Ah, the Atkinson. Again, just another Southport landmark full of childhood memories for myself…read more Yep, my father used to bring me here regularly to ensure I had a lovely cultural upbringing, and it's a marvellous gallery housed in a terrific building right in the centre of the seaside town itself, opposite Lord Street and the band stand. Admission is free but donations are encouraged as every gift helps, no matter how small. And once you've walked around this spectacular yet strangely humble gallery you'd have to have a heart of ice not to want to give a little something. It has a varied and rather extensive collection, ranging from LS Lowry to John Piper, John Collier to Ernest Normand and many more. The Friends of the Atkinson Gallery are an organisation which helps to drum up even more interest for the gallery. It's currently closed for refurbishments but plans to reopen bigger and better than ever as part of a Southport cultural overhaul, so get involved as it's bound to increase in popularity after its makeover. Southport might not quite rival Brighton yet in the seaside artsy stakes, but it's getting there, and with the help of the Atkinson it'll get there a lot faster!

This is now an entertainment/cultural centre, with the art gallery, an auditorium, civic hall and…read morebotanic museum all within the grade 2 listed building. The entrance/foyer is welcoming and strikingly clean - statuary and paintings being the first things I saw. The bookings and information desks are unobtrusive, yet easy to find as the signage throughout is very clear. There are interesting display cases throughout. Up the impressive staircase are the toilets, the superb but expensive bar and the entrances to the auditorium. As I was there for a music concert, this is the area I saw best. A superb setting for Fairport Convention as they attract a fair number of fans, yet like to connect with their audience as intimately as possible. The seating was comfortable and gave us all a good view of the band. The sound was just superb.

Stepping out of Moorfields station onto the street, you'll immediately notice this art installation…read moredoing its thang in the old Yates Wine Lodge across the road. If you're anything like me, the perplexing mechanics of it all will have you recoiling in ungodly fear at the architectural devilry. Created for Liverpool's 2007 biennial by sculptor Richard Wilson (no, not that one), Turning the Place Over is essentially a disc cut from a building's frontage (windows and all) that rotates on a motor, allowing you to see the gutted insides of the derelict building. You pervert. It really is extraordinary to watch. I love the moment when the revolution is complete and there's that infinitesimal point in time when everything synchs back up again. This doesn't last long though before the insanity repeats itself.

An amazing sculpture by Richard Wilson (not the I do not belieeeeeeve it! one) where an 8m oval has…read morebeen cut in the side of an old block of flats and then attached to a rotating spindle which constantly moved the wall through 3 dimensions. I stood wit hmy jaw hanging open for quite a while! Worth every moment. Go take a look if you are in the area!

Now that 2008, Liverpool's year as Capital of Culture is well and truly behind us, it is possible…read moreto see the fruits of the labour now beginning to bear fruit as yet another gallery opens within the city and brings national and more importantly local talent on show. The name is a bit presumptious maybe but then again art is generally about reputation and perception - at least the had the wherewithal to put liverpool within the web address! Maybe because it is so new that it is hard to define what overriding trend or artistic idea pervades the gallery yet as an eclectic mix of artists have been represented - including a child prodigy no less! Hamad al-Humaidham is selling for bug bucks and he's only 11! - that ranges from the representational, to conceptual to derivative. A small place but with plans to change exhibitions on a regular basis it should always have something new and interesting to make the trip worth while.

The Liverpool World Museum is the City's main museum and a must see for tourists and for anybody…read morewho lives in Liverpool or is here for a day out. The place has not much to fault because with the amount of things to see with a brilliant layout (all for free), it is perfect for friends, family and particularly children as it is educational in all areas. There are several floors to visit and my favourite has to be the aquarium and reptile section simply because I adore creatures of this type! This museum has everything to suit all tastes and all ages. It also has a café, gift shop and various activity centres focussed for infants. Spend a whole day here and you will never be bored!

