Museums & Art Galleries in Northern England

Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley, West Yorkshire

Cliffe Castle Museum was built in 1833 and originally called Cliffe Hall, it was converted into a museum and art gallery in 1960. Housing displays of rocks, polished stones,... more

Eye of York, York, North Yorkshire

York Castle Museum, housed in two converted 18th century prison buildings, includes reconstructed Victorian and Edwardian streets, shops and merchandise - experience four... more

Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside

HM Customs & Excise National Museum was opened in 1994 and situated within Merseyside Maritime Museum, it tells the exciting story of smuggling and duty men from the 1700s to... more

Exhibition Square, York, North Yorkshire

The new-look York Art Gallery opened in 2005 with its nationally acclaimed permanent collections representing over 600 years of British and European Art. On display are works... more

Slatey Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside

Williamson Art Gallery & Museum is a large purpose-built art gallery, opened in 1928 housing the vast majority of Wirral´s collection of artistic and historical wonders.... more

Halifax Way, Elvington, York, North Yorkshire

The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, over the past few years has become one of the most interesting and dynamic Museums of its type in the country. A unique... more

Western Park, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Weston Park is a magnificent Stately Home set in 1000 acres of parkland. Built in 1671 it houses a superb collection of paintings that includes works by Van Dyck, Constable... more

Chollerford, Humshaugh, Hexham, Northumberland

Chesters Fort & Museum was built around 122-123AD and located along Hadrian´s Wall, this is one of the best-preserved examples of a cavalry fort in Britain. Many parts are... more

Towneley Holmes Road, off Todmorden Road, Burnley, Lancashire

Towneley Hall was the home of the Towneley family for over 500 years until 1902. Displays include oil and watercolour paintings, studio pottery, Royal Lancastrian Pilkington... more

Port Sunlight Village, Lower Road, Bebington, Merseyside

Lady Lever Art Gallery was founded in 1922 and houses the magnificent personal collection of the first Lord Leverhulme in memory of his wife. The Gallery includes... more

Armouries Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire

The Royal Armouries Museum is home to Britain’s national collection of arms and armour and houses a world-renowned collection of over 75,000 objects. At the Leeds museum... more

Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, Teesside

The Museum of Hartlepool tells the story of Hartlepool from prehistoric times to the present day using many original artefacts, photographs and models. Fascinating... more

Rotherham Arts Centre, Walker Place, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Rotherham Art Gallery does not have a permanent collection. There are changing displays of contemporary art exhibitions.... more

Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire

The Georgian working water powered cotton mill still spins and weaves cotton to be sold. There are demonstrations of a spinning jenny and mule in action, alongside the most... more

The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester

The Manchester Museum: Dinosaurs (including Stan the T.rex), ancient Egyptian objects and live animals (such as frogs and snakes) are some of the treasures you can encounter... more

High Street, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

Streetlife Museum brings 200 years of transport history alive, with all the sights, sounds and smells of the past. The stunning displays include collections of trams,... more

Church Square, Hartlepool, Teesside

Hartlepool Art Gallery opened in 1996, is situated in a beautifully restored Victorian church. The programme of exhibitions is changed regularly and features the best of... more

Wellington Road, Stockport, Cheshire

Stockport Art Gallery houses a permanent display of Stockport's fine art collection. There is also an extensive programme of exhibitions and events.... more

The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester

Imperial War Museum North opened in July 2002, and is a stunning aluminium-clad building - the first in the UK by international architect Daniel Libeskind. The Museum utilises... more

Stewart Park, Marton, Middlesbrough, Teesside

The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is set in the scenic grounds of Stewart Park, and traces the life of Captain James Cook, the world´s most famous explorer. Born in 1728 it... more

Locomotion, Shildon, Durham

Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon is an £11 million project, opened in 2004, and the first national museum to be built in the North East. It combines a state... more

Baring Street, South Shields, Tyne & Wear

Arbeia Roman Fort & Museum - nowhere else on Hadrian´s Wall can the sheer scale of Roman achievements be better understood than here. Built around AD160, the stone fort played... more

Bee Mill, Preston Road, Ribchester, Lancashire

Ascot Studios is one of the leading independent contemporary art galleries in the North West of England. Based at Bee Mill in the historic village of Ribchester, the gallery... more

The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester

The Whitworth Art Gallery was founded in 1889 with money left by Sir Joseph Whitworth, the Gallery is now part of the University of Manchester. Internationally famous for its... more

