10 Art Museums in North West England That You Shouldn't Miss

This quirky building in the heart of Hawkshead displays original watercolours and work by Beatrix Potter, from the National Trust collection. It's the only place you can step inside the famous tales and get up-close to the original illustrations.

A great day out for all the family, the Harris Museum Art Gallery & Library is a treasure trove of fantastic art and fascinating objects for all the family. Come and explore our remarkable collections of fine art, contemporary art, fashion, textiles, ceramics, glass and history, all housed in a stunning Grade I listed building in the heart of Preston ... and we're completely free to visit! We're open seven days a week throughout the year (closed Bank Holidays). Relax in our cafe in one of the most stunning surroundings in Preston and buy an unique gift or memento of your visit from our shop. There is also a Makerspace for visitors to book onto our shared art, craft and technology workshops. There is free wifi, disabled access and baby-changing facilities.

Located above Warrington Central Library, Warrington Museum is one of the oldest municipal museums in the country. Much of the quintessential character of the building has been preserved and its original glass cabinets are crammed with treasures from all over the world. Work from acclaimed artists is also on display in the art gallery, and there is a lively program of events, activities and temporary exhibitions. Admission is free!

Welcome to FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology). Our award-winning FACT building is home to three galleries (showing three major exhibitions per year), a beautiful café operated by the team behind LEAF on Bold Street, a cosy bar, and four state of the art film screens (including The Box, with intimate sofa seating), programmed by our cinema partners Picturehouse, and showing the best in independent and mainstream film.

Enjoy a serene day out at the most enchanting historic houses in the Lake District. When you visit you are invited to relax and immerse yourself in all the beauty and craftsmanship of Blackwell. We encourage you to sit and soak up the atmosphere in Blackwell’s fireplace inglenooks, which have fine examples of tiles by Arts & Crafts designer William de Morgan. The inviting window seats offer stunning views of the surrounding Lake District scenery. You can appreciate the house as it was originally intended, without roped-off areas. Blackwell retains many of its original decorative features, including a rare hessian wall-hanging in the Dining Room, leaf-shaped door handles, curious window catches, spectacular plasterwork, stained glass and carved wooden panelling by Simpsons of Kendal. The rooms contain furniture and objects by many of the leading Arts and Crafts designers and studios.

Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art is leading the UK in exploring Chinese contemporary culture. We aim to make Chinese contemporary art and visual culture accessible to everyone through our exhibitions, events, shop, artist residencies, festivals, engagement programmes and research forums. Our exhibitions are set across intimate gallery spaces, where visitors get up close and personal with the artworks on display. We have a proud 30-year history of UK ‘first’ solo exhibitions, featuring exceptional emerging artists that go on to achieve international acclaim. Our unique events programme explores different aspects of our exhibitions and includes practical workshops, film screenings, informal talks and performances. Our shop reflects our interest in contemporary Chinese culture and stocks a range of products, offering something unique for everyone. You can find CFCCA in the heart of Manchester’s creative Northern Quarter and visit our free exhibitions Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm.

Victoria Gallery & Museum is housed in the stunning architecture of the University of Liverpool's famous flagship 'original red brick' building. Our aim is to amaze and amuse all our visitors with an incredible collection of curiosities collected throughout the lifespan of the University of Liverpool. We believe the exhibits you’ll find at the Victoria Gallery & Museum give you an experience that’s unique from other Liverpool museums. Where else would you find the world’s most important display of false teeth under the same roof as an exhibition of fine art? We’re also very proud that these weird and wonderful items are housed in our most prized exhibit… the Victoria building. The gallery & museum is open 10am - 5pm Tuesday - Saturday with just the cafe and gift shop available on Mondays. We are closed every Sunday. The Victoria Gallery & Museum does not open at all on bank holiday Mondays and is closed over the Christmas and New Year period.

Bureau Weekender Party, celebrating 2 years of The Bureau. From the 9th-11th June we are pulling out all the stops to pack in EVERYTHING that the Bureau has to offer. Expect live music from Roosevelt Room and Good Foxy, performance from Abooo Theatre and our steel pan drummers, we've got Drink & Drawing, dark room workshops, a jacob's joint, an art auction, a cinema screening, and more!