Manchester Art Gallery

Overview

Manchester Art Gallery on Mosley Street houses one of the UK's finest collections of Pre-Raphaelite paintings alongside decorative arts, fashion and contemporary installations. Three interconnected buildings span periods from the 1820s to the present.

Highlights

• Pre-Raphaelite Collection: Works by Rossetti, Holman Hunt and Ford Madox Brown, including the celebrated Work.
• Gallery of Craft & Design: Ceramics, glass and furniture spanning 600 years.
• Interactive Family Space: Drop-in art activities for children every weekend.

History

Founded in 1823 as the Royal Manchester Institution, the gallery has been free to the public since 1882. Sir Charles Barry's Greek Revival building was extended with the Athenaeum in 2002.

Visitor Tips

• Admission: Free; special exhibitions may charge.
• Don't miss: The Asher Levine fashion gallery on the top floor.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.