Best Museums in River Irwell

"While not a museum per se, Manchester Art Gallery is home to exhibitions focusing on the development of the arts over time and eras of history. If you are a fashion lover, this should definitely be one of your sightseeing stops, as they usually host at least one exhibition connected to fashion."

"If you are a culture seeker, the Manchester Art Gallery is the perfect place for you to be. Over 25,000 works of art from all over the world adorn the walls of this popular gallery of art. But the interesting part is that isn’t just a display of art."

"Manchester Art Gallery is a public art museum on Mosley Street (near St Peter Square). It’s actually made of 3 buildings. The main one was built in 1823 after a design from Sir Charles Barry."

"National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 3BG - Visit now. Learn all about the history of the beautiful game in the world’s largest football museum with optional Football Plus experiences to put your penalty shootout skills to the test. The clever folk at the museum even help pocket money budgets go further with free weekly Match Attax swopsies sessions."

"Everyone knows about Manchester’s history and continuing relationship with the world’s most popular sport, football. Manchester United and City are two of the most successful clubs on Earth, whilst also being two of the biggest brands. The former in particular has a rich history dating back to earlier in the 20th century, resulting in their current standing as one of the biggest – if not the biggest – sporting brands."

"From people’s history to the people’s game - Manchester is also home to one of the world’s top museums of football - and amazingly, it’s free to get in!. Discovery Zone, National Football Museum. You approach the museum along the Football Walk of Fame which celebrates the greats of the game."

"Over the past 125+ years, the Whitworth has seen many transformations but none so much as its recent £15 million development, resulting in accolades such as RIBA National Award and Art Fund’s Museum of the Year 2015. Now home to an internationally important collection numbering 60,000 works - blending high-profile names like Blake, Spencer, Rembrandt and Moore with fresh new talent - the gallery’s principal aim remains the same: ‘the perpetual gratification of the people of Manchester’."

"Surrounded by the University of Salford, this sizeable museum is on the south side of Peel Park, mapping the history of Salford and with a large inventory of Victorian art. The museum dates to 1850, and would be worth a visit just to appreciate its Italianate Renaissance-style galleries. These have been arranged to reflect the layout of a Victorian museum, with paintings, decorative art and sculpture all competing for your attention in the same space."

"The museums in Salford give the very essence of its citizens and rich culture. If you are looking for something deeper and more meaningful, head to the museums in city. Explore the cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical side of Salford with these museums."

"The municipal museum was founded in 1848 and moved into its purpose-built Neoclassical home in 1857. This is one of the UK’s oldest town museums and the building has kept its original character. As with the best municipal museums, the collection is a big jumble of local industrial artefacts, Egyptology, Roman archaeology, coins, ethnographic displays, items from the Civil War and zoological and botanical specimens."

"1857 museum with 200,000 artifacts displayed in original Victorian glass cabinets, plus fine art. Address : Bold St, Warrington WA1 1DR, United Kingdom"

"Located near Preston Dock, the Ribble Steam Railway museum invites you to hop aboard a heritage train ride on one of their working steam trains. The museum makes a fantastic and interactive day out for all the family, delving into Preston's historical links to steam trains and Preston Dock. See their Diesel Locomotives, Steam Locomotives, miniature railway, and much more."

"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."

"The Pankhurst Centre is easily one of the best indoor activities in Manchester. Discover the story of Emmeline Pankhurst, a British political activist whose family lived in the house from 1898 to 1907. The centre was where the first meeting of the suffragette campaign for votes for women took place!"

"Caketastic Creations is your best choice if you want uniquely-designed pieces. Their small shop is located In Manor Road, Middleton. The local business is known for their creativity and ingenuity."

"Treat the family to a day out at Brockholes, boasting the UK’s first floating visitor village and the 250-acre Lancashire Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Whilst you’re ambling along the River Ribble and the nearby lakes, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. What’s more, you’ll be able to visit year-round with free admission!"

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Tucked away from Warrington’s main town centre, where you will find all your standard high street shops and some small independent boutiques too, you will find Woolston Park. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning or sunny weekday after work, Woolston Park is a much-loved spot by local people."

"The Trafford Ecology Park is tucked away in the industrial Trafford Park behind an oil depot and is a registered Biological Important site and a true oasis of wildlife. The park is spread across an area of eleven acres and is a true delight for a nature enthusiast."

"Home to over nineteen artisans, MCDC spans textiles to prints, sculpture to jewellery and more besides. The studio element means you can often see designers at work and learn more about the process behind their practise, while the organisation’s support programme showcases a wealth of established and emerging local talent. The building (a Victorian former fish market) is interesting too."

"In the heart of the Northern Quarter, you’ll find this hub of creativity inside a former Victorian fish market. Local artists and creatives have set up studios inside, creating and selling art, prints, sculptures, jewellery and ceramics from their own unique spaces. There’s also a cute little cafe and occasional musical performances and exhibitions."

"Manchester Craft & Design Centre, 17 Oak St, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 5JD - Visit now. The thing we love best about Manchester Craft & Design Centre?. The fact that you can buy unique, unusual pieces direct from some incredibly talented designers."