Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Plumley

"4 km from city center 5 out of 12 places to visit in Manchester. The imperial war memorial of Manchester exhibits the main conflicts of the 20th century with the help of a wide range of displays, regular screenings of short films and other weapons. The aluminium clad building is worth watching."

"Walk through a timeline of history from the First World War to the present day. Again, although tickets are free, they must be booked in advance. Find out more and book here."

"Take a walk right down to the end of Oxford Road and you’ll find The Whitworth. An impressive and ornate red-brick structure, this popular Manchester art gallery certainly looks the part from the outside – and once inside visitors will find over 60,000 internationally important artworks to explore. Everything from weaving to sculpture is included within its recently refurbished walls – and best of all, much of it is free to explore."

"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."

"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."

"In the old Peak Hydrophathic Hotel (1880) the Buxton Museum and Gallery has exhibitions for archaeology, history and geology, all sourced in the town and the Peak District. The Wonders of the Peak exhibition presents a timeline from the Big Bang to the Victorian period. You’ll learn how the range was formed and inspect fossils of Pliocene mammals that once prowled the Peak District, like scimitar-toothed cats and cave lions."

"In the old Peak Hydrophathic Hotel (1880) the Buxton Museum and Gallery has exhibitions for archaeology, history and geology, all sourced in the town and the Peak District. The Wonders of the Peak exhibition is best suited for kids. This presents a timeline from the Big Bang to the Victorian period, including fossils of Pliocene mammals that once prowled the Peak District, like scimitar-toothed cats and cave lions!"

"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"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"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."

"While idling in the Pavilion Gardens you could call in at this gallery in the main building next to the tourist information desk. The Gallery in the Gardens is a platform for painting and arts and crafts by more than 40 local artists and craftspeople. Their works are for sale and include textiles, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, embroidery, glass, linocuts, etchings, woodcarvings and prints."

"Since you’ll find yourself within The Pavilion Gardens, you might want to pay The Gallery in the Gardens a visit. It’s an art gallery featuring paintings, ceramics, and other crafts by local artists. Support the local artists’ high-quality masterpieces by making a purchase or two if you can."

"Contemporary Six – The Gallery is a leading independent art gallery located in the heart of the city centre of Manchester opposite the beautiful Town Hall. Established in 2010 by Alex Reuben, the gallery is known for offering a warm and friendly welcome to art enthusiasts, collectors, and new visitors and explorers to the city. Specialising in original paintings, landscapes, portraits, abstracts handmade prints, sculptures, and ceramics."

"From Darrell Evanes’ scrap metal sculpture to Matthew Bourne’s natural abstracts, Contemporary Six’s repertoire is all encompassing. Having outgrown its former location of Royal Exchange Arcade, the gallery - founded by Alex Reuben in 2010 - now occupies an airy space on Princess Street, where it represents around 40 artists. Best feature: Contemporary Six offers the Own Art Scheme, which allows buyers to pay in monthly instalments"

"Home to a collection of impressive oil paintings, ceramics, local history and a fine selection of the famous Leek Embroideries. Walk in the footsteps of William Morris, D.H. Lawrence, Oscar Wilde and John Betjeman."

"Since opening their doors in November 2015, Hope Mill Theatre has become one of the most successful independent venues in England. Located in Ancoats, they produce full scale musicals from their Grade II listed former mill. The theatre will be reopening this summer, as well as hosting Hope Fest, an outdoor arts and culture festival."

"This wonderful independent venue, located out in New Islington, was one of the few theatres that managed to reopen last year after lockdown. It'll be back again with a reduced capacity and socially distanced seating for a Meet Me At Dawn, from HER Productions. You can get tickets at hopemilltheatre.co.uk."

"Another one that you'll have to exercise patience for is the RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music), which is - understandably - prioritising the return of students and tutors. You can see the latest updates at www.rncm.ac.uk."

"The Royal Northern College of Music is an internationally acclaimed conservatoire, as well as an eclectic performance venue delivering a diverse programme of music and opera performances."

"Philips Park, Prestwich is also the home of Bury’s first mountain bike trail and first Countryside Centre. The Environmental Summer Play Scheme is based at the Barn Countryside Centre and uses various locations around the LNR. The playscheme offers local children the chance to experience the environment and its wildlife on their doorstep with a varied programme of activities including pond dipping, mini-beast safaris and environmental games."

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Dumphasizer used under CC BY-SA 2.0. As mentioned earlier in our introduction, Poole’s Cavern & Buxton Country Park is one of the top tourist sites in Buxton, England. It is a longstanding natural limestone cave along Green Lane in the county of Derbyshire."

"Solomon’s Temple is a viewpoint tower built in 1896 on the site of a tumulus, which is a Neolithic burial mound. It replaced an earlier structure and probably takes its name from Solomon Mycock, who rented the land in the early 1800s. It’s a lovely walk to the summit – follow our easy 1.8km Solomon’s Temple walk – and can be combined with your visit to Poole’s Cavern as the walk starts from the same car park."

"You could follow up a visit to Poole’s Cavern with a walk through the woods and past cow herds up to this Victorian folly 440 metres above sea level. Solomon’s Temple was unveiled in 1896, replacing a tower from earlier that century. That structure had been built by one Solomon Mycock, owner of the Cheshire Cheese Hotel, which is where the name comes from."

"Solomon’s Temple, also known as Grin Low Tower, is a Victorian fortified hill marker on Grin Low Hill near the spa town of Buxton. The spectacular views from the top are not-to-be-missed!"

"With its original site in up-and-coming Ancoats and a newly opened branch on Peter Street, it’s a go-to place for pizza and cocktails with your pals. Pizza dough is made on site twice a day and cooked for no longer than a minute to produce a springy base. Choose from toppings including classic margherita with buffalo mozzarella, spicy ‘nduja sausage with tomato and fior di latte, or white pizza with smoked mozzarella, Tuscan sausage and wild broccoli."

"Rudy’s is so good, it’s always a pleasant surprise when you get the bill and remember just how budget-friendly it really is. Pizza prices range from £6.30 – £10.50 (the more expensive options being the meatier ones!), and each pizza is bigger than the huge plate its served on. The value for money is incredible, particularly since it’s officially the best pizza in the UK, and the atmosphere is perfect for a catch-up with mates."