Fab art gallery which is definitely worth a visit. Building has been restored in an amazing manner. Great open spaces house some wonderful art. Really enjoyed our visit there in October, 2017. read more

We managed to time our visit here so well that it had just been announced that the Whitworth had won UK Gallery of the Year for 2015 which was just perfect. It's a bit of a walk from the city centre (35 minutes from Piccadilly Gardens) so we had a drinks stop at Big Hands along the way - highly recommended. The Gallery itself is absolutely beautiful, having recently been refurbed. It has a very tranquil feeling to it and a lot of green credentials which is fantastic to see. As we entered we could hear a choir singing which was so lovely and welcoming - we headed to see who they were and it was a group of school kids. I'm not sure if it's a regular thing or that was a special occasion but either way, it was really nice to hear them as we wandered around the gallery. I won't pick out any specific highlights as I think overall the gallery is really lovely, and a must-see when you go to Manchester. read more

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I couldn't wait to visit the newly reopened Whitworth Art Gallery after its £15 million refurb! They have done such an amazing job to the place. Its one of the most stunning buildings i have visited! Each room has a different exhibit and the beautiful huge windows which overlook Whitworth park. I especially loved the exploding shed view exhibit! Every member of staff who worked there was friendly and said hello. Make sure to take a visit to this amazing place! read more

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Lucian Freud Francis Bacon L.S. Lowry J.M.W. Turner Henry Moore Vincent Van Gogh Pablo Picasso Barbara Hepworth Rachel Whitread David Hockney Richard Hamilton Peter Blake Originally opened in 1889, the Whitworth Art Gallery has emerged into one of the most important galleries in the North West with a collection of over 50,000 pieces of historic, modern and contemporary art. Spread over two floors and several rooms, they usually have a small selection of work from their collection exhibited alongside visiting exhibitions. Fans of textile designers like William Morris and Thomas Wardle should check out some of the gallery's rugs, silks and wallpapers whilst fine art lovers should be bowled over by the watercolours, drawings and sculptures on display. Personally, I'm more drawn to the gallery's contemporary art and am thrilled that they're currently showing Lynn Hershman Leeson's The Complete Roberta Breitmore til Summer 2010. If you're not familiar with Leeson, she's an American artist that spent four years in the 1970s 'performing' and documenting 'a persona' she called Roberta. The photos, videos and sound recordings she collected make fascinating viewing and should provoke healthy debates about gender, sexuality, identity, 'the self' and surveillance culture. read more

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This is why Yelp is so useful. I LOVE Whitworth Art Gallery, it's right across the road from where I went to college and I used to go here most days to escape...but I'd completely forgotten about it until I saw Alison's review! I'm not a huge fan if art really, I dislike most modern art but I am fascinated by older works, that is what is amazing about The Whitworth, you can go straight to the part that you like and just sit there. No pressure, no hustle and bustle, no one bugging you, it's just a perfect place to escape from everything. There's no pretension here, it's in the university area so the main visitors are students, it's not in the city centre so it's not that busy either. The best part is of course that it's free entry, you have no excuse to not check it out. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - "Website Photo" - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Housed with over 55,000 objects, the Whitworth Art Gallery is a gallery/museum that beacons as a cultural symbol of Manchester. The Whitworth focuses on fine art (with a specialty in watercolour), sculpture, and many works on paper (prints, textiles, and wallpapers). Even if you aren't the artsy fartsy type, the Whitworth is absolutely a place to see. After its £15million renovation in early 2015, the Whitworth has become an architectural, eco-friendly behemoth fit for the entire family. I've never experienced such a wide variety of visitor engagement activities for every age group - toddlers, adults, students, and researchers alike! There is always something going on, which adds to its vivacity and most importantly, its accessibility. The Whitworth opens its doors to its entire collection. You can contact any of the members of the curatorial team (found on their website) and schedule a one-to-one appointment to view any particular items. I would absolutely recommend seeing their textiles and wallpapers as they are very 60s/70s retro-heavy! One of the best things about the Whitworth is how its walls have extended to embrace the beauty of Whitworth Park. Now you can have a cup of tea and a delicious cake in an entirely-windowed room, overlooking acres of greenery. The renovation of the gallery's interior is also something to come see in itself! A very modernistic approach to a cultural institution, the Whitworth embraces a lot of natural light and dimensional rooms for a very unique viewing experience. You must have a look for yourself! read more

