Manchester Art Gallery

Widely hailed as bringing together the most impressive collection of sculpture, historic costume and painting in Northern England, Manchester Art Gallery is something of an artistic triumph in its own right. A sprawling column-bordered stone building, the gallery houses 21 rooms of permanent art and craft collections of both local and national importance, alongside a collection of constantly rotating guest exhibitions. Located on Mosley Street, the free entry gallery is well-known for its collection of 19th century British paintings, but displays works spanning over six centuries. It also offers a range of events and classes, deliving into many different cultures and eras of art, as well as giving frequent guided tours of the museum's highlights. It's an extremely family friendly gallery, with dedicated workshops and studios for children to express their creativity. It's also worth checking out their associated Gallery of Costume in Platt Fields Park, providing a historical insight into decades of clothing. [Charlotte Davies]