A World Inside a Book: Gruffalo, Dragons and Other Creatures at Z-arts

Gemma Gibb, Associate Editor

Book now

A World Inside a Book: Gruffalo, Dragons and Other Creatures

Z-arts, Manchester
12 February-26 October 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

A World Inside A Book courtesy Suzi Corker
Ludovic Des Cogents
Book now

Missed this? Book now for The Tiger that Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, the new blockbuster exhibition coming to Z-arts in 2020.

Step into the colourful worlds of some of the best-loved bedtime stories read across the land at Z-arts. Fresh from London’s Discover Story Centre comes A World Inside a Book: Gruffalo, Dragons and Other Creatures, the UK’s first interactive exhibition of tales by illustrator Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.

Aimed at ages zero to eight, crawl, walk and play through a wonderland of worlds together. The exhibition starts with the sitting room setting of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book where it’s storytime.

Magical set design re-creates enchanting forests, miniature towns and watery worlds so little ones really do feel they are experiencing the worlds of the book just as their favourite characters are.

A World Inside a Book courtesy Suzi Corker

All the A-list are here at Z-arts including The Gruffalo, Zog, Tiddler and The Snail and the Whale. Climb through The Highway Rat‘s cave, adventure through the Monkey Puzzle jungle and brace yourself for take off with Room on the Broom.

Expect all the senses to be bombarded (in a good way) and, as it’s Z-arts, the exhibition includes the chance to express yourselves through dressing up or creation of your own artistic or storytelling endeavours.

We love that this sort of experience gives families the chance to explore familiar stories in a brand new, playful way.

What's on at Z-arts

Where to go near A World Inside a Book: Gruffalo, Dragons and Other Creatures at Z-arts

Venture Arts
Hulme
Gallery
Venture Arts, Manchester

Venture Arts is a progressive visual arts charity based in Hulme, Manchester, with a small exhibition space. It works alongside learning disabled artists to create and show exciting new collaborative visual artwork.

Clay Studio Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
Clay Studio Manchester

Clay studio was founded in 2016 to provide a dedicated workshop for new graduates, hobby ceramicists and experienced makers. The studio also offers a range of classes for students of all abilities.

Hulme
Hulme Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, originally known as the Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 6 October 1902. In 2018, the historic venue was relaunched as a community arts centre by NIAMOS – a collective of artists, musicians and local residents.

Manchester
Event venue
Niamos Centre, Manchester

Niamos is a co-operatively run exhibition, arts, and performance space with a micro bakery, music studio’s, a kitchen and a holistic well-being space in the midst of transformation.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester Metropolitan University Brooks building, Birley Campus in Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
MMU Birley Campus

Birley is Manchester Met’s world-class centre for Education and Health Professionals and the university’s flagship community campus.

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

What's on: Families

FamiliesCity Centre
Manchester Christmas Markets

The Manchester Christmas Markets are back for 2025, with many dozens of stalls in front of the town hall, and hundreds of traders spread across city-centre squares.

Free entry
Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
Until
ActivityManchester
2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre in the North

Picks this month include bold visual art, wondrous opera and cinematic dance - plus a touch of ghostly storytelling for the Halloween season.

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

It's busy month across the cinemas of the north as Halloween programming leads into two of the region's biggest film festivals.

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

In galleries around the North this autumn, you'll find tactile sculptures, Treasures with a capital 'T' and plant magic.