I absolutely love this place…read more There's beautiful clothes from the 1600s to the present day housed in a gorgeous Georgian mini mansion. Also the occasional bit of strange modern art, closely examine the big vases in the entrance hall. I'll say no more. There's also a wall of shoes, a wall of bags and a wall of hats. Turns out I'm a hat person, not in my day to day life, but when it comes to coveting accessories definitely. This is about the 4th time I've been here as the collection changes. At the moment there's a wedding dress display with some catchy romantic tunes on upstairs. The main collection is always worth another look though. The gentlemen aren't neglected either, with some (very) vintage outfits upstairs. There's a Cafe which I didn't try but it looks like a nice place to sit and chat. Also a gift shop with some cool books, ranging from "Sharp Suits" to one about t-shirt designs. Plus some nice mugs. There's even a bus stop right outside and it's in the grounds of Platt Fields park for a stroll after.

For the many fashion students in Manchester, and indeed anyone inters ted in the way simple…read moretailoring has evolved into an expression of Art, you will be pleased to know that mucho mullar (cash) is being spent on this little Museum and will re-open in early 2010!! I did go to the museum just before it closed - and agree with Rachel that the realisation to improve this beautiful building that houses an amazing collection, could not have happened sooner. The collections are all based on fabric and how it is shaped into garments that British men, women and children of varying cultures have worn since the 17th century. Of particular interest to me was the incredibly intricately stitched ball gowns and clothes of the 17th century. I also love how the museum collects contemporary designers creations that has been made locally! There is so much to see, and i hope that more space enables more pieces from their huge collection to be viewed by the public.

How do you solve a problem like visiting family members and what to do in the day time? Ok so…read moreManchester has epic food and drink easily covered when it comes to evening and lunch time but do you really want to be dragged around the shops or do something as equally boring in between...? So with this in mind I planned on opening up the floor to my visiting Mum and saying we'd wander down into Stockport town centre to go to some of the (ahem, cough) many world famous tourist attractions. This might be slightly mean as Stockport has got quite a few good things to see like Robinsons Brewery, the Air-raid shelters and excellent Hat museum but on this occasion my Mum pulled a total curveball by suggesting we went to the Stockport Story museum in the Market square and specifically the Staircase house. Staircase house is an old building from the 1600's that's been totally rebuilt and showcases what life would be like for those living through the years since. One room is Tudor, one is Georgian, one World War 2 etc and it's pretty interesting if not something I'd massively rush out and buy tickets for again. You get a free audio guide and the guys who run it are pretty knowledgable and friendly so could be a good option if it's raining or you have relatives in town looking for a bit of nostalgia. My Mum was like wow, I remember your Gramps having one of these, ooh look at these etc etc You can grab a single adult ticket for £4.50 but can buy a £10.50 ticket and get access to Staircase house, Bramall Hall and the Air-Raid shelters (which lasts 12 months) - probably a good deal if you want to check out a few other cool places just down the road!

We stumbled upon this newly opened museum whilst walking back through Stockport from Vernon Park on…read moreSunday afternoon. I must admit that I wasn't really in 'museum mode' so maybe I didn't enjoy it as much as I could've done. The museum is located inside the newly renovated Staircase House building, which also houses a tourist information, shop and a separate museum (but you have to pay to go into that one so I'll save that for another day). There are five galleries spread over different floors, which tell the history of Stockport from 10,000 years ago to the present. On the floor on which you enter (the third floor!) there are displays of Iron Age pottery and such, you then progress through the Dark Ages to Medieval Stockport. My favourite was the Victorian floor, which included exhibits on Victorian toys (with a couple to play with) and a full-scale marketplace where kids could dress up and sell baskets full of fruit and veg. I quite fancied a go, but restrained myself. The museum looked and smelt brand spanking new, but I have the feeling that it won't take long for the carpet to wear away and the white walls to become adorned with grubby finger-prints. Overall, a good free insight into the history of Stockport, but for a brand new museum it could do with a few more hands on exhibits and perhaps a bit of light (all the blinds are drawn throughout).

