The Whitworth

Why go

The gallery's collections span art, textiles and wallpaper, while its park setting makes the building part of the visit. It is a good choice for someone who wants to move between exhibition rooms and outdoor space rather than spend the whole time indoors.

What to look for

• Exhibition rooms draw on the gallery's art and design collections.
• The art garden links the building to Whitworth Park.
• The gallery sits within a green setting south of the university.

The full story

The Whitworth began as the Whitworth Institute and Park in the late nineteenth century, supported by a gift associated with Sir Joseph Whitworth. Its early building was completed in the first years of the twentieth century, and the gallery later became part of the University of Manchester. That institutional history helps explain the breadth of its collections, which include watercolours, sculpture, wallpapers and textiles. The building's setting in Whitworth Park is equally important to the visitor experience. Moving from exhibition rooms to the art garden changes how the works and the place relate to one another; the gallery is part of a public landscape, not an isolated indoor collection. Temporary displays can change, so individual famous works from the collection should not be assumed to be on view. The durable pleasure here is the combination of varied art, a university collection and a park you can continue exploring after the galleries.

Useful to know

• Check the current exhibitions before choosing how much gallery time to allow.
• Leave time to walk through Whitworth Park as part of the visit.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.