The Whitworth
About
The Whitworth is Manchester's gallery of art, textiles, and wallpaper — and that description doesn't begin to do it justice. After a stunning £15m transformation in 2015, the building now extends into the trees of Whitworth Park, with a glass-walled gallery that makes you feel like you're exhibiting inside a forest. The permanent collection spans watercolours by Turner and Blake, contemporary work by Cornelia Parker and Hockney, and one of the finest textile collections in the world. The temporary exhibition programme is consistently ambitious and often outstanding — recent years have seen shows by Forensic Architecture, Lubaina Himid, and major retrospectives that draw national attention. The gallery café, looking out through floor-to-ceiling glass into the park, is one of the nicest museum cafés in the country. It's free, it's beautiful, it's manageable in an hour or two, and it's right next to the university campus — which means the surrounding area has good, affordable food options. The park itself is lovely for a walk after your visit. One of the best free things to do in Manchester, easily.
https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/ 0161 275 7450
Tickets & Pricing
Free. Some temporary exhibitions may charge.
Opening Times
Daily 10:00-17:00. Closed 24-26 December, 1 January.
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