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I spent two years living in student halls within a one minute walk of this gallery. Entry is free. Yet I still encountered numerous fellow hall residents who had never made the short trip to this gallery, and I don't really blame them. In those days the museum didn't look too inviting especially for people who don't know their Bacon from their sausage. However, now that they've put more gates in the peripheral fence and started to display large pieces of art work outdoors (including teepees in the summer) it looks rather more inviting. I'm looking forward to seeing quite how they will expand into the adjoining Whitworth Park. I'm not a huge art fan and probably wouldn't pay to get into this museum, but have always been able to find something to catch my attention in here. A particular favourite of mine was the William Morris exhibition, as he was one of the only artists who I remember from art lessons at school (I was better at designing wallpaper than sketching a basket of fruit). I used to go here for a break from revision during the dreaded exam time and it is certainly a peaceful place in which to escape from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Road. It is never busy and the staff don't hassle you. On one visit a friend and I decided to try on the kimonos and other foreign costumes which were hung in the middle of the main hall - a great hands on touch for kids (or small adults - I couldn't fasten them!). The four-year-old girl which we befriended in our regression was certainly having a great time! The shop has a good range of arty books and I've picked up some great greetings cards and postcards here too. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

The Whitworth is worth the train ticket to Manchester all in its own right - what a wonderful place! The building has been beautifully restored, and it is just as satisfying looking out of the massive windows across the surrounding park area as it is to take in the various art collections. We were lucky to catch the tail end of one of the choir performances accompanying the current Gerhard Richter exhibition. The singers are dotted around the room and the Arvo Pärt compositions extremely moving - I was not surprised to be told that they regularly have visitors in tears. Another highlight was a collection of Chinese art which will form the basis of a new museum in Hong Kong. We didn't get a chance to sample the cafe/restaurant, but the long queue probably speaks for itself. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Really enjoyed my first visit. Gorgeous open spaces, beautiful wooden floor, excellent free exhibitions. Even the soap in the toilets was Aesop - read super posh. Particularly enjoyed the Tibor Reich exhibit. And I spent £9 on cards in the shop - what, they were cute. Didn't visit the cafe but it looked like a serene place to eat and drink while overlooking the sun setting over the park (if you're lucky). Go, visit the Whitworth and support this lovely space. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - Tibor Reich - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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I freely admit that upon my previous two visits to this gallery of contemporary art in 2011 and 2013, I found it rather lame: The first time, half the gallery was closed due to redecoration for some upcoming exhibition - and, well, the second time around, the full gallery was accessible - and it only proved that not much was lost compared to my first visit. Nowhere near enough on display, and what was on display was rather blandly displayed for that matter. Now, in 2015, after a UKP 15 million refurbishment, I was expecting more, much more - and my expectations were met ... for the most part. The space itself feels more inviting, more open - especially the panorama windows which open towards the park in the rear of the building. And there's more to see than previously. That being said, presentation-wise, there's still some farty in the arty. To put the finger on it, the decision not to have labels on many of the exhibits - opting for printed leaflets instead where the visitor has to first figure out where everything is, then pick the number of the artwork in question, is a bad idea. A very bad idea. A VERY, VERY bad idea. As a "customer", I want to focus on the pieces of art - not on the puzzle. These stupid leaflets are just a distraction, and not a very good one. Honestly, when I first arrived and saw that I had to take out the leaflets to know which artwork was which, I got so upset I almost left the gallery without further ado! It would have been okay if the leaflets provided additional info on the artists and work. BUT THEY DON'T!!! Just the name of the artist and the title of the work. What a pathetic waste of time!!! Contemporary art offers enough obstacles to enjoy it, you don't need new ones artificially imposed. Art presentation doesn't have to be pretentious, you know! When finally I settled into the pick-the-leaflet-out routine, I enjoyed it more. Especially the many wonderful portrait paintings on the ground floor. Dozens of great works there. I was less enamored with the "installation" on the first floor, but maybe that's just me. When I look at a work of art, I need to see the CRAFT, the EFFORT that went into creating it, too. The EXPERTISE. That's true of traditional and contemporary art - especially concerning the latter, as there is often less, MUCH less craft involved in that. The gallery is free, non-flash photography is allowed everywhere. The staff aren't particularly friendly - after all, they have to keep up the good name of modern art pretense. There's a café, too, with a great view of the park. read more

