Greater Manchester Free Days Out

Central Art Gallery - Ashton-Under-Lyne

Central Art Gallery is a real gem. Located above the library on Old Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, these beautiful gallery spaces host a varied programme of temporary exhibitions. There is something to suit everyone's taste with group and solo shows of artists from the region including paintings, sculpture, installation and textiles.

Central Art Gallery is also a great place to chill out and take a break from the world. With lots of comfortable seating and relaxing music this is the perfect place to have a moment to yourself or a chat with a friend.

We welcome noise and mess in our galleries and this is a family friendly space. We hold regular workshops and drop ins for all ages and there is a NEW drawing table within the gallery space for all ages to create an art work.

Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7SG
0161 342 2650

Museum of the Manchester Regiment

The Town Hall in Ashton under Lyne, alongside the Open Market, is the home of a small museum dedicated to the Manchester Regiment which was associated with the town for many years.
The Museum illustrates the history of the 63rd and 96th Foot Regiments, which merged to become the Manchester Regiment in 1881, known as the "Manchesters." The regiment was based at the Ladysmith Barracks on Mossley Road in Ashton until 1958 when it was amalgamated with the King's Regiment.

The Museum has a collection of military medals and awards, including five Victoria Crosses.

The War Poets are also featured, including Wilfred Owen, who served with the Manchester Regiment.

The Museum includes a mock-up of a battlefield trench to give an impression of the sights and sounds experienced by the regiment's soldiers.
Other displays feature the work of Women in Wartime, video and film footage and home life during the war. A typical war-time kitchen is reproduced:

Portland Basin Museum

Housed within the restored nineteenth century Ashton Canal Warehouse the museum combines a lively modern interior with a peaceful canal side setting.

Portland Basin Museum is an exciting family friendly museum, with something for all the family!

Picture of a reconstruction of a 1920s HouseStep back in time on our 1920s street, as the sights and sounds of bygone Tameside are brought to life. Take a look into our kitchen and parlour to find out how we used to live.

Portland Basin Museum, Portland Place, Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 0QA

0161 343 2878

Gallery of Costume

The Gallery of Costume contains one of the largest collections of costume and accessories in Britain. The Gallery is an excellent resource for students and researchers. Workshops and other events take place on public open days and research or group visits can be arranged at other times.

The Gallery of Costume is open to the public on the last Saturday of every month, 10.00-5.00. The Gallery will also be open to pre-booked groups and researchers (by appointment only) Tuesday-Friday, 10.00-12.00 and 1.00-5.00.

Imperial War Museum North

The Big Picture at Imperial War Museum North combines projected images and sound on an a massive scale that allows you to experience how war shapes lives. Shown every hour on the hour it puts you right in the centre of the action in a profound and personal way.

Now there is a brand new show, The War at Home, which looks at the experiences of people living at home through the Second World War, and how it affected their lives.

“I was moved to tears when I saw the show. Past generations spoke to me.” Visitor

The Big Picture is just one of the thought-provoking and innovative display techniques to that tells the story of war and conflict involving Britain and the Commonwealth from 1900 to the present day.

Imperial War Museum North
The Quays
Trafford Wharf
Trafford Park
Manchester M17 1TZ

Opening times:
March - October 10am - 6pm
November - February 10am - 5pm
(Closed 24, 25, 26 December)

Please note: Last admission is 30 minutes prior to closing.

Admission: Free

General enquiries: +44 (0)161 836 4000

The John Rylands University Library
The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) is The University of Manchester's library and information service and supports all subject areas taught by the University. The JRUL provides its members with a large number of services and resources, including the most extensive range of electronic resources of any UK Higher Education library. A range of services is also provided for members of the public, schools and commercial companies.

ADMISSION FREE

The Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is a great venue for a family day out and is part of Greater Manchester's Family Friendly network.

The Family Friendly website at www.familyfriendly.org.uk has searchable listings of family events and activities throughout Greater Manchester.

ADMISSION FREE

Whitworth Art Gallery
Internationally famous for its collections of art and design, the Whitworth Art Gallery which is part of the University of Manchester in northwest England, is home to an impressive range of watercolours, prints, drawings, modern art and sculpture, as well as the largest collections of textiles and wallpapers outside London.

The Whitworth uses its collections to create changing exhibitions exploring different themes, as well as hosting a programme of innovative touring exhibitions. Curators regularly change the artworks on display in the galleries and provide access to reserve collections, especially for study purposes. A selection of tours, lectures, practical workshops and concerts accompanies the exhibition programme.

The Whitworth is open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm.

Entry to the Gallery is free.

Urbis - Manchester
Urbis explores Urban culture and the cities of today and tomorrow through four floors of exhibitions about city life.

Level One Gallery
Our exhibition programme features international large-scale exhibitions offering unique insights into the dynamic culture of the modern city, with innovative explorations of design, architecture, graffiti, music and the urban environment.

Levels Two, Three and Four
Our top three floors feature interactive exhibits exploring the experience of the city, from the thrill of first arriving in a city and the stories behind what brought and kept people there to the challenges of orientating and dealing with the dynamic nature of cities around the world. Featuring exhibits including International Design Magazine’s Gold Medal Winner for Best Interactive Exhibit, Imagining The City, our top three floors sample life in cities from Singapore to Los Angeles.

