Manchester Art Gallery

Skyline view of a large city with skyscraper buildings and blue skies

Overview

It’s free to visit Manchester Art Gallery, where you’ll find a collection of over 6,600 artworks in the heart of the city. There are a variety of different media on display, including paintings, ceramics, glassworks, and sculpture.

The gallery has a permanent collection and hosts a range of temporary exhibitions showcasing world-renowned artists and thought-provoking themes, as well as special events.

There’s plenty to see and do at Manchester Art Gallery for everyone. For families, there are resources available with activities and stories to help you make the most of your visit. Couples and solo travellers will enjoy discovering new pieces of art and making their own interpretations of them.

It’s also an excellent option for a rainy day in Manchester. Shelter from the showers inside as you admire some of the greatest works of art in the world.

Highlights of Manchester Art Gallery

Manchester Art Gallery is home to some of the most famous paintings in the world by renowned artists. Some of these include:

Homer by William Blake
View from Hampstead Heath, looking towards Harrow by John Constable
Piccadilly Gardens by L. S. Lowry

Is Manchester Art Gallery free to enter?

Yes, Manchester Art Gallery is free to enter. It’s open to everyone and there is no need to book in advance.

Are you allowed to take photos in Manchester Art Gallery?

Yes, visitors are allowed to take pictures in Manchester Art Gallery. Photos must be for personal, non-commercial use only, and created with hand-held cameras and phones. There may be some exceptions to this for copyright reasons, and where there are, signage will point this out.

Is Manchester Art Gallery worth visiting?

Absolutely – Manchester Art Gallery is well worth a visit when you’re in Manchester. It’s got a fantastic collection of artworks and exhibitions which change regularly.

Why is Manchester Art Gallery famous?

Manchester Art Gallery is well known for its fine art collections. It has an extensive collection of works by 19th-century British artists, including the Pre-Raphaelites. There are paintings from the 1400s right up to the present day.

There are over 14,000 artworks in the fine art collection, including:

2,000 oil paintings
350 sculptures
Drawings
Watercolours
Prints
Posters
Photographs
Medals

The building itself is pretty impressive, too. It dates back to 1835 and was designed in the Greek Revival style by Charles Barry. The columns at the front make for a visually striking entrance.

How long should I spend in Manchester Art Gallery?

We recommend planning to spend around an hour and a half in Manchester Art Gallery. This should give you enough time to see everything. You can, of course, spend as long as you like in there.

Is Manchester Art Gallery accessible?

Manchester Art Gallery is keen for as many people as possible to enjoy its collections. They have the following accessibility features:

Three accessible parking spaces
Ramp and handrails at the Nicholas Street entrance
Wheelchair lift and stairs at the Princess Street entrance
Manual wheelchair available to borrow
Lifts to the galleries on the first and second floors
Accessible toilets on the ground floor and the first floor
Ear defenders to borrow
Benches in most galleries
Comfy armchairs in some galleries
Light, portable stools available to borrow
Regular tours in British Sign Language
Large print guides in the galleries
Additional descriptive information for key artworks and exhibitions
Large print label guides
Assistance animals welcome
Quiet space

Can I get something to eat at Manchester Art Gallery?

Yes, there is a café at Manchester Art Gallery. The café serves a seasonal menu featuring high-quality British comfort food made with fresh produce. Better still, all the cakes and bakes are made on site by the in-house bakers.

The lunch menu includes a range of light bites such as jacket potatoes and sandwiches. There is also a children’s menu.

How to get to Manchester Art Gallery from YHA Manchester

The Manchester Art Gallery address is Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL. It is just over a mile away from YHA Manchester.

On foot: It takes just over 20 minutes to walk from YHA Manchester to the Manchester Art Gallery.

Cycling: It’s approximately a nine-minute cycle between the Youth Hostel and the art gallery.

By public transport: Walk for about seven minutes to the Science Museum bus stop and catch the 1 Free Bus to Spinningfields. Alight at Cheapside and after a four-minute walk, you’ll arrive at the Manchester Art Gallery. The whole journey should take about 18 minutes.

The nearest tram stops to the Manchester Art Gallery are St Peter’s Square and Market Street on the Altrincham and Eccles lines.

By car: Driving from YHA Manchester to the Manchester Art Gallery should take around ten minutes. The nearest car parks are all around a five-minute walk away and include: