Best Museums in Norden

"The Manchester Art Gallery possesses one of the largest art collections in Britain outside of London. The gallery includes works by the pre-Raphaelites; Flemish masters of the 17th century; French impressionists, including Gauguin, Manet, and Monet; and German artists such as Max Ernst. There are also pieces from well-known English artists, including Stubbs, Constable, and Turner."

"Manchester is renowned for its football, the giants of Manchester City and Manchester United call the city home. Naturally then, so too does the National Football Museum. Some of the footballing world’s most important artefacts are here."

"Whether you’re a die hard football fan or not, here's the place to discover the history of football in one of the worlds biggest footballing cities."

"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 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."

"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."

"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."

"Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WU - Visit now. A family friendly city museum that stakes a claim as the UK’s first free public library. Explore the historic Lark Hill Place street installation then let loose in Peel Park."

"Popular permanent attractions of The Victorian Gallery and Lark Hill Place (re-creation of a typical northern street during Victorian times), as well as an ever-changing exhibition programme. The Museum also provides activities for children during the…"

"It may not look like much from the outside, but inside two Victorian villas on Nelson Street you’ll find The Pankhurst Centre – a heritage site of women’s activism. Once the home of local Manchester political campaigner and icon Emmeline Pankhurst, who lived at 62 Nelson Street from 1898 to 1907, it’s here that the very first meeting of the suffragette movement took place. Cut to the present day and visitors can now drop by to explore the story of women securing the right to vote."

"Birthplace of the suffragette movement in 1903, the Pankhurst Centre is an excellent place to learn about the fight for women’s right to vote. There are people who guide you through the house to help you learn about the history. The museum is open to the public from 10-4pm on Thursdays, and on the second and fourth Sunday of the month."

"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!"

"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."

"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."

"With a combination of delicious food, great wines and a real ambience, Café Rouge has embodied the style and je ne sais quoi of French dining since it op ..."

"Bistrot Pierre takes residence inside one of Preston's historical churches along Fishergate. The well-known chain restaurant is beloved for its French food, and vegans can experience this too thanks to Bistrot Pierre's healthy selection of vegan options."

"Soak up the unique atmosphere of Le Caveau Restaurant while in Skipton. With barrel vaulted ceilings, original beams and exposed stonework, this 16th Century building will be hard to forget. All of the eatery’s dishes are locally sourced, seasonal and made with French cooking techniques in mind."

"Thanks to the stylish decoration there's no hint that this 16th-century cellar was once a prison for sheep rustlers. It's now one of Skipton's best bistros, offering a seasonal menu built lovingly around fresh... Top ChoicePub Food in Richmond"

"Thanks to the stylish decoration there's no hint that this 16th-century cellar was once a prison for sheep rustlers. It's now one of Skipton's best bistros, offering a seasonal menu built lovingly around fresh..."

"Opening just last summer, Escape to Freight Island is one of the most impressive venues in the city – spanning a huge outdoor area at Depot Mayfield, as well as taking up residence inside, too. Changing at every turn, visitors can sprawl out on the bleachers in the sun, hideaway under their botanical gazebo, chill out inside with seriously cool warehouse vibes, or get right in the mix of it all outdoors by the bars and food vendors. The venue hosts regular events and live music, with NYC-style pizza, juicy burgers, BBQ, tacos, doughnuts, classic Italian pasta, craft beers, pies and so much more on offer."

"In the remains of Mayfield railway station, this huge indoor-outdoor complex – think mini-festival with food – offers not just dishes from several kitchens, including Belzan’s pastas and Mi & Pho’s Vietnamese menu, but DJs, music and dancers across its stages. If the party vibe of the Ticket Hall is not your thing, book a relatively chilled outdoor table or the excellent Baratxuri, a Basque-inspired restaurant within Freight, where, rather than navigating a pesky app to order, there is table service. Booking advised, outdoor seating available, card-only."

"Another popular summer opening, Escape to Freight Island is Manchester’s newest outdoor space, with plenty of food and drink vendors on-site to choose from. Think New York-style pizza at Voodoo Rays, juicy burgers at Patty Queen, barbequed meats at Baratxuri, and beers courtesy of Camden Town Brewery. Escape to Freight Island will reopen once Manchester moves into tier 2."

"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 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."

"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."

"Edward Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Clowes Park, also known as Broughton Hall or Broughton Park, has a large maintained lake with numerous viewing points, as well as a small area of woodland. The park is also home to the Life for a Life memorial forest, which was opened in 2016."