Best Rated Movie Theaters in Preston

"The Royal Exchange Theatre was founded in 1976 by a group of renowned and influential artistic directors who had a vision to make an internationally recognised theatre amidst the vibrant culture of Manchester. The theatre’s repertoire has featured brilliant adaptations of the classics from William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, and Anton Chekhov, as well as lists of debut plays. One of the country’s leading theatres for new writing, the Royal Exchange Theatre offers fantastic programmes for emerging practitioners and educational facilities."

"The Royal Exchange Theatre is located just off St Ann’s Square in the city centre and has seen performances from some of the UK’s leading actors including Maxine Peake and Julie Hesmondhalgh. The Module theatre is a seven-sided, glass-walled capsule that is suspended in the centre of the Great Hall and means that all seats are less than nine metres from the stage."

"An enormous entertainment centre, the Winter Gardens first opened in 1878 and houses the Opera House, one of the largest theatres in the UK, with a capacity of 3,000. This is just one of a multitude of auditoriums and halls at the Winter Gardens, including the barrel-vaulted Empress Ballroom, which is both a cavernous concert venue and formerly where the three main UK political parties would hold their annual conferences. The largest venues at the Winter Gardens are all on the ground floor and served by an Art Deco corridor with a metal and glass roof."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Michael D Beckwith used under CC BY 3.0. The beautiful Winter Garden is a huge entertainment center right in the heart of Blackpool. Its history dates back to the late 19th century and since then, it became quintessential in the British Isles."

"The Winter Gardens is a unique venue, offering one of the largest theatre stages in the country, the Empress Ballroom home to the World’s largest Dance Festivals."

"Frequently hailed as one of the most beautiful theatres in the land, the Grade II listed venue was designed by Frank Matcham and built for £20,000 in just seven months between December 1893 and July 1894. The ornate, Baroque-style auditorium with its double-curved balconies will simply take your breath away. Check out the year-round programme of shows and entertainment."

"The Grand theatre, Winter Garden, Odeon Cinema, Blackpool High Tide Organ, Luis Tussauds Wax works, Doctor Who Exhibition are some attraction of cultural importance."

"Manchester Opera House is the Palace Theatre’s little sister. It’s located on Quay Street, near Spinningfields. It is smaller than the Palace theatre however, there are still some amazing productions to see here."

"The building of the Dancehouse Theatre has had a fascinating history full of transformation, morphing from meeting halls to a multi-screen cinema complex. In the 1990s it was restored to its former Art Deco splendour and was reopened as The Dancehouse Theatre, home to the Northern Ballet School. While the venue presents a broad range of performances including comedy, music and drama, dance lies at the heart of this North West icon."

"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."

"The collections at the Grundy Gallery boast an eclectic programme of historic and contemporary exhibits, housed in a beautiful Grade II listed Edwardian building. The collections feature the work of both established and emerging artists from the UK and abroad, as well as historically important works loaned from major UK institutions and objects from its own permanent collection. The gallery aims to cater to a wide audience with an ambitious and varied year-round programme that draws on the unique and invigorating context and heritage of Blackpool, for instance exploring the space between contemporary art, entertainment and popular culture."

"The Grundy Art Gallery is something of a hidden gem in Blackpool, although it is located only steps from the Promenade. Featuring a variety of exhibitions and artwork from established and emerging artists, it also displays historically important artwork loaned from important UK institutions. Blackpool has a very strong cultural history and a lively pop culture, which the gallery sets out to explore in whole new ways, making it the leading visual arts centre in the northwest."

"The Grundy Art Gallery is a historical gallery located in Blackpool. The Gallery was established in 1911. It contains paintings and artworks of local artists and UK artists."

"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."

"Reopened in 2015 after a £15m transformation, Manchester’s gallery in the park is home to an internationally important collection of art, including significant work by William Blake and J.M.W. Turner. It also hosts an exciting roster of visiting exhibitions and events. Visit the website for the latest information."

"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."

"Choose from fresh-baked scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam, savouries, immaculate sandwiches and pastries. All served with exquisite teas or coffees."

"Pot Kettle Black, Unit 14, Barton Arcade Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 2BW - Visit now. Tucked away beneath the beautiful glass roof of Burton’s Arcade is specialist coffee shop Pot Kettle Black – vigilant against over roasting, this place presents its brews in trademark red mugs, served with a glass of water and a Viennese wafer. It’s spacious, cosy, and that little bit off the beaten track."

"Located in the beautiful Barton Arcade, you can find one of my all-time favourite coffee spots: Pot Kettle Black. They have another shop in Spinningfield, but this one is my favourite. Probably because of the beautiful interior of both the cafe and the stylish Barton Arcade."

"Pot Kettle Black serves an impressive menu of breakfast fit for any breakfast lover from 8 am – 4 pm. Awarded the best tea and coffee shop in Manchester, it’s also a great place to go if you just want a coffee. You can get breakfast here from just £6!"

"Situated on Southport’s famous Promenade, Trattoria 51 offers traditional Italian cuisine and is the first restaurant to partner with market leading gluten free retail brand, DS-gluten free, to launch gluten free pizzas and meals for people who follow a gluten free diet. Pizza, pasta, starters, desserts, fill your boots. Menus and more here."

"Trattoria 51 was the first restaurant to partner with market leading gluten free retail brand, DS-gluten free, to launch gluten free pizzas and meals for people who follow a gluten free diet. There are also plenty of tasty dairy-free and vegan options, too."

"Visit the award-winning Assheton Arms with a loved one while in the local area. The pub is set in a stunning, Grade II listed building and specialises in hearty meat dishes and fresh seafood specialities. Popular meals include Morecambe Bay plaice, Persian chicken and venison haunch, plus a variety of mouth-watering puddings."

"Vermilion is one of the best places to eat Asian food in Manchester. The luxurious restaurant can be found just shy of Etihad Stadium and is brimming with eclectic plates that range spans countries from Thailand to India, make sure to hit it up when you fancy a diverse range of dishes."