THIS PLACE IS WELL WORTH A VISIT…read more Set on the canal side in an old canal boat shed-(large brick building). It is like stepping back in time when you visit the old chippy and pub. Shops and pawn brokers have been recreated with al th old goods that were on sale many years ago. A bar of soap 4d. They have also recreated a church and school room. Well worth a school trip with activities for pupils. They are even taken back to the Victorian era in the old schol room and put through the 3 Rs by a strict looking teacher. She is great at acting out the roll . Down stairs are the more industrial machinery used locally 100 years or so ago. Theres a smal cafe and sovenier shop that is resonably priced. Best thing is that its free of chrage. A great visit for old and young alike

I love taking my son to this museum. It's all absolutely free and we get to chat about boats, watch…read morethe ducks and swans and see how things were 'a long time ago'. The museum caters really well for children with lots to keep them occupied - it's very easy to spend a wet afternoon playing and learning lots. I would also recommend a coffee in the cafe there. The staff are absolutely amazing and the food evebn better!

I scorn people who whinge about Salford and claim that it's 'rough', 'scary' or 'crime-infested'…read more No more than any other city. Okay, maybe Shameless has given us a really dreadful name, but come on. Every city has its nasty parts and its good parts. I for one am a fan of Salford's university area, and one of the hotspots of that is the Museum and Art Gallery, located right in the middle of campus. I'm lucky to have lived with this historical and gorgeous building around the corner from me. Devoted to the history of Salford and Victorian architecture and art and with free admission, it houses temporary exhibition spaces as well as the LifeTimes Gallery (family friendly exhibitions about the history of Salford), the Victorian Gallery (boasting an impressive range of paintings and some spectacular marble statues), the Local History library where researchers and avid scholars alike can brush up on their Salford knowledge, and of course refreshments in the form of the Lark Hill Tea Rooms. Just stunning. Who says Salford is all stabbings outside pubs and teenage mothers. For true Mancunian culture, the end I live in is doing just nicely, thanks to places like this. Enjoy.

This is a relatively small museum and art gallery located next down to one of the Salford…read moreUniversity buildings. The place has some nice art pieces. I was not here long so only managed to check out the art gallery bit but some people commented on how the museum but was good. On the ground floor is a cafe (plus a shop). The cafe is pretty large in size with lots of seating. I can't comment on the food but a few people I was with had some cake which they liked. I just had a cup of tea.

I took quite a few of my family here as part of the Rawtenstall Annual Fair combined, this year,…read morewith Dialect-i-Fest. It is a small, unusual museum with a fascinating selection of exhibits, including a lot of The history of Lancashire. It is set in stunning grounds with plenty of different areas to suit all ages and with superb views across Rossendale. There is ample on-site parking. Within the museum building are a bar and a café, both impressive in quality and service.

Driving past Ordsall Hall most days (as I live very close to it), I have always enjoyed it as a…read moreplace of beauty and the fascination of its random location. The location is of course the modern development surrounding the site so it looks out of place to have a beautiful old manor right next to modern apartment buildings and industrial units. Perhaps this is what makes it more unique to other similar historic houses? Needless to say, over the last couple of years I have been intrigued as to what on earth they were doing when the whole building was covered in scaffolding and sheeting - like something from a sci fi film but of course logic suggested it was restoration of some sort. Once it re opened recently I was amazed at the job they had done. They had added/rebuilt parts of it, however it has been done with integrity and fits the building perfectly. The grounds and gardens have all been spruced up with beautiful wood bridges and other work. Even the pavement from the car park to the site is beautiful and is the strangest material which I just had to get on my knees to run my hand across its glossy surface. All around the building the stone work and gardens look great so I headed on in for my first look around. It has a great many rooms and seems to be bigger inside than it appears outside. They had members of staff in each room to offer information on what you are looking at, and we got some great photos of my mum in an old style bath (clothed I am glad to say!) and myself sat in the banqueting hall at the head of the table. Once I had sat some staff came over and brought me a velvet robe and crown to look the part to which my old man got his camera out and started snapping. This made a great Facebook profile picture for all my many peasants to admire! They told me that they also have a free hog roast in a couple of week's time when I visited, with entertainments and beverages etc. I would have loved to have gone but sadly I could not make it, however I will definitely go to any other events they hold. Car parking was £2 which of course goes towards the upkeep of the house so I have no qualms about paying to keep a place of history alive in such a modern location. All in all it was a nice visit to have after a large lunch with my parents - and looking around a place like this with the folks made a 34 year old guy feel like a kid again, which is never a bad thing for a sum of £2

