Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Seasonal Guides
Away from the buzz of London, between them Manchester and Salford arguably have one of the highest concentrations of fantastic art galleries in England – and we couldn’t be more excited by the prospect of them being allowed to reopen from 17 May onwards!
Featuring our pick of larger institutions and smaller independent spaces, here we scrape the surface of what the city has to offer, and when you’ll be able to visit from. Advanced booking is required in some cases – make sure to check each venue’s website for more details.
Here are our picks
Castlefield Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 4GB - Visit now
A small but influential gallery, Castlefield presents thought-provoking work by local, national and international artists at key stages in their career. It includes Turner Prize winners, such as Ryan Gander, among its alumni.
The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now
Winner of Art Fund’s Museum of the Year award 2015 following a major £15m redevelopment, the beautifully designed Whitworth Art Gallery is a true gem of a place. Its internationally important art collection is presented alongside a changing programme of contemporary exhibitions and outdoor sculpture, whilst the spectacular ‘café in the trees’ is well worth a visit alone.
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 3JL - Visit now
Positioned at the very heart of the city, Manchester Art Gallery houses six centuries worth of fine art, ceramics, glass, furniture and costume, and presents a year-round programme of contemporary exhibitions by world-leading artists.
esea contemporary, Market buildings, Thomas Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1EU - Visit now
Tucked away at the end of Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, CFCCA is the number one place for experiencing Chinese contemporary art in the UK. Its dynamic programme of events and exhibitions explore and question the notion of ‘Chineseness’ in today’s world.
HOME Manchester, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 4FN - Visit now
Manchester’s much-loved multi-arts centre HOME has a fantastic programme of exhibitions throughout the year. With the multitude of styles, subjects and motifs on display throughout the different temporary exhibitions, HOME’s galleries are always worth a visit.
Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester, Railway Cottage, Off Castle Street, Manchester, M3 4LZ - Visit now
Saul Hay is one of the city’s foremost independent galleries, with fresh, exciting collections of works and regularly changing exhibitions. You might see something different every time you visit!
PAPER Gallery, Unit 12 Mirabel Studios, 14-20 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ - Visit now
The tiny but perfect PAPER Gallery celebrates all things paper – it’s a material with so much more potential than you might have initially thought! Let PAPER instil a love for the material in you too, but remember, the gallery is open on Saturdays only.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WU - Visit now
Once a favourite haunt of the great LS Lowry, Salford Museum & Art Gallery is a friendly destination with special appeal to families. Its collections focus on Victorian art and local social history, while its temporary exhibitions present work by contemporary artists from around the world.
Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre, Moss Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0DR - Visit now
This grand neoclassical building is home to temporary exhibitions of acclaimed international art, contemporary and historical collections, a beautifully-curated shop, and Tina’s tea rooms (serving excellent toasted teacakes). Well worth the tram ride.