It seems harsh to only give 3 stars to Liverpool's Museum but I just didn't find it that impressive…read moreor informative. OK, admittedly it seems to be aimed at an age range of 4 - 12 year olds but since when has learning had a limit on it? Certainly a man in his 20s should have something better to do than visit a museum and this place does make a great family day out because of its colourful, interactive exhibits far removed from the idea of dusty, dark old museums - but I like the dusty, dark museum. I think way back when, this place was far more interesting because it had a creepy, authoritative take on learning with hugely impressive Sarcophagus' and Samurai outfits, what are your kids going to learn when they're distratcted by noisy buzzers and colourful shapes? Oh anything to keep them quiet is it.

Not changed much since I was little, but that's part of the fun. It's now a sort of museum of…read moremuseums, with 1930s style galleries of minerals, plants and (oddly enough) fish in the mix. My personal favourites include the mummy (shown complete with x-rays as well as a sarcophagus) and the new cabinet of curiosities room where the stuffed animals used to be. Oh, and the consoles in the room with the vending machines where I spent far too long playing Sonic. And the room that is full of Stuff - I honestly have no idea of the theme of the room, it just seemed to be full of everything that had no other place to be. I loved it - everything from mummified cats to Maori tiki. If you're after an interactive extravaganza, you're in the wrong place. If you want a museum that has a great selection of artefacts and local history, and is free, you'll spend a lovely few hours among the old-school cases.

For a small town museum, there is a lot going on here. Although my children are now well-grown, we…read morestill take others children here as most Warringtonians don't visit it. Such a shame, as this has four floors of the most wonderful exhibits around. It would take a few days to see all that is on display and there are many more in storage! Particularly impressive are the Egyptian and Natural History sections. There are also a number of superb grandfather clocks dotted about the spaces and, often, examples of local artists' works. Since a few years ago, when the entrance area was completely revamped to incorporate a disabled lift, the access is excellent and the foyer is much more welcoming. All of the attendants are extremely knowledgable and will direct you to whatever you wish to see with the minimum of fuss.

I popped into Bee Artistic on a recent visit to Liverpool. Was very taken with a particular canvas…read morebut needed to think about it as £150.00. Went back next day and was shut. I was so disappointed. Emailed them when I got home and explained the one I was interested in. Harry sent me e-mails showing that one and other versions and a selection of frames. I made my selection and paid over the phone. I was told could take up to two weeks for delivery. I received it within two days. It was extremely well packed and I was delighted with it. Would just like to say that the paintings are lovely and some were very unusual. The service could not be bettered. It's unlikely I will get back to Liverpool so please keep updating your website so I can browse on there. I would like to think I could order more in the future. Thank you for fantastic service!

The aquarium in the world museum is brilliant, it combines fish from Australia to Anglesey with the…read morevery latest technology. They have combined a new learning and activity space within the aquarium; the Living Laboratory. In this part everyone can get up close to fish and other sea life in special low-level tanks. As interesting as aquariums are, they can often be quite boring but with the staff running regular demonstrations for the visitors and a chance to observe and properly get involved so for that reason it has to be one of the better ones that I have visited. There are many displays and activities in the Living Laboratory and they have tried their best to emphasise links between the live specimens and the museum's historic collections. Video conferencing facilities are also available, this allows to link through to behind the scenes activities, events in the Treasure House Theatre and other parts of the museum. Be sure to ring to find out what events they are running so you don't miss out.

Metal is an art lab that started in 2002 to develop cultural ideas. They are housed in a listed…read moreGeorgian building in Southend on Sea and the former railway station at Edge Hill. This is the perfect space for artists of all kinds looking for a place to work and be creative. One aim is for the artists work to influence social and political issues and explore the artist's role in civic life. I think that such a motivation can only lead to more inspired art. There are regular exhibitions, events, publications and performances to showcase the work. Recently there have been debates on cult music and a literary salon about the East End of London. If you are from Liverpool or Southend on Sea you can support Metal by volunteering to help plan and run activities. Diners are a regular part of the program in case you needed any other excuse to get involved.

This is a great use of an abandoned urban space whatever you might think of the performances and…read moreistallations that appear at the venue. As with many new galleries and exhibition spaces there is a strong emphasis on involving the community around them and Metal provides the opportunities for new artists or volunteers to help in the staging of events. Not exactly light hearted or easy to digest material, the pieces here at Metal are designed to make you think about the society around you and the focus on the role of the artists within our culture. Food for thought no doubt.