Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester

Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester

Manchester Art Gallery, a public art museum located on Mosley Street in the heart of Manchester city center, is a major cultural landmark housed in three interconnected buildings. The principal building, the City Art Gallery, was originally constructed between 1824 and 1835 to serve the Royal Manchester Institution and showcases the Greek Ionic style of architecture by Sir Charles Barry. This Grade I listed structure features an elegant façade with a prominent pedimented portico supported by Ionic columns, and a lantern above the entrance hall, and is known for its harmonious ashlar construction and sophisticated architectural details like a dentilled cornice and plain parapet.

Adjacent to this historic structure are two additional buildings, both also designed by Sir Charles Barry and similarly listed for their architectural significance. In 2002, these were seamlessly linked by a modern addition from Hopkins Architects, the result of a RIBA-managed architectural competition. This development was part of a major renovation and expansion that modernized the gallery without compromising its historic character.

Manchester Art Gallery operates free of charge and is open to the public six days a week, closed on Mondays. It attracts over half a million visitors annually and houses an extensive collection of over 25,000 objects. This includes more than 2,000 oil paintings, 3,000 watercolors and drawings, and 250 sculptures, alongside an impressive array of decorative arts encompassing ceramics, glass, enamels, furniture, and metalwork. Noteworthy among its treasures is an ancient Egyptian canopic jar dating back to circa 1100 BC.

The gallery's mission extends beyond just showcasing art; it serves as an educational and cultural hub that emphasizes both local and international artistic contributions, making it a pivotal institution in Manchester’s vibrant cultural scene.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Manchester. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Manchester Art Gallery on Map

Sight Name: Manchester Art Gallery
Sight Location: Manchester, England (See walking tours in Manchester)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Manchester, England

Create Your Own Walk in Manchester

Create Your Own Walk in Manchester

Creating your own self-guided walk in Manchester is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Manchester Historical Architecture Tour

Manchester Historical Architecture Tour

Manchester’s architecture is rich in styles. Throughout centuries, the city has evolved in phases, each of which left its peculiar imprint on the city's architectural tapestry. Here, you can see medieval red-brick buildings coexisting harmoniously with concrete-and-glass structures from the modern era.

One notable landmark in Manchester is the Statue of Prince Albert, a regal monument...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Manchester Introduction Walking Tour

Manchester Introduction Walking Tour

The seventh most populated city in England, Manchester is an important cultural, industrial and historic center.

The recorded history of Manchester began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort established circa 79 AD on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell. Having been a manorial township throughout the Middle Ages, Manchester enjoyed rapid...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Edwardian Architecture Tour

Edwardian Architecture Tour

A product of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester is noted for its warehouses, railway viaducts, cotton mills, and canals, reflecting the most ambitious and exciting phase of the city's history.

During the reign of King Edward VII, which spanned from 1901 to 1910, Manchester experienced a significant boom in architectural development. This period saw a shift towards more ornate and...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Top 10 Cafes and Sweet Shops in Manchester

Top 10 Cafes and Sweet Shops in Manchester

Heading up Oldham Street from Picadilly Gardens you arrive at The Northern Quarter; the ‘cool’ part of Manchester, think Brooklyn, Shoreditch, Le Marais; trendy young things with fancy haircuts frequent the coffee houses, boutique and vintage shops during the day and the bars once night-time...