Best Museums in New Longton

"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)."

"This free to visit museum is one to add to your Manchester itinerary if you have kids that love art and art history. There’s plenty to learn about the city’s artists and culture. Families with younger children should make a beeline for the Clore Art Studio, which is an interactive space developed by artists."

"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."

"The National Football Museum is the place to come if you want to learn all about Manchester’s two football clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United. There are a range of interactive exhibits here and this is without a doubt an important pit stop for anyone even remotely interested in football (if you’re not into football, you’d be forgiven for skipping this one). Read more: Best cities in England"

"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."

"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."

"The Whitworth relaunched in 2015 after a massive refurbishment and only went on to win an award for Museum of the Year by the Art Fund in its first year. They have a constantly changing display of collections and a wide spectrum of art in their temporary exhibitions. The Whitworth is located in South Manchester, I would recommend taking public transport as it’s quite a walk otherwise."

"From 19 May – 1 July, The Whitworth is open for film screenings of its new exhibition, Imran Perretta: the destructors. The Whitworth Café, Art Garden and Collections Care Centre are also open from 19 May to 1 July. The rest of the gallery remains closed while the next exhibitions are installed, following COVID-19 safety guidelines."

"The Blackpool branch of the world-famous wax museum features over 80 wax figures of famous celebrities, film and television characters, athletes and musicians. Alongside the collection of British and international stars, guests can now take to the floor and meet the stars of Strictly, with Tess and Claudia and judge Craig Revel Horwood in the new Strictly Come Dancing experience, which includes a Strictly inspired dancefloor, replica glitterball trophy, and score paddles on the judges' desk. There is also a real treat for fans of Coronation Street, as Madame Tussauds Blackpool has created a replica of the iconic Rovers Return, with classic characters such as Ken and Deidre, Jack and Vera, Bet Lynch and Hilda Ogden."

"We’ve only ever been to the one in Blackpool and it is a lot of fun. There is something for everyone to see, reminisce over and enjoy. The kids enjoyed the Bushtucker trial section and the Spiderman scene."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Teppanyaki Chinatown aims to bring you a truly authentic Japanese teppanyaki experience by majoring in quality service and food rather than the tricks. Its focus is to serve outstanding Japanese cuisine and to share with you our authentic teppanyaki cooking culture. Their comprehensive menu offers a great range of options to suit even the most discerning of tastes."

"Manchester’s oldest teppanyaki restaurant, cooking quality ingredients in a no-fuss style in Chinatown. You will be seated at a large table surrounding an iron plate cooking surface where the chef will prepare your meals using the freshest ingredients."

"The Manchester Doughnut Company was started by local chef Ed Beech seeking to fill a gap in the market for more eclectic donut flavours. Handmade in small batches, Ed creates flavour combinations such as white chocolate and pumpkin donuts, butterscotch and bourbon donuts and donuts topped with Crunchy Nut Cereals!. The secret to these donuts is the slow proving process used to make the dough (although covering them in butterscotch once they’ve been fried can’t hurt either eh?) You can find these beauties at The King’s Arms, and at The Makers Market in Spinningfields and Didsbury every month."

"This Welsh doughnut shop in the Northern Quarter offers melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts made on-site by Blawd bakery including inventive flavours such as apple crumble, maple pecan glaze, cherry bakewell and strawberries and cream. For National Doughnut Week there are rhubarb, vanilla and raspberry fills all week long, or try their mango lassi edition –  a special collaboration with indian street food specialists Bundobust. This unique cardamom doughnut sandwich with an Alphonso mango cream is glazed and topped with candied fennel seeds, and all proceeds go to The Children’s Trust."

"By far one of the Northern Quarter’s most unique hangouts in all its brightly-coloured glory, you can pop by Siop Shop this weekend to get yourself that quick caffeine fix, and perhaps a sweet doughnut treat too if that takes your fancy. 53 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LS. You can find more information via the Siop Shop website here."

"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."

"The Imperial War Museum North is another Salford attraction that’s most definitely worth a visit. It’s within walking distance of The Lowry so you could easily combine the two for a day out in Greater Manchester. The focus of the museum is modern conflicts and the building itself was designed to purposefully confuse and unsettle visitors through illogical angles and leaning floors."

"Opened at The Quays in Trafford Park, Manchester in July 2002 and created to give northern audiences access to the national....."

"Obstructions, Castlefield Gallery’s locked-down exhibition, will open for just five days from 19–23 May. Originally due to open on Saturday 21 November 2020, and only able to welcome visitors in the virtual realm since then, the exhibition was conceived during what now feels like the early days of the pandemic. 15 artists from the North West of England were invited to remake an existing piece of their work with one condition: they had to accept a bespoke ‘obstruction’ given to them by another artist in the exhibition."

"Castlefield Gallery established by artists in 1984, nestled in the heart of Manchester’s Knott Mill area. It is Manchester’s first public contemporary visual art gallery dedicated to the advancement of contemporary visual art and artists. They are focused on developing visual artists’ practices and careers whilst creating opportunities for the public to engage with the art of their time."

"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."

"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."