Queen Victoria Square, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

Ferens Art Gallery opened in 1927, this award winning Gallery boasts a magnificent and diverse collection, from European Old Masters to contemporary video portraits. The... more

Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

The Shipley Art Gallery combines a dazzling display of jewellery, ceramics, textiles and furniture alongside stunning historical artworks. Over 700 breathtaking pieces by the... more

Beamish, Chester-le-Street, Durham

Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum, Britain´s favourite open-air museum, set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside, vividly recreates life in the North of... more

Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

Lindisfarne Priory is one of the holiest sites of Anglo-Saxon England and renowned as the original burial place of St Cuthbert. Founded in 635 by St Aidan who came from Iona,... more

Elvet Hill, Durham

Durham University Oriental Museum opened in 1960, and is the only museum of its kind in the country devoted solely to Oriental art and archaeology. The collections explore... more

Queen Marys Tower, The Castle, Carlisle, Cumbria

The Museum of the Border relates the history of Cumbria´s County Infantry Regiment, local Militia and Volunteer units from 1702 to the present day. Regiment & Kings Own Royal... more

The Wordsworth Trust, Dove Cottage, Grasmere, Cumbria

In 1799 William Wordsworth went on a walking tour of the Lake District with his friend and fellow poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He fell in love with Grasmere and Dove Cottage... more

Bark House Lane, Cawthorne, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Cannon Hall Museum, first opened as a museum in 1957 and is now home to `Charge´, the Regimental Museum of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary´s Own). With fine... more

Main Street, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria

Beatrix Potter Gallery has the largest collection of Beatrix Potter´s published work, including most of the original watercolour illustrations and manuscripts from the `Peter... more

Malton, North Yorkshire

Eden Camp first opened in 1987 and is one of the largest museums covering Brirish military and social history from 1914 onwards. From 1944 to 1948 the site housed German... more

Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, Greater Manchester

Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive in the centre of the town is where the wonderful story of Bolton and its people is bought to life. From the everyday to the extraordinary,... more

The Abbots Tower, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland

The Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland opens to the public in line with Alnwick Castle from Easter to the end of October. There are important collection displays on the... more

Oxford Road, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

Red House, built in 1660, was home to the Taylor family who were cloth merchants and manufacturers. Mary Taylor, daughter of the house in the 19th century was a close friend... more

York Minster, Deangate, York, North Yorkshire

York Minster Undercroft Treasury & Crypt is the chief church of the Church of England, also the seat of the Archbishop of York. The present building is the largest Gothic... more

Mosley Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester

Manchester Art Gallery houses the city´s magnificent art collection. An oustanding Pre-Raphaelite collection and Gallery of Craft and Design, hosting a lively programme of... more

27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire

The Grosvenor Museum houses Chester´s biggest collection of its local and international history, spread over three floors of a classic 19th century building. In the Roman... more

Wellington Mill, Wellington Road South, Stockport, Greater Manchester

Hat Works - The Museum of Hatting is the UK´s only museum dedicated to the hatting industry and headwear. Guides reveal the art of hat making with working machinery. You can... more

Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester

Gallery Oldham is an award-winning building, opened in 2002. The art collection includes fine watercolours, oil paintings, photography and studio ceramics. The large social... more

Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside

Tate Liverpool is one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art outside London. Housed in a beautiful converted warehouse in the historic Albert Dock, one of the... more

North Bridge Street, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear

The museum is housed in an original Victorian station building that was commissioned by the famous railway entrepreneur George Hudson and designed by Thomas Moore,... more

Museum Street, Warrington, Cheshire

Travel through time and around the world at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, one of the oldest municipal museums in the country. Opened in 1857, much of the quintessential... more

The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

This small outstanding University of Hull Art Collection specialises in paintings, sculpture, drawings and prints produced in Britain between 1890 and 1940. Included are works... more

Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester

Salford Museum & Art Gallery is a mix of Victorian and 20th century architecture containing one the finest recreated Victorian streets, period shops and rooms at Lark Hill... more

South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

National Waterways Museum: Unlock the wonders of our waterways... With its delightful setting, flotillas of historic boats and fascinating displays housed in fine Victorian... more

Portland Place, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

Portland Basin Museum is housed within the rebuilt historic Ashton Canal Warehouse. A a lively modern museum in a peaceful canal-side setting. Inside is typical Tameside... more

Moss Street, Bury, Greater Manchester

Bury Art Museum opened in 1901 thanks to the generosity of the children of local paper manufacturer Thomas Wrigley. To commemorate Queen Victoria´s Diamond Jubilee in 1897,... more