk from LJMU City Campus."

"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."

"Organised by the Ashmolean Museum, which holds a world class collection of over 200 prints made by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, it will present the artist as an unrivalled storyteller through a selection of around 50 outstanding prints, dating from 1630 to the late 1650s. Widely hailed as the greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt was also one of the most innovative and experimental printmakers of the 17th century, and the works displayed at the Lady Lever will cover a varied selection of subjects including intense self-portraits, atmospheric landscapes, intimate family portraits, biblical stories and confronting nude studies. June 1 to September 15, 2019"

"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."

"A showcase of around 40 works by one of Britain's most iconic and controversial artists., the exhibition will include 18 loans from across the North West and National Museum Wales."

"Driven by a ferocious passion for all things Italian, Wolf can’t wait to welcome you back to the pack, with a spacious heated outdoor terrace with retractable roof available to sit at (no booking necessary). Takeaway orders can be made either in-store, through the Wolf app, or online via Deliveroo and UberEats. Open 10am – 3pm every Monday – Friday, we can’t wait to sink our teeth into something special from Wolf again."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Peter Broster used under CC BY 2.0. Sitting near the heart of Chester’s bustling city centre, Ye Olde Kings Head Hotel boasts a fantastic pub!. Many say that it is nicely modernised but still retains much of the old-world charm that comes with the ancient city of Chester!"

"Built in 1622, Ye Olde Kings Head boutique is a charming Tudor-style property built during the Stuart period. While the building is ancient, the amenities in its seven rooms certainly are not. On the bottom floor there’s a wood-beamed pub with a private dining room."

"What: Found in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, The Pen and Pencil takes its name from the notorious mid-20th-century joint on New York’s ‘Steak Row’, although there’s more than just sirloin on the menu. Head here for brunch dishes, burgers and light bites such as chicken wings or spinach and feta rolls. Sunseekers will also be glad to know that The Pen and Pencil has a large outdoor seating area for those who prefer to dine alfresco."

"Like your brunch plates to come with a side of bottomless fizz?. The Pen & Pencil is the restaurant for you. Oozing New York vibes with its industrial decor, this spacious eatery is keeping bellies stuffed with comfort food classics, plenty of bubbles and a choice of breakfast cocktails."

"New York style, The Pen & Pencil is close to the city centre and great for a shopping pit stop or work break. The lunch and brunch menu is served 10am-5pm and features dishes such as a burger, one of their brunch specials or grab one of their smoothies or shakes."

"There for the Baking lives up to their name: their passion for cakes comes first!. The bakery is spearheaded by Viv – a passionate baker with a sweet tooth!. They are extremely accommodating of special orders, especially when it comes to dietary restrictions."

"Beginning life as a cupcake company, And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon still serves freshly baked, hand decorated desserts, from layered cakes to brownies, in its charming little tearoom. As well as selling delicious treats, this café serves a popular afternoon tea/brunch, from Thursdays to Sundays. A little different from other locations, And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon requires advanced booking, but you can expect generous portions and typical English scones and cakes for an alternative style brunch."

"An all-time foodie favourite Dish and Spoon is A-class in every way. Their cakes cover all flavours from chocolate honeycomb to toffee apple to raspberry and rose. The buttercream is light and the layers of sponge are… there’s no other way to say it….moist."

"It is a place where you can eat both delicious and quality cakes. Have you tasted the wet cakes?. If the answer is no, you should try it."