Free Museums in Leigh

"Manchester is home to two world class Art Galleries - The Manchester Art Gallery in town and the Whitworth Art Gallery on Oxford Road, by the university. There's also the recently redeveloped and reopened Gallery of Costume in Platt Fields Park - which you'll pass most days on your commute from Fallowfield to the Uni. All of the galleries house impressive permanent collections (which are free) and regular special exhibitons (which aren't)."

"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."

"It not only includes all the expected exhibits but also boasts interactive attractions to keep the whole family entertained, even the partner that is not that much of a fan!. To top it off, the museum is located inside one of Manchester’s newest and most iconic buildings – The Urbis. Interactive, passionate and full of history, just like the beautiful game itself."

"Visiting the Football Museum in Manchester is a must, regardless of whether you’re a football fan or not. Honestly it beats me that the museum is free to enter, given how elaborate the exhibits are. The museum covers the social history and cultural journey of football becoming a global phenomenon, and everything is very lucidly explained and displayed."

"As well as the Beatles Story, you’ll also find the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Tate Liverpool, and the International Slavery Museum. Finally, football fans might want to take a stadium tour of Anfield – the home of Liverpool FC."

"The docks are home to the Liverpool Maritime Museum, the Beatles Story, the International Slavery Museum and the Tate Modern Art Gallery. This is a great place to stop off for coffee or lunch."

"The Tate is one of the most intimate galleries in Liverpool where you can get close and personal with some of the biggest names in the world of art. You will not be charged to enter the gallery however; some special exhibits might cost you something. Exhibits normally change regularly therefore, it’s important to check online to have an idea of what will be displayed."

"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."

"The docks are home to the Liverpool Maritime Museum, the Beatles Story, the International Slavery Museum and the Tate Modern Art Gallery. This is a great place to stop off for coffee or lunch."

"If restriction easing goes to plan then the Museum of Liverpool on the waterfront is aiming to reopen to visitors from May 18 with free permanent displays, including one revealing the secret (sometimes grisly) life of Pembroke Place and a temporary photographic exhibition showing how Liverpool was devastated in the Blitz. A Liverpool 8 Against Apartheid exhibition is coming soon too."

"Having opened in 2011, The Museum of Liverpool is one of the youngest in the city. Devoted to the history of the city it is the world's first national museum to be dedicated to a regional city. From exhibitions on The Beatles to the secret life of Pembroke Place, this museum is perfect is you are looking to learn much more about the city you are staying in."

"An important chapter in our shared history, the Pankhurst Centre is the only museum in the country to highlight the struggle for the women’s vote. Housed in the ancestral home of the Pankhurst Family, the museum has a number of exhibits showcasing the fight for the right to vote and holds a number of fascinating workshops throughout the year."

"The Pankhurst Centre is easily one of the best indoor activities in Manchester. Discover the story of Emmeline Pankhurst, a British political activist whose family lived in the house from 1898 to 1907. The centre was where the first meeting of the suffragette campaign for votes for women took place!"

"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."

"Independent and not-for-profit, the Open Eye is the only gallery of its kind in the North West of England. Appropriately housed in an inspiring, modern building on Mann Island, it showcases both well-known and emerging photographers. Don’t overlook this gallery, it’s well 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."

"FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4DQ - Visit now. Since opening in 2003, Liverpool’s FACT (AKA the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) has supported artists working with new media, commissioned countless (and occasionally seminal) artworks and dedicated itself to digital media. Three arthouse cinemas screen both popular and cult films, two galleries show new work, and other spaces within the building are regularly used for digital and new media events."

"Liverpool's much-loved independent cinema and arts centre holds the title of the UK's leading organisation for the support and display of film, art and new media. FACT hosts a wide range of activities, screening and events for the whole family, including a Kids' Club film, accompanied by games and activities for young movie fans, on Saturdays. The weekly Big Scream Club is exclusively for parents and babies under one year old."

"We’re happy to give St John’s Gardens top marks for looks - after all, they’re meticulously kept, lined with a series of pretty walls and dotted with all kinds of lovely statues and flowerbeds - but the inner city location and relatively modest size mean it can seem a bit cramped (there's also something a bit wrong about cracking open a can of lager 50 feet from a dual carriageway). Still, it's great for a quick walk around."

"If you’re around the St George’s Plateau then head round the back to chill out in St John’s Gardens. The garden, which is part of the William Brown Street conservation area, has been a Green Flag site since 2003 and contains ornamental flower beds and various memorials to notable people in the city. A great spot to soak up the rays."

"While the country house at Hare Hill Hall is privately owned, the garden is cared for by the National Trust. The star here is the walled garden, a blaze of colour in early-summer when the rhododendrons and azaleas burst into flower. There are also uncommon varieties of poppy, iris, lupin, phlox and echinacea."

"A destination for friendly get-togethers and family outings, Brewers Fayre - Ocean Plaza serves classic pub food in a warm and homely setting. Themed menus showcase recipes inspired by exciting international cuisines types, with each week night staging…"