Urbis also contains a Shop and a Café overlooking Cathedral Gardens, Manchester's first new public park in 70 years. The top two floors of the building are dedicated to the award winning Le Mont restaurant, offering modern French cuisine

Heaton Hall
There has been a house on the site of the present Heaton Hall since the late seventeenth century, but the building would have been quite old-fashioned by the time Sir Thomas Egerton, the seventh baronet and later first Earl of Wilton, inherited it in 1756. Significantly, it was not until his marriage to the heiress Eleanor Assheton of Middleton in 1772, that Sir Thomas decided to commission architect James Wyatt to re-model the house. Wyatt had already established a reputation as an innovative architect but Heaton Hall, designed in the fashionable neo-classical style, was his most important country house commission to date.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Stroll down our Victorian Street, Lark Hill Place, admiring the Landau Carriages and discover our Victorian heritage first hand. You can even test your strength and listen to the Victorian Top 20. Experience the sights and sounds of Victorian Salford with our original shop fronts and fascinating interiors.Relax amidst the splendour of our Victorian Gallery and admire the paintings, pottery and fine art.

With an ever changing temporary exhibition programme, from hands-on activities to modern art, there's always something for everyone at Salford Museum and Art Gallery!

Free admission to the museum and all activities.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Peel Park
The Crescent
Salford
M5 4WU
0161 778 0800

The Lowry
A dazzling, award winning building in a stunning waterside location. One of the most exciting art galleries in Britain, explore L S Lowry's life and work in ways that might surprise you and discover something new in our other gallery spaces. One of the world's best venues for live entertainment, with an exceptional international programme of drama, dance, comedy and music. A great place for a superb value meal in our award winning restaurant. The Sunday afternoon rendezvous for great food and great free jazz, the first Sunday of the month in the Circle Bar, with the best of North West's jazz and World music artists. A great place to stimulate the whole family with fun activities and education programmes.

ADMISSION FREE

Astley Cheetham Art Collection
Built as a gift to the town of Stalybridge by John Frederick Cheetham and his wife Beatrice Astley in 1901, the gallery originally opened as a lecture theatre. The space turned into an art gallery to house the Astley Cheetham Art Collection, bequeathed in 1932. This collection has grown with gifts and donations throughout the twentieth century and is one of the most interesting small regional collections. Alongside exhibitions of the collection, the gallery also hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions by regional artists.

We welcome noise and mess in our galleries and this is a space to go as a family. We hold regular workshops and drop ins for all ages and there is a permanent drawing table within the gallery space for all ages to create an art work.

Trinity Street, Stalybridge SK15 2BN

0161 338 6767

South West of England. Children go free.

Denham Country Park - Uxbridge
Rivers, woodlands and meadows.
www.buckscc.gov.uk/countryside/countryparks

Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre - Billericay, Essex
100 acre nature reserve on the shores of Hanningfield Reservoir
www.essexwt.org.uk

High Woods Country Park - Colchester, Essex
woodland, wetland, grassland, farmland - fishing and horse-riding trail.
www.visitweb.com/hwcp

Lee Valley Park - Waltham Abbey, Essex
Bird-watching, fishing and Walking.
www.leevalleypark.com

Weald Country Park - Brentwood
Deer Paddock, two lakes, walks and nature trails.
Tel: 01277 216297

The Bear Museum- Petersfield, Hampshire.
Antique teddy bears in Edwardian setting.
www.bearmuseum.co.uk

Fort Nelson - The Royal Armouries - Fareham, Hampshire
Victorian fort fully restored set in 19 acres. Live firing daily.
www.armouries.org.uk

Southampton Maritime Museum - Southampton
Medieval stone warehouse with exhibitions including Titanic and interactive displays.
www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage

The Needles Park, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight
Park with rides and attractions, chairlift to beach.
www.theneedles.co.uk

Capstone Farm Country Park, Gillinham, Kent
280 acres of meadows and woodlands with childrens' play areas.
01634 812196

Bank of England Museum, Threadneedle Street, London EC2
Museum within the Bank of England charting the history of money.
www.bankofengland.co.uk

Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1
Interactive, sights and smells of wartime in London.
www.iwm.org.uk

Livesey Museum for Children, Old Kent Road, London SE1
Interactive exhibitions for children up to 12
www.Liveseymuseum.org.uk

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7
Interactive exhibitions from dinosaurs onwards. Some exhibitions have entrance fees.
www.nhm.ac.uk

Ragged School Museum, Copperfield Road, London E3
On the site of the original Dr. Barnardo's Ragged School. Dedicated to East End.
www.raggedschool.museum.org.uk

Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon London NW9
Museum of aviation, interactive areas. Flying through the ages.
www.rafmuseum.com

Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London SW7
Interactive exhibits from yesteryear to tomorrow's world.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Stepping Stones Farm, Stepney High Street, London E1
Working farm, farming demonstrations, farm trail and play area.
www.stepneynews.com

Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1
National gallery of British art from 16th century to today.
www.tate.org.uk

Box Hill, Tadworth, Surrey KT20
Woodland and downs with marked trails and strolls.
01306 885502

CherryTree Farm, Lingfield, Surrey RH7
Stabling for rescue horses, donkeys, and ponies - guided tours.
www.ilph.org.uk

Harbour Park Family Amusement Park - Littlehampton, West Sussex
Traditional family amusement park and fairground - individual fees for rides.
01903 721200

Shpwreck Heritage Centre, Hastings, East Sussex TN34
Collection of historic treasures salvaged from shipwrecks.
01424 437452

Tilgate Park & Nature Reserve, Crawley, West Sussex RH10
Endangered species and breeds, wild and domestic animals.
www.crawley.gov.uk

[ kids go free - South West England ]