Free Museums in Woolley Bridge

"Fresh from a £35m renovation, Manchester Art Gallery is well worth a visit for art lovers, and the merely curious. Manchester Art Gallery Exterior. With more than 25,000 objects in their collections, including 13,000 pieces of fine art, and another 13,000 in the craft and design collection - there’s certainly lots to enjoy."

"This free to visit museum is one to add to your Manchester itinerary if you have kids that love art and art history. There’s plenty to learn about the city’s artists and culture. Families with younger children should make a beeline for the Clore Art Studio, which is an interactive space developed by artists."

"Six storeys dedicated to the beautiful game, taking in footballing greats, the history of the game, the chance to lift some trophies, games and football challenges, an exhibition about the 1966 World Cup and a learning zone. Guided tours are available…"

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mick Knapton used under CC BY-SA 4.0. The Kelham Island Museum stands tall on a 900-year old man-made island on the river and focuses on the industrious history of Sheffield, specifically its steelmaking heritage. The museum features exhibits and interactive galleries about the men and women who kept the factory wheels turning."

"This great museum highlights Sheffield’s famous steel industry. Situated on a man-made island that dates back 900 years, its exhibits span three floors. Don’t miss the demonstration of the River Don Engine, which is absolutely huge, and immensely powerful."

"A photo posted by Helen Morecroft (@helenwm9) on May 25, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT. Take a trip to the Millennium Galleries, where you can visit The Ruskin Collection – a range of exhibits curated by Victorian writer John Ruskin, and intended to inspire Sheffield’s workers during that era. From detailed imagery of trees and landscapes to original sketches of birds and wildlife, hours can be spent gazing at this collection of unique work."

"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."

"Travel back in time to the industrial revolution at the Quarry Bank Mill. Oozing with heritage, you can experience the ‘sounds and smells’ of steam and water-powered engines, explore the cotton mill to learn about spinning, weaving, the production of material, and the history of the textile industry, tour the Apprentice House for a glimpse into the lives of pauper children, stroll the beautiful gardens, or walk the Styal Estate, filled with woodlands and streams. Interactive, engaging, and educational, the museum exhibits and friendly and knowledgeable staff make Quarry Bank Mill a great day out for all ages."

"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"

"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."

"Manchester's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art will reopen both of its galleries on Wednesday May 19. Exhibitions Multiplicities in Flux and Autopsy of a Home, which originally opened in October, will be back until June 13. Booking is advised at cfcca.org.uk but walk-ups are welcome."

"Located about 10 miles from Sheffield, the Elsecar Heritage Railway is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and expansion of one of the area's oldest railway lines. Highlights include an impressive collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock that once belonged to the South Yorkshire Railway. Budding engineers can even learn to drive a steam train through one of the railway's "footplate" courses (they also offer a number of fun themed excursions)."

"It may not look like much from the outside, but inside two Victorian villas on Nelson Street you’ll find The Pankhurst Centre – a heritage site of women’s activism. Once the home of local Manchester political campaigner and icon Emmeline Pankhurst, who lived at 62 Nelson Street from 1898 to 1907, it’s here that the very first meeting of the suffragette movement took place. Cut to the present day and visitors can now drop by to explore the story of women securing the right to vote."

"An unassuming little house on Nelson Street, this spot was the birthplace of the Suffragette movement. The home of inspirational leader Emmeline Pankhurst, the first Women’s Social and Political Union meeting was held here in 1903. Nowadays, the place has been converted into a museum detailing the battle for women’s equality in Britain and celebrating its great former occupant."