I read about this place but genuinely didn't believe such a property could have survived so close…read moreto the centre of Manchester and the Media City / Quays development. But as we rounded the corner and saw it, we were dumbstruck - it looks so completely out of place! Admission to the hall is free and you can explore the building to your heart's content. They have a small cafe on site too. The downstairs is dominated by the great hall and the kitchen area, whereas upstairs there are exhibits on the history of the building and how children were dressed in Tudor times. In the attic space you can see some of the original wattle and daub construction, which is incredible to think it's survived so long. All the staff on site were incredibly helpful and friendly. The only reason why I've given this 3/5 is that much of the exhibits and the way the place is presented are aimed at children - we attended as two adults and enjoyed it, but there's much more to do if you're with children. Given it's less than 5 minutes' walk from the Exchange Quay Metrolink stop, plus the fact that admission is free, there's really no excuse for not popping by and taking a look.

We only visited to see the Northern Ireland exhibition. It's a very light touch. I wouldn't…read morerecommend it to anyone seriously studying our horrible history. We lived through this civil war for about 30 years. There's no sense from this exhibition that the British Army murdered 13 innocent people in Derry and it took over 50 years for a British prime minister to apologise after failed cover up and repeated denials. There's nothing about State sponsored murders. There were no CS gas canisters on display although they were routinely used and impacted many innocent folks living in their homes. The rubber bullet on display isn't the first generation I saw used - the ones I saw were far thicker and larger and I saw them fired at head height which wasn't permitted. The murderous IRA and their loyalist equivalents aren't condemned either. Northern Ireland was a hopelessly divided place from its creation over 100 years ago and I'm not convinced it's changed much for the better.

Wow, I was thoroughly impressed with this museum. It wasn't somewhere I was particularly keen to…read morevisit, but it's free and we had some time to kill in Salford Quays, so we thought we would have a quick wander around. Well, to be honest, I didn't want to leave! The museum presents a history of war from World War I until present day Afghanistan. This is done in such an informative and interactive way it will appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. I have to admit that I didn't even know how WWI started until I visited here (the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Serbia if anyone's interested). The items they have on display are fascinating and emphasise the written words immensely well. My favourite interactive item was the mystery smells from the trenches - uumm, is that mustard gas or smelly feet?! There were models of planes, tanks and barrage balloons. There was exhibits about the role of women in WWII, there was information on the Cold war, the Falklands war, the Gulf war etc etc. It was a little depressing to watch history repeating itself over and over again but in a world full of politics, religion and greed (and oil) this is consistently going to be the result. The shape of the building is also unusual so you never really know how far around the museum you are. The building design from the outside is beautiful and contemporary but at the same time fits well into its surroundings. They usually have a special exhibition - this one was on war correspondents, but unfortunately I ran out of time to look around. There is a coffee shop and gift shop at the end, and plenty of staff available if you need to ask any questions. Best of all, the museum is free to enter, they just ask for donations and you can also buy a guidebook with all proceeds going towards the running of the museum.

Norton Priory has been a home for nearly 900 years, many people have called Norton Priory home;…read morefrom the canons who lived and their, to the Brooke family who lived in style and all the servants and labourers who worked their. There is lots to see here, the award winning museum, excavated medieval ruins, the St Christopher statue, the Walled Garden and the extensive woodland and sculpture trail. It's 40 acres so take comfortable shoes otherwise you might have tender feet by the end of the day. Norton Priory has loads to do for children and it is possible to arrange school visits. Although all of Norton Priory is fab, my favourite part is the 2.5 acre walled garden. A stroll around that and I am happy as ever!

A nice place to visit especially if the weather is good. Museum, garden and ruins. A favourite…read moreplace to take visiting friends and family. We usueally stop at the Ring 'o' Bells pub for lunch or dinner.