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Popped here for the preview night (my wife works for the Uni) and have to say they've done an amazing job of blending the old and new together - in fact it's so seamless that a total newbie to the city would probably be pretty impressed and not thinking it was 2 different places. The new upstairs cafe looks fairly well set up with great views over all of the Whitworth park area (think a large glass rectangle reminiscent of a Grand Designs country build) and from here all the galleries stretch up, down, left, right - in fact there's galleries everywhere! The only bugbear I'd say is that the loos aren't very well signposted and there hardly seems to be any of them (unless I was just missing them after exploring for ages) - I'm looking forward to seeing what this place is like when fully opened in a couple of weeks time. Ps - there's also a great exhibit on 1960's pop art in one of the galleries at the moment - definitely worth checking out! read more

Although this museum obviously can't compare to the world's great art museums, our overall experience there (this morning) was wonderful. First we went to the café, to have coffee (since the so-called coffee at our B&B is *atrocious*), and we loved the café for several reasons. I had an Americano and my husband had a machiato, both of which were delicious (2.10 pounds/each). The young guy who made our coffee - Alex (from Verona, Italy) - was really friendly. We also spoke to the manager and she was equally friendly. She told us that the café was expanded during an 18-month museum renovation and it just reopened in February of this year. The café is *beautiful*! It's a very large "open" space that extends out from the main part of the museum (on the upper level) and it has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lovely Whitworth Park. As an aside, there were also lots of tempting-looking dessert items in the café. The museum's permanent collection was o.k. (and not very large), but the temporary exhibit was *terrific* (it ends tomorrow, so we were very fortunate to be in Manchester at this time). We spent a lot of time viewing the temporary exhibit and it was really impressive. read more

Look at me! I'm a proper art fart this week. Yes, I did find myself seeking a bit of culture in our fair city a while back, and would you Adam and Eve it, there's tons on offer for us. Whitworth Art Gallery is Manchester University's artsy offering, and it certainly doesn't disappoint. Plus it's on my long route home. At a glance you can see that the exhibitions fringe on the unusual - from 'Walls are Talking (Wallpaper, Art and Culture)' to 'Deep Rooted (How Trees Shape Our Lives)', you can tell that you're in an academic, analytical, culturally aware university environment. Manchester is perhaps the city's most prestigious university (certainly in the media anyhoo) and the art gallery, just like the museum, follows suit. There's tons to explore; the collections include sculpture, prints, historic fine art, wallpaper, textiles and that ever increasingly important modern art. And like the museum this gallery focuses strongly on community learning, with fun for families and research and projects for kids of all ages. The gift shop is worth a visit alone with its art and design books, quirky gifts such as tea towels emblazoned with famous prints and toys as well as artistic wallpaper and wrapping paper, and a great range of greetings cards. Entry's free so you've nothing to lose (unless you hit this little retail outlet, obviously). And last time I went in it was only to use the bathroom, and I was massively intrigued by the lovely little café. Next on my list. Plus I wound up staying far longer than I intended to - now that's the mark of a good gallery! read more

The Whitworth Art Gallery is a a place I don't visit as often as I should, but on this occasion, I was there for the Andy Warhol exhibition, which runs until 16 April 2017. The collection is quite limited, however, it displays a good a array of Warhol's work; his influences, history, and resonance in specific periods in history. In the main room, a large daunting profile of Warhol peers down the room, as visitors follow collections like Self-Portrait with Skull (1978) and Self Portrait Strangulation (1978), along with Dollar Sign (1981) and a few other significant pieces occupying two adjacent rooms. It really is worth a visit to see the cultural significance of Warhol's work alongside his obsession with mortality, death, and consumerism. I visited this exhibition quickly on a lunch break, but will return to admire all the other collections the gallery has to offer. read more

Super art gallery. Re-opening 25th October 2014 after a HUGE refurbishment & extension. In summer 2013 they held an amazing closing party for local residents and I can't wait for the re-opening, to see what they've created. A great facility for locals & visitors UPDATE. Opening 14th Feb 2015 (project ran over) read more

