Best Museums in Bretherton

"Manchester Art Gallery is the original useful museum, started in 1823 by artists, as an educational institution to make sure that the city and all its people grow with creativity, imagination, productivity, and health. It is free and open to all people as a place of civic thinking and public imagination, it promotes art as a means to achieve social change. It has been at the centre of city life for almost 200 years, created as the Royal Manchester Institution for the Promotion of Literature, Science and the Arts."

"If you are a culture seeker, the Manchester Art Gallery is the perfect place for you to be. Over 25,000 works of art from all over the world adorn the walls of this popular gallery of art. But the interesting part is that isn’t just a display of art."

"National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 3BG - Visit now. Learn all about the history of the beautiful game in the world’s largest football museum with optional Football Plus experiences to put your penalty shootout skills to the test. The clever folk at the museum even help pocket money budgets go further with free weekly Match Attax swopsies sessions."

"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."

"Take a walk right down to the end of Oxford Road and you’ll find The Whitworth. An impressive and ornate red-brick structure, this popular Manchester art gallery certainly looks the part from the outside – and once inside visitors will find over 60,000 internationally important artworks to explore. Everything from weaving to sculpture is included within its recently refurbished walls – and best of all, much of it is free to explore."

"Found in Whitworth Park, the Whitworth Art Gallery is part of the University of Manchester and owns more than 60,000 works of art. It was first opened in 1889 and now showcases paintings by the likes of William Blake, Thomas Gainsborough, and Camille Pissarro. There is also an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, as well as a wallpaper collection, which includes more than 5,000 examples of vibrant papers."

"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."

"Madame Tussauds Blackpool is opening right on the Promenade in Spring 2011, and you’re invited!. Step onto the red carpet and mingle with your favourite TV stars, then go to the locker room and meet your favourite sports stars getting ready for their next game."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"This attraction features well-maintained locomotives that date back more than 100 years. A preserved railway, it is now also the home of the collection from the Southport Railway Museum and was opened to public access in 2005. It also operates passenger services from Preston Riverside to and from Strand Road Crossing."

"Situated inside Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, is the city’s very own Ripley’s Believe it or not!. That’s right, the franchise famous around the world for dealing in everything strange, unusual and downright bizarre has a museum right in the heart of Blackpool’s biggest tourist attraction. Spread across 2 floors and 8 thrilling galleries, the museum features oddities like a...Read more"

"You cannot have a list of the best parks in Manchester and not include Vimto Park. You may or may not know, but the beloved drink’s birthplace is this great city. Vimto Park is next to the University of Manchester and is home to a Vimto monument."

"This underground bohemian non-profit café serves also as an exhibition space for local up and coming artists; so enjoy coffee and lunch, while admiring the latest art installation, in the company of creative individuals. Tucked away, just off Oldham Street, lit with a neon pink sign, and a quirky window display, follow the artwork down the stairs as you are led into the café. Greeted by a buzz of chatter, an assortment of miss matched comfy chairs, and a book case with books to borrow, you are instantly made to feel welcome."

"This not-for-profit establishment located in the heart of Manchester has combined creativeness with non-alcoholic beverages and craftsmanship. This is the perfect place to head if you’re looking for a relaxed yet fun atmosphere. Regular events and art exhibitions are extremely popular here, the delicious cups of hot coffee are just a great bonus!"

"Opposite the Lowry on the south side of the Manchester Ship Canal in Trafford Park is one of five branches for the Imperial War Museum, opened in 2002. This remarkable building, with three interlocking metallic shards (invoking air, earth and water), was designed by Daniel Libeskind and intended to induce a feeling of disorientation apt for war. The entrance is in the 55-metre-high “air shard”, while the permanent exhibition is on the first floor in the “earth shard”."

"Imperial War Museum North, one of five branches of the Imperial War Museum, centers on the impact of modern conflicts on people and society. Found in Trafford Park, the museum's location and building is worth the visit alone, with amazing modern architecture right on Salford Quays. The museum's main exhibition, which has free admission, looks the impact of war on our culture via 2,000 objects, photographs, and interactive displays."

"This museum focuses chiefly on the human cost of war in the 20th and 21st centuries. From Feb 6–June 13 it will exhibit the work of and personal memorabilia of war photographer Don McCullin. Other exhibitions include images by Sean Sutton, an exploration of the life of Odette Hallowes, the heroine of World War Two, and a photographic display marking the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall."