The Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Susie Stubbs Last Updated 24 November 2023

The Harris is currently closed until 2025. Harris Your Place is a £16million project set to restore and reimagine the Harris for 21st-century audiences as a community, cultural and learning space.

The Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston is a national gem: sitting inside an enormous, neo-Classical building on Preston’s Flag Market it contains historic collections of note, as well as an outstanding contemporary art programme. From digital art commissions to grand, public art, the Harris is well worth a visit. Nearby, art pub The Continental and the recently-restored Avenham & Miller Parks (whose River Ribble setting and award-winning Avenham Pavilion cafe are just peachy) offer food, drink and riverside delight.

PrestonPR1 2PP View map

Telephone: 01772 258 248 Visit now

Featured in

Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite Collections in the North

Explore the best Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite collections in the North, a region rich in work from this period.

What's on near The Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Until 1 Dec 2026

ActivityBlackpool

Turtle Feeding Experience at SEA LIFE Blackpool

Come face to face with SEA LIFE Blackpool’s hungriest resident. This unique experience gives you the chance to feed Phoenix the green sea turtle and learn about this endangered species.

From £75.00

Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom

Until 1 Dec 2026

Food and DrinkBlackpool

Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom

Step into the majestic Blackpool Tower Ballroom for an experience like no other. With stunning architecture, live music and treats galore, Afternoon Tea here is highly recommended.

From £60.00

Plays for the People at Shakespeare North Playhouse

17 Jun

TheatreKnowsley

Plays for the People at Shakespeare North Playhouse

A day of live performance, bold ideas and collective action – where the audience becomes the cast and theatre sparks conversation.

From £15.00

31 May

TourRochdale

The Secrets of Rochdale with a Visit to the Town Hall

Discover Rochdale’s rich history on this guided tour, featuring the newly restored Town Hall, St Chad’s Church, and the Pioneers Museum.

From £20.00

8 Jun

TourManchester

The Secrets of Heaton Hall and Park

Enjoy a rare visit inside the glorious Heaton Hall, while uncovering the fascinating history of the ‘people’s park’ outside.

From £25.00

27 May – 1 Jun

FamiliesMediaCityUK

There’s A Monster in Your Show at Lowry

Watch out – there’s a monster on the loose!

15 Jul – 19 Jul

DanceSalford

Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet at The Lowry

An explosive new dance production heads to The Lowry, bringing a whole new dimension to The Who’s iconic rock album.

From £23.00

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at The Lowry

3 Dec – 11 Jan 2026

FamiliesManchester

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at The Lowry

Step through the wardrobe and experience an icy, magic and mystical adventure.

From £19

See all events

Where to go near The Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Lancashire

Event venue

Preston Flag Market

Preston’s historic market square hosts many outdoor cultural events throughout the year.

Lancashire

Shop

Friargate

With an array of independent shops and places to eat and drink, including a number of contemporary pubs and bars, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Lancashire

Park

Winckley Square

Hosting a variety of year-round events, from guided walks to jazz evenings, Winckley Square is a Georgian square packed with history in Preston city centre.

Lancashire

Park

Avenham and Miller Parks

Located in the heart of Preston, Avenham and Miller Parks are among the finest examples of traditional Victorian parkland in the North West.

Lancashire

Tourist Attraction

Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary

There are few more thrilling things than having a bird of prey swoop in to land on your arm, and seeing these spectacular, elusive creatures up close.

Blackburn

Bed & Breakfast

Alpaca Fold

Located in the rural village of Samlesbury on a 35-acre smallholding, Alpaca Fold provides quality accommodation suitable for short and longer stays surrounded by the peace and calm of a rural setting.

Lancashire

Restaurant

The Foundry Tap and Kitchen

Gastro pub The Foundry serves freshly cooked and locally sourced pub fare, alongside a quality drinks selection and a warm atmosphere.

Lancashire

Bed & Breakfast

Everything Retreat

A haven of luxury and serenity in the heart of the Ribble Valley, Everything Retreat is an idyllic spot for an indulgent getaway.

Lancashire

Restaurant

Scholars Restaurant

This quality bistro offers fine dining at fabulous prices. One of the leading training restaurants, Scholars Restaurant is run by both industry professionals and fantastic Blackburn College students.

Lancashire

Event venue

Electric Church Club

Blackburn’s home of live music, Electric Church Club hosts artists from the whole of the UK.

Blackburn

King George’s Hall, Blackburn

One of the North West of England’s best known and loved entertainment venues the historic King George’s Hall in Blackburn was built in the classical style from stone quarried at Butler’s Delph in Pleasington.

Blackburn

Music venue

The Exchange, Blackburn

Dating back to 1865 when it opened as one of four exchange halls in the country, The Exchange is an iconic Blackburn venue

See all places

District Guides

Things to do on the Wirral

The Wirral is a short train (or ferry) ride away from Liverpool so why not sample its best arts and culture spots?

Southport

Southport is a large seaside town in the county of Merseyside, which also takes in Formby, West Kirby and Liverpool. Formerly known for genteel ladies of a certain age and…

Baltic Triangle, Liverpool

Read our guide to The Baltic Triangle, a great spot for eating, drinking and partying in Liverpool.

Didsbury, Manchester

Didsbury has the perfect split between big brands and independent businesses, welcoming all from far and wide.

Ancoats & New Islington

Ancoats, just off the Northern Quarter in Manchester, is one of the city’s most increasingly desirable neighbourhoods. Find out why.

Things to Do in Altrincham

Plan a day out down Altrincham way, and you’ll soon find that one day isn’t nearly enough. Getting there is easy on the tram, or how about cycling along the…

Art Galleries in Bradford

Bradford has given us giants of the visual art world such as David Hockney and Ian Beesley, check out our guide of art galleries to find the best places to experience art in the city.

Culture Guides

A man wearing red eye makeup dressed in black with a top hat and a cane over his shoulder.

Tours and Activities in the North

Books, beer and burlesque. Dive into a glorious tangle of joyful happenings.

Food and Drink in the North

The sun is shining in the North, so use our guide to get out there and eat, drink and be merry in it.

Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

Hayao Miyazaki's Dreams by Mystery Ensemble

Family things to do in the North

With these lighter, brighter days and warmer temperatures, it's really starting to feel like summer here in the North West!

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses

Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.