I visited the Whitworth Art Gallery for their opening weekend and it was a brilliant evening. Valentines Day is usually a nono for me and the other half, but this year we decided to be cultured and visit the gallery. So glad we did. The gallery has undergone a £15 million refurb which has doubled it in size, and looks incredible. The organisation of the opening weekend must have taken a lot of planning, and they executed it perfectly. All of the exhibitions were great, we spent hours wandering round different rooms which all held different exhibits. One of the best things as a music fanatic would be the Video Jam stage which was upstairs. I have been to a few Video Jam events before and this was the prime location and time for it. The gallery put together the whole weekend to include art, music, performance and a wonderful fire and light show backed by a choir to end the evening perfectly. As far as the gallery itself it'd make a great day out for family, couples, or even just for a wander round on your own. The building after its transformation has just won the North West Building of the Year Award and it's clear to see why. Definitely a must for any visitors to Manchester looking for a bit of culture. read more

The Whitworth Gallery is well worth a visit especially after its revamp. The place is really modern now and there are some interesting exhibitions. The emphasis is on contemporary art. I really enjoyed looking at the paintings and photos in the Chinese exhibition which contained work from Cultural Revolution and gave you a good insight into what was happening behind the scenes in those times. I also enjoyed looking at the Domesday book exhibition and couldn't believe the tapestry that recreated its wikipage entry. It involved lots of sewers from all walks of life to make it. The Whitworth café is also certainly worth a visit. The space itself is lovely with glass windows all around it so you get great views of the park. The cakes are also delicious and the food is of a high quality. The Whitworth makes a good afternoon out. read more

When first impressions count, the new cafe disappoints This is my second visit since it reopened and I thought I'd try out the cafe: it was a complete manic free-for-all, apparently due to a missing member of staff but the manager was also managing to cause havoc by interrupting every member of staff as they were going about their jobs. The food looks good, the coffee was terrible and the ambience akin to being in an echo chamber. Turning to the gallery: as bright and shiny as everything looks, I'm surprised that the refurb cost £15M. The gallery spaces appear to be untouched and the new spaces are utilitarian at best: plenty of natural light which works for some artists but not at all for others, and spaces that are less flexible than the existing galleries. I imagine that the money has been spent on the education spaces where they might recoup some investment. Finally, turning to the opening shows: I am a huge fan of Cornelia Parker and this is a good retrospective trip through her work. What is a little lost is the way her work has been integrated into the other galleries, in a strange hang of picture walls, objects on plinths and pieces from the collection. I felt it was unfocused and erratic, which has never been my experience of the gallery before. It would have been 3 or 4 stars apart from the embarrassing behaviour of the cafe manager: on the job training does not mean haranguing staff during service. read more

This place is a must-see for all people either living in or visiting Manchester, I tend to always make time to catch the exhibitions that change quite regularly. The textile exhibits ranging from the 3rd century AD until the present day are beautiful, you can also see a great collection of fine art. prints, sculptures and modern art!... at the moment they are exhibiting an American modern art collection including Hooper and Pollock! There's a cafe which serves some pretty tasty seasonal food and healthy snacks. The shop is good for picking up some lovely cards with example pictures from the huge wallpaper collection the gallery owns! and if you check the website there are usually workshops organised for families during the week and weekends. The toilets have baby changing facilities. IT IS FREE TOO!! (obviously not the food though!) read more

Such a beautiful space to be in makes the visit worthwhile. Some lovely touches like 'art hampers' full of materials to take to a quiet corner and work on yourself. The gallery cafe is a large atrium surrounded by Whitworth Park making the park a spectacular feature of the gallery itself. As for the art, well, there's a lot of it for your buck but themed by materials or subject matter made it chronological mayhem for me which I found distracting. I know my Bacons from my Turners and Morris's but a lot leaves me cold and some exhibition spaces are just too cluttered and busy, at the expense of suitable viewing heights for too many pieces. People who laugh at the jokes in Shakespeare will probably love it! Despite my clearly philistine understanding, I'll definitely come again. As a complete distraction it is a genuine respite from trying to make sense of the real world read more

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I have a huge passion for art galleries and am fortunately to live very close to the Whitworth. Their recent redevelopment is brilliant - a very elegant extension that connected the gallery to the park. Future plans will see it become even more impressive and welcoming. The Whitworth has something for everyone - a beautiful collection and really interesting engagement programmes for all ages. The space is really well used and there is always something happening in the education spaces or event areas. Thursday nights it is open late with changing events and activities. The glass walled restaurant has fantastic views into the park and the food is really good. It is packed on weekends but worth the wait. It isn't cheap and the coffee needs to be improved but the cake selection and very interesting sandwiches and wraps make up for it. read more

