Best Arts and Culture Places in Calderdale

"Manchester city centre, Manchester art gallery, viewing the art on public display|© Mark Waugh / Alamy Stock Photo. The city centre’s free-entry gallery often plays host to exciting exhibitions from world-renowned artists such as Joana Vasconcelos. Its permanent collections include an impressive array of costume, oil paintings and decorative arts, making this the perfect destination for whiling away several hours and getting inspired."

"A superb collection of British art and a hefty number of European masters are the highlights at the city's top art gallery. It's home to the best assemblage of Pre-Raphaelite art as well as a permanent collection of pre-17th-century art, mostly by Dutch and early Renaissance masters. It also hosts exciting exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The gallery runs a free hour-long highlights tour from 2pm to 3pm Thursday to Sunday."

"Located on Mosley Street, Manchester Art Gallery is a free entry gallery that has been at the centre of life in Manchester for nearly 200 years. The gallery strives for social change through its collections, displays and public programmes. Pay a visit to see exhibitions including Grayson’s Art Club and What is Manchester Art Gallery."

"As the name suggests, the Imperial War Museum takes visitors on a walk through military history. There is a range of interactive and static exhibits here and the museum sits on The Quays, another iconic area of Manchester. Afterwards, pop over to Elnecot for a tasty bite to eat."

"IWM North, Trafford Wharf Rd, Trafford Park, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M17 1TZ. Things to do at IWM North review. The IWM North, short for Imperial War Museum, is a large museum overlooking the water in Stretford, Greater Manchester."

"Head to the late-Victorian neo-Gothic building for amazing architecture which will add a splash of sophistication to your feed. John Rylands Library was opened to the public in 1900 and looks more like a castle or cathedral rather than a place to loan out books. Venture into the Reading Room with its ornate wooden carvings and designs, for the best photos."

"John Rylands Research Institute and Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 3EH - Visit now. John Rylands Library houses a collection of rare books that spans five millennia – including an original Gutenberg Bible – in a neo-Gothic building that took nine years to build."

"Leeds Art Gallery is one of the city’s finest attractions with a grand architectural presence punctuated by Henry Moore’s Reclining Woman. Head inside to see one of the best collections of twentieth-century British art in the UK, with everything from paintings to sculptures and photography from the likes of Henry Moore, Francis Bacon and Jacob Kramer, to name but a few. They will also have a brand new piece of art – Arena (2000) is a major work by Alison Wilding and will be showcased under the newly restored barrel vaulted glazed roof."

"Leeds Art Gallery is free to visit and this summer has two current temporary exhibitions from artists Zadie Xa and Georgina Starr. Families can download learning and activity packs from home including Mindful Creatives fact sheets and colouring-in."

"The images in the Britain from the Air exhibition offer an exhilarating perspective of some of the UK’s most breathtaking and thought provoking landscapes and…"

"The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now. The Whitworth underwent a £15m redevelopment in 2015, which saw it double in size; the gallery now juts out into Whitworth park, seamlessly transitioning from old to new. It’s been met with national and international acclaim – for its new architecture and for its brilliant exhibitions programme."

"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."

"Address: The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER. Phone number: 0161 275 7450. Part of the University of Manchester, this collection of over 60,000 pieces ranges from historic fine art to contemporary art, prints and sculptures."

"The Bingley Gallery, 29A Park Road, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 4BQ - Visit now. The Bingley Gallery is a hidden haven of local art work and changing exhibitions. Curated by visual artist David Starley."

"Like Contemporary Six, Generation also offers the Own Art scheme. Artworks range from under £100, to a whopping £49,000, with bestsellers including Kerry Darlington’s fantastical resin creations and JJ Adams’ subversive celebrity depictions. Whether you’re a serious collector, or simply after a quirky piece for your home, you’d do well do beat it."

"In a city with the biggest student population outside of London, it would be absurd for the prevailing university culture not to have some influence on the art scene. Housed within the University of Leeds campus in the Grade II listed Art Deco Parkinson Building, The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery showcases a mix of contemporary art as well as works from the university’s special collections department spanning over 200 years. The gallery expectedly supports and promotes its students’ and its graduates’ work, in addition to displays from local artists and those from further afield."

"You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the art of The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery at the University of Leeds. Since 1970, it’s been home to the University Art Collection, which features ceramics, photographs and sculpture. That’s not all – you can see an incredible selection of British and European paintings, drawings and prints from 17th century to the present day."

"The fairly new in town Feel Good Club is literally dedicated to helping improve mental wellbeing, not only from the beautifully positive notes left on each coffee cup, but with the spacious, happy decor and mental health first aid trained workforce, too. Now complete with an outdoor terrace, the coffee shop is the perfect place to shut off from the world every once in a while, with brunch dishes and plenty of snacks on the menu to try while you watch the day pass by. Feel Good Club, 26-28 Hilton St, M1 2EH."

"Mental health and wellbeing cafe Feel Good Club – Manchester’s new kid on the block in the Northern Quarter – has remained open throughout the second national lockdown for takeaway services to provide much-needed support for those who need it most. And on top of that, the coffee is just pretty damn good. 26 – 28 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EH"

"The Northern Quarter’s mental health and wellness cafe has made the decision to reopen for walk-ins at its new outdoor seating area from this week, and you can find menus, opening times and more information on the website here."

"If your dog is at the spinning-in-circles level of needing to run like Usain Bolt, then Farnley Hall Park is a perfect dog-friendly spot. It’s also a particularly calm space–which is an ideal mood change when your dog is at the washing machine spin cycle stage of existence (looking at you, every waggler under the age of one!). The space used to be a deer park, though today it’s more accustomed to gatherings of dog owners; here, you’re almost guaranteed to make nice new doggy pals to charge over the grass and into the woodland with."

"This 40-acre former deer park, which is located four miles west of Leeds city centre, has a large open grassland, woodlands, formal gardens and a pond. It's accessed via Hall Lane, Farnley, LS12 5HA."

"Tucked away at the bottom of Worsbrough is the Mill and Country Park. With a working water mill, cafe, and walks to suit all abilities this is an ideal place for younger children and families. The pathways and open spaces mean we can create a variety of images in a close area."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Martin Clark used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Bingley Five-Rise Locks is a staircase lock, on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal of Bingley. As the name infers, a vessel going through the lock is lifted or brought down in five phases."

"Every year Leeds Valentine's Fair brings some thrills and spills to the Valentine's Day and the Februiary half-term holidays, with more than 70 attractions on offer. In 2020 the fair moved from it's previous base at Elland Road, next to Leeds United's ground, to Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park, Leeds. This year's fair is running now until Sunday, February 23."

"Covering 27 hectares, with seven tree-lined paths taking you into the centre, Woodhouse Moor is one of the finest parks in Leeds. John Atkinson created it for the residents of Woodhouse Square in 1840 and it became a public green space in 1905. It’s a popular spot with walkers, picnickers and skaters, but that’s not the only reason to go."

"Also known simply as Hyde Park, this is the place to be for students as soon as there's an inkling of sunshine in the city. It may not be the prettiest of parks on first glance, but hundreds of people plonk themselves on the grass, crack open a beer and blast out the tunes during the summer."