There are lots of ways for you to enjoy and experience the gallery and our collections. You can take as much or as little information as you want, from floor plans and audio guides to joining in our highlights tours.

Information desk

Our main information desk is in the central atrium. Pick up floor plans, leaflets and other information from here. You can also ask for your free audio guides or family backpacks and storybags.

Floor plan

Our floor plans are also available in the entrance hall to help you find your way around the gallery. You can view the floor plan online or download it to your computer.

Tours

We have three audio guides available, free to collect from our information desk: a general visit to our collections, one for families and one for visually impaired visitors. The general audio tour is also available in English, Cantonese and Urdu. Hearing impaired visitors can ask for a transcipt of the general audio tour.

We also offer a range of tours and events to help you discover more about our collections, including free highlights tours every weekend. See the events calendar for more information.

Information in other formats

Visitors can borrow Braille and large print versions of the introductory panels to the collections in each room. These are also available in a range of Asian and European languages. Just ask a member of staff.

Our general audio tour is also available in Cantonese and Urdu.

Group visits

We offer a range of tours and support for groups, along with refreshments.
Please book your group visit in advance by contacting Meg Parnell:
Tel: 0161 2358855.
Email: m.parnell@manchester.gov.uk.

Resources for families

Take a tour around the gallery with our easy to use audio guide for children, featuring comments from children, celebrities and curators.
Free family backpacks are available for family groups with children aged between seven and 12. For those with younger children, try one of our free storybags, for family groups with children aged two to four. Or take our family trail around the gallery and check out the funny Tony Ross labels.

All our family resources are available from the information desk in the atrium.

Education visits

Our formal learning team develops and manages an extensive education programme for nurseries, schools, colleges and universities.

Photography

To protect our artworks, we do not allow photography in the galleries. You are, however, welcome to take photos in our public areas such as our entrance hall and atrium. If you would like a souvenir image of an artwork in the gallery, why not check out the wide range of postcards and prints in our shop or see the image library online.

Access information

Manchester Art Gallery is fully accessible. Full details about our access facilities and services.

Manchester's award-winning museums and galleries

2 million people a year visit Manchester's award-winning museums and galleries, including Manchester Art Gallery.

You come to see our world class collections and our stunning buildings. You come to relax in our cafes, browse in our shops and have a great day out with friends and family. You want to see Pre-Raphaelites or contemporary art, dinosaurs or steam engines, war photography or wallpapers. Whatever you want, it's all here, in Manchester's museums and galleries.

We are all free, so why not visit soon?

Imperial War Museum North
The Lowry
Museum of Science and Industry
People's History Museum
The Manchester Museum
Whitworth Art Gallery