The Whitworth has undergone a transformation in recent years, moving away from the fusty image associated with it when I was a first-year student, and moving more towards offering a cutting-edge modern art experience whilst remaining accessible and relevant to the people of Manchester. Personally, I don't know much about art. My boyfriend thinks I'm an art whizz because I always get the art questions right on University Challenge and I can tell my Hirst from my elbow, but really I only know what I like to look at, and have absolutely zero knowledge of art history or theory. The Whitworth doesn't care about this. Where some galleries seem to judge you, the Whitworth just sort of wraps you up in a blanket of hushed enthusiasm and lets you look at nice art. Well, it's not always 'nice'; the exhibition of Lynn Hershman Leeson's Roberta Breitmore series, an often disturbing investigation into a persona created and acted out by the artist over several years. This is an exhibition that deals with mental illness and the transitional nature of humanity, and will definitely make you think. In terms of the other art, the Whitworth has a tendency to put too much emphasis on wallpapers and textiles, which I'm sure are important, and form a large part of their collections, but which leave me cold. The Whitworth also displays a lot of watercolours of landscapes etc, which again are probably really good and important and stuff, but they just strike me as dull. Unlike Sarah-Anne, I really can't be bothered with old art. It's so same-old same-old to me. The café at the Whitworth gets a lot of press locally, and rightly so. It offers in-season organic food, cooked well and served nicely. One gripe I would have, is that it's not as cheap as I'd like for a lunchtime or snack venue, and that occasionally the portions can seem slightly paltry. Being a North East gal at heart, I have an insatiable thirst for gravy, and have always found the Whitworth café's gravy-based dishes (cassoulets, bangers'n'mash etc) to be lush. If I could offer one tip, I'd warn you off the turkey sandwich; it's dry and just not worth the money, or the effort you put into chewing the crusty bread. If you're ever in the area for brekkie and you're feeling flush, try their boiled egg and toast soldiers; totally lush. Recently the Whitworth has emerged as one of Manchester's best events venues. From weddings to conferences, the gallery's imposing spaces make a great setting that looks a little different. Having attended a wedding reception at the Whitworth last month, I can say that everything was absolutely perfect, and the bride and groom were so chuffed with how it all turned out. As far as I know, hire of the gallery for the reception was pretty competitive, and they said that the event was tailored exactly to their needs, which is exactly what you want when you're having a party. By all accounts, the events coordinator worked with them to make their day extra special and it really showed; we all had a great time. One thing I love about this place is the private view parties; easily the best in Manchester. The atmosphere is always buzzing and the booze just flows and flows. These events go without a hitch and it's always nice to sip bubbly at an arty party and pretend you're part of the arty set (in reality, the Whitworth's private views are pretty much open to everyone). Local residents with kiddywinks might be interested in the extensive programme of family-friendly activities and events. Being reluctant to procreate, I know nothing about them, but I'm sure a quick look at one of their leaflets or the website will tell you all you need to know about getting the kids their culture fix. In terms of art on show, sometimes the Whitworth can be a bit dull, but recent shows such as Marina Abramovic Presents... (a three-hour performance art extravaganza by 12 world-renowned performance artists) and The American Scene are really putting the Whitworth on the map as somewhere to see cool art. And when everything is free entry, you might as well pop in and see if anything catches your eye. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

The Whitworth Art Gallery is an impressive red brick Victorian building set in the scenic location of Oxford Road's Whitworth Park. It's free to enter and therefore well worth popping in to take a look around. I love the way they've attempted to create a sort of architectural harmony with the park and in one of the larger ground floor galleries almost an entire wall is made of glass, and the walls papered in a dense ivy print, so that you almost feel as though you are outdoors. I recently had a friend come to stay who needed to visit the Whitworth gallery to visit the exhibition 'The Walls are Talking' for her dissertation, (she's a textiles student), and I visited it for a second time with my creative writing poetry class to inspire an ekphrastic poem. This particular exhibition was really extensive and thought-provoking. It featured wall paper as social commentary and consisted of everything from Action Man and Barbie wall paper to ones covered in illustrations of genitals. Modern art, eh! There's a great café too which is run by the same team behind Gabriel's Kitchen on Upper Brook Street. read more

The Whitworth Art Gallery since its update is stunning! I won't go into the exhibits as these obviously change, but the space is wonderfully light and airy, there was a sculpture garden under construction when I last visited which is overlooked by a full glass sided cafe, a wonderful place to watch the world go by. I think many people who live in Manchester struggle to think of places to take visiting friends and family around but the Whitworth should be firmly on any such list and you could then take a wander along to the Manchester Museum as well, if you were feeling particularly cultural... (don't worry there is a bar between the two). read more

Whitworth is another free art gallery that's well worth the visit, especially if you're interested in textiles and wallpapers, which as a crafter and interiors fanatic, I find fascinating. There's also a great collection of watercolours (if that's your thing), modern prints and drawings. The Indian silk sari's and Roberta Breitmore exhibitions are on until 2010 and wonderful. The building itself, an annexe of the University of Manchester, is Edwardian in style and in my opinion just as pretty as the art itself. There's also a large selection of art and design books in the shop as well as great gift ideas. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - From website - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Searching for inner peace? You could try yoga? Travel to a remote corner of the world and meditate by a waterfall? Something cheaper? Go here. You make thing you have accidentally been flung into purgatory but don't worry, you're in whitworth art gallery. The place is big, white and echoes; because of this I think everyone is very quiet so as not to disturb the buildings sense of tranquillity. Sit down on one of the cosy chairs and let yourself become part of the furniture, before you know it you'll be at one with existence. Fancy looking at the actual art? It's well spread and there's a lot going on when you slow down with the pace of the environment. The place is always hosting something interesting, some big names of art tap into this serene theatre most recently Maria Abramovich. The gallery always has a stand featuring work from local artists and exhibiting Manchester's rich industrial past. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery - In the snow! - Art Galleries Near Me - Manchester, XGM

The Whitworth Art Gallery, although somewhat smaller than the Manchester Art Gallery, is of equal importance in the growing cultural arena that is Manchester. The venue is further out of the city centre than the main Gallery, so visitors to the city often overlook it, as it is a fair whack off the tourist trail. The Gallery, as with many similar venues, is housed in a beautiful building, and surrounded by green parklands. As with the Manchester Art Gallery, the Whitworth Art Gallery is constantly reinventing itself in order to attract new visitors. My first visit to the Gallery was to attend an organised event to attract and welcome in completely new audiences to the space and the exhibits. When we arrived there was free wine and drinks, food, stand up comedy, live music and interactive 'make-your-own-art' tables, for those wishing to flex their creative muscles. I made a key ring, and a sample of wallpaper. Both were dreadful, but I enjoyed myself! It is events like this that make me so fond of places in the city like the Whitworth Art Gallery. In Manchester you are free to approach the arts without the somewhat class-oriented order, which can be seen in other cities in the UK. I hope that more and more people being to recognise that there are opportunities like this night at the Whitworth Art Gallery, so that they can seize them, and become more involved in the arts. I look forward to my next visit hugely. read more

The Whitworth Gallery plus the adjoining Whitworth Park (see Yelp) is a winning combination for any visitor to Manchester. In the Gallery building, Edwardian redbrick/marble interior contrasts with the light wood, glass and stainless steel of the Scandanavian-style redesign carried out in the 1960s - the building merits a visit in its own right. The gallery is beautifully spacious, with the staircases and balconies providing interesting movement and perspectives around the building - its all very soothing and refreshing and does something good to my head, even before I've set eyes on an exhibit! I admire how the Whitworth manages to be accessible and family-friendly without any sense of dumbing down or creating an inelegant play-school environment. Although not a parent myself, I can imagine educational entertainment being had with the factfiles, activity stations and highly authentic and ornate dressing-up costumes! See the 'Learning' section of their website for family fun events and more high-brow events. Textiles and decorative arts have been part of the Whitworth's programme since its inception which had a connection with Manchester's booming textile industry of that time. There are always exotic fabrics and clothes with a story on display from the collection, with the display cases being refreshed regularly. The visiting exhibitions I've always found worth the time. And as everything is free, and it is a total pleasure to walk around this beautiful building, there really is nothing to lose from a visit. Showing at the moment are a mixture of a trompe-l'œil wallpapers and contemporary art installations. See what catches your interest. The gallery attendants are very friendly and pro-active - if you don't introduce yourself, they will! I chanced on a video of 64 Guardsmen who each marches individually into the City of London at different entry points. They seek each other out until the whole battalion reforms, and then disperses - loved it! The huge amount of elbow room in the gallery contrasts with the very busy lunchtime service in the Gallery Café, where Manchester food phenomenon The Modern Caterer are doing their stuff. I've not eaten here recently, but the cakes, plates and open kitchen look really good and one wall features a chalkboard chart of which fruit and veg are in season, month by month. I think you will understand what a good sign this is for fresh, local, seasonal produce being used - I saw a fantastic pan of pasta and wilted spinach being finished in the open kitchen when I looked in! But if it's more a basic tea and scone or breakfast item you're after, they have that also. So top marks all round for Whitworth Gallery. Once you're finished with the gallery, the park beckons with its mix of formal gardens, wild woods and play areas, benches and picnic tables. read more

Like the Manchester Museum, this too is part of the University of Manchester adn has been known to host some brilliant art exhibitions over the years. It is set within Whitworth Park, a beautiful place for a picnic in summer, and is great for academic art work as well as viewing for leisure. They have an exquisite section on textiles and fashion and this is reflected in the shop at the end of the galleries. read more

The Whitworth is a great place to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon, followed by a cup of Fair Trade tea and a slice of cake in their café. In addition to their programme of changing exhibitions, the gallery houses a collection of fine art, prints, modern art, textiles and wallpaper. What I like best about it is that alongside more traditional pieces are modern works by contemporary artists and makers. And it's not just all about art. Take a look at their textile collection, for which they are renowned. The gallery shop is also worth a visit with a good selection of books and art and design magazines. At present (Feb 2010) there's an exhibition called 'Walls Are Talking: Wallpaper, Art and Culture', which includes work by Andy Warhol, Sarah Lucas and Damien Hirst. Well worth a visit. read more

The Whitworth Art Gallery is, to my mind, one of the more overlooked galleries in Manchester thanks to it being away from the city centre. Unfairly too. The Whitworth sits besides a nice park (should you have nice weather) and should the rain not hold off, you should head to the great little cafe that's inside the building. There's more than enough exhibitions and attractions to get your teeth into. The big guns have adorned the walls here like Picasso and Van Gough and they're all available to view for free. What makes this place a little gem is the showcasing of lesser known artists. It's well worth a trip down Oxford Road to have a browse and spend loads of money in the ace souvenir shop. When you're done there, the Whitworth pub is a quick stroll away. read more

I haven't visited the art gallery as such. But i did come here for a Goldman Sachs career talk. I was very impressed with the facilities though, and from what i could see the gallery looked very clean and modern. The food that was served was also really nice, and the staff working there were also very friendly too! read more

The Whitworth is the place I go to contemplate. I have always found this gallery relaxing, tranquil and for some strange unexplainable reason comforting. I have regularly visited this gallery for 30 years and it never disappoints. It is Home to some of the UK's finest collections of art and design including modern and historic fine art, prints, textiles and a rare collection of wallpapers. The gallery is bright,light and airy. It has unusual, memorable temporary exhibitions and a good permanent collection. The cafe sells fair trade tea and the cakes are scrumptious. The bookshop is also good. It is without a doubt worth a visit. read more

Whitworth Art Gallery Oxford Road Whitworth Art Gallery is not as popular as Urbis or Manchester Art Gallery but is just as good, probably better as the art they show is often at the cutting edge of modern art and is well worth a look. As well as having a permanent exhibition they also in the past have had displayed works by world renowned artists such as Gilbert and George. They also host shows by new and emerging artists, which is often modern, including video installations and sculptures. If you are a fan of modern art that really makes you think, the Whitworth Art Gallery is a must. Very highly recommended read more

Tony Oursler: The Influence Machine Screened in July 2011 as part of Projections: Works from The Artangel Collection was great. read more

A place of inspiration, intrigue and just the coolest destination for challenging art, architecture & pure living including the nicest watering hole overlooking the park. Only in the cultural hotspots of the world would you find yourself in a sumptuous Chinese landscape complete with lake, inside not out, a gigantic pink woolwork vagina hanging in centre stage and small gorgeous etchings hanging out to dry. Oh and find the wonderful monkey bars outside on your way out. I love this place! read more

Whitworth Art Gallery is a great way to kill a few hours if you're near the University of Manchester. They also have a small cafe and a gift shop. read more

Great Gallery - Free too lots of space, the cafe is excellent, staff were a bit stretched but really great seasonal food. GO!

One of the most tranquil and interesting art galleries in Manchester. The cafe is lovely, with huge windows that look onto Whitworth park. Perfect afternoon out! read more

This is on oxford road and is free to visit.It has load of space but still only shows a small percentage of a collection at a time since it is so big.Toliets have baby chnaging facilities and there is a shop and a food and drink area. read more