The best galleries in Manchester

Manchester Art Gallery is free and publicly owned, with more than 46,000 pieces of art and costume in its collection. This venue in the city centre puts on a wide variety of exciting exhibitions and believes that creativity is a force for good. Other events, like tours and creative workshops, take place here as well.

Founded in 1984, Castlefield Gallery is a hub for contemporary art in Manchester. The space hosts inspiring exhibitions with a range of different themes, as well as events like curator tours. The venue is also an important resource for local artists, offering development talks and events, as well as student takeovers.

The Lowry in Salford holds the world's largest collection of works by L.S. Lowry, which are permanently on display. Other temporary shows celebrating local creativity also take place here. Added to that, the venue has three different theatre spaces and runs a number of creative initiatives including artist development programmes.

An independent gallery in the heart of the city, Contemporary Six represents more than 30 British artists. It's a modern venue where you can see group and solo shows featuring names like David Hockney, Patrick Heron, and Andy Warhol. You'll see work by major names and emerging talents at this gallery, with a focus on British art.

Salford Museum & Art Gallery features a number of gallery spaces housing a wide variety of historical and contemporary art and artefacts. There are creative events here too like life drawing sessions and craft socials. Exhibitions change regularly. This is a great spot for seeing art by established and emerging local practitioners.

Bolton Museum houses diverse collections and is a great place to see some art. More than 3,500 pieces by British artists from the 18th century to the present day are housed here, including lots of work depicting life in the local area. The museum also houses Egyptian mummies, plant specimens, and ceramics.

Based in a grand Edwardian building, Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre is a welcoming space to look at art. You can discover more about the area's history and cultural heritage, as well as see art exhibitions. There are temporary and permanent art displays as well as events and workshops that tie in to the exhibition programme.

The Whitworth was founded in 1889 and is part of the University of Manchester. A variety of exhibitions of contemporary and historical art are on here, plus you can see works from the gallery's sizeable permanent collection. Activities like tours, concerts, and reading and writing groups also take place at this venue.

One of the city's leading independent art galleries is Saul Hay Gallery. Located by the canal in Castlefield, this is one of the North West's most prominent contemporary galleries. An eclectic range of art works and exhibitions are on show here, plus the work is for sale. Events like talks, book launches, and poetry nights are on here too.

Based in the Northern Quarter, Esea Contemporary was established in the 1980s and is dedicated to showcasing art and artists with East and South East Asian heritage. This dynamic and progressive space hosts events, exhibitions, residencies, and learning and development opportunities, plus it has a strong sense of community.

Independent gallery Egoiste Gallery shows both traditional and progressive works. You'll see established names like Pure Evil on the walls, as well as up-and-coming talent. Prints and original pieces are for sale here, plus the gallery offers framing services, fine art printing, and art commissions. It's based within Afflecks.

Paradise Works in Salford is an artist-run initiative. It has studio space for more than 40 artists as well as a gallery space. Exhibitions and film screenings by local and international talent take place here, in addition to engaging public projects and a residency programme for artists. Workshops and artist's talks also go on here.

Based in the heart of Oldham, Gallery Oldham is a museum and art gallery that's free to visit. The gallery has a collection of thousands of pieces, with some on permanent display. There are also four gallery spaces for work by local talent. Interesting events are on here too such as life drawing, workshops, talks, and kids' activities.

Home is a major cultural hotspot in the city. This place features gallery space, five cinemas, and two theatres all in a modern and buzzy setting. Some of the top British and international names in contemporary art show work here, plus there are other facilities like bars, a restaurant, and a bookshop.

You'll find Chuck Gallery in Plymouth Grove; it's the first gallery in the North West dedicated to contemporary African art. The space opened in 2016 and shows work by a varied range of African artists based in Manchester and elsewhere. Events are on regularly too like networking sessions, artists in conversation, and poetry evenings.

Based in Openshaw, Rogue Artists' Studios provides studio space for more than 85 local artists and also has an exhibition space where a variety of exciting shows take place. There's a focus on artistic talent from Manchester and the North West. You can also attend open studio events here and see what goes on behind the scenes.

A leading art retailer and gallery, Castle Fine Art is a large space spanning two floors. A constantly-changing selection of interesting art is on display by names like Alfie Bowen, Johnny Depp, and Bob Dylan. Original art and prints are for sale here - it's a great place to visit if you're looking for an inspiring piece of art to take home.