Whether you’ve got half an hour, all day, are on your own or have the children with you, we’d love to see you. You don’t have to like everything inside and you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy a visit. Entry to the gallery and our exhibitions is free.

We’re award-winning too. We recently won the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award at the Manchester Tourism Awards 2008. Come and find out why almost 400,000 visitors enjoy the gallery each year.

What’s inside?

Our collection is made up of fine art and decorative art. We’re probably most famous for our Pre-Raphaelite paintings but all periods are covered, from ancient pottery to contemporary art. Find out more about our collections, special exhibitions and events by exploring our site or just drop by, pick up a floor plan and wander. If you have any questions, our staff will be happy to help.

What's on

Catch the latest exhibitions from our diverse changing programme. Or come along to one of our wide range of workshops, tours and other activities for adults and families: most of our events are free. Visit the what's on section of the website to find out more.

Explore our collections

The gallery's collections include more than 25,000 objects of art, craft and design. Only a fraction of these can be displayed at any one time. You can explore the collections in greater depth by using our online collections search or browse edited highlights chosen by staff and visitors.

Enjoy the gallery with your family

Manchester Art Gallery was a finalist in this year’s Guardian Family Friendly Museum of the Year award. That’s because we have lots on offer for families, including our interactive gallery (first floor), free family friendly resources and facilities and our popular cafe which offers children’s meals . Visit our family pages for more information.

Fancy some peace and quiet?

We are very popular with schools and families, so if you would like a quieter visit, try Tuesday to Friday after 3pm or weekends before midday, outside of the summer holidays.