EXHIBITIONS

Amazon House, Brazil Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 236 1004)

A collection inspired by real and imagined journeys by painters Jan Cartain and Ingrid Karlsson-Jones including works reflecting Ingrid's Swedish culture.

Runs until Saturday, November 23, 2002, open Mon to Fri, 10am-5pm and Saturday 11am-3pm

Cadishead Library

Liverpool Road, Cadishead, Salford (tel: 0161 775 2934) Kill or Cure - Medicine Through The Ages. This exhibition features on all manner of medical paraphernalia including artefacts and information on all kinds of medicine, surgery, old wives remedies and electric shock treatment. Runs until Sunday, December 1, open daily, adm free.

Gallery of Costume

Platt Hall, Rusholme, Manchester (0161 234 1456)

The Needle's Excellency: 17th Century Dress and Embroidery. An exhibition concentrating on needlework and embroidery skills and featuring some of the Gallery's earliest and rarest items including a jewel bright women's cap and matching forehead cloth dating back to 1600.

Runs until 2003

The Art of Elegance: Women's Dress 1740-1860

An exhibition illustrating the extravagance and sophistication of 18th century fashion with large scale silk damasks, delicate women muslins and sumptuous coloured wedding dresses.

Runs until 2003

Cover Up

A lively and interactive display featuring galoshes, sou'westers, firefighters' helmets and boxing gloves.

Runs until 2003

A Suit of Her Own: A History of the Working Women's Wardrobe

A look at the development of the women's tailored suit from the end of the 19th century when women began to strive for equality with men in the work place and covering the period 1895 to 1918,

Runs until 2003

Quant to Westwood: Fashion Since the Sixties. A display featuring designer outfits from 1960 to 1998 with pieces by Vivienne Westwood, Mary Quant, Biba, Ossie Clark and Zandra Rhodes.

Runs until 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Market Square, Preston (tel: 01772 258248).

In Focus

An exhibition of historic photographs of Preston's Caribbean Community marking Black History Month 2002.

Runs until January 4 2003

The Art of the Print

A wide range of material including 16th and 17th century European engravings, 18th century Brtish caricatures, 19th century colour-woodblock prints from Japan and 20th century material.

Runs until April 12 2003,

Rites of Passage

A collection of Christening, wedding and mourning dress in the Victorian era showing a large display of 19th century costumes.

Runs until October 18, 2003, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, adm free

Liverpool Tate

Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 702 7400).

Pin-up - Art and Celebrity Since The Sixties. The changing face of glamour and celebrity from Pop art to the present.

Runs until Sunday, November 24, open daily (except Mon) 10am-5.45pm, adm free

Liverpool Biennial: International 2002

30 artists exhibiting work using the city of Liverpool as a specific cultural contest. Runs until Sunday, November 24, open daily (except Mon) 10am-5.45pm, admission £4 and £3 conc

Manchester Art Gallery

Mosley Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 235 8888)

Enjoy family fun in the interactive gallery with lively exhibits and multi-media facilities or join in the talks and tours about the exhibitions.

Imagine. An interactive exhibition especially for children and families exploring the relationship between art, stories and the imagination.

Runs until January 12, 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Gothic Works

An exhibition on a Gothic theme by Belgian artist Wim Delvoye featuring a new series of stained glass windows named after the Nine Muses of Greek mythology.

Runs until Sunday, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Sense and Perception

A display of large scale abstract sculptures in delicately texture and coloured clays by Felicity Aylieff.

Runs until Sunday, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Prints and Drawings from Picasso's Paris

A collection of prints and drawings by the masters who flocked to Paris during the 20th century, including Modigliani from Italy, Ernst from Germany and Picasso from Spain.

Runs until February 9, 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Manchester Jewish Museum

Visit the oldest purpose built synagogue in the city which was restored and listed as a Grade II building with architecture, stained glass windows, the Ladies Gallery and the Permanent Exhibition telling the 200 year old story of Manchester Jewry. Open Monday to Thursday, 10.30am-4pm and Sunday 10.30am-5pm, adm free

Manchester Museum

University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester (tel: 0161 275 2634)

Uncover the mysteries of Ancient Egypt or marvel at the dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts while discovering the world of neotropical frogs, or learn about cultures from around the world or find out how the human body functions in one of the finest university museums in the country.

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays, 11-4pm, adm free

Merseyside Maritime Museum and HM Customs & Excise Museum

Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4499)

Blue Funnel to China: For over a century after its foundation in 1865, the Blue Funnel Line was the premier Liverpool shipping company trading to China.

This exhibition looks mainly at the museum's extensive collection of material including posters, film, ship models and personal items from the crew including introducing key characters involved in the story such as Alfred Holt, the inventor of the long distance engineer and former seafarers who still remember the company today.

Runs until February 24 2003, open daily 10am-5pm, adm free

Museum of Chemical Industry

Mersey Road, Widnes, Cheshire (tel: 0151 420 1121)

Discover the world of science and technology with over 100 hands-on exhibits for all the family including quizzes, puzzles and touch-screen computers, interactive exhibits and displays bringing chemistry to life.

Open Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm, adults £4.65, children £3.40 and conc. £3.95, family ticket £13.95

Museum of Science and Industry

Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester (tel: 0161 832 1830)

Spirit of the Games. Experience the themes and the theatre of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and see the extraordinary costumes and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Baton.

Runs until Sunday, November 24, open daily 10am-5pm, adm free

The Baby: See a rebuild of The Baby, the world's first computer developed in Manchester in 1948 and an ancestor of today's PCs and laptops.

Open daily, 10am-5pm, adm to the permanent galleries free

Museum of Transport

Boyle Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 205 2122)

Learn all about transport in Greater Manchester from 1800 to the present day.

From the world's first horsedrawn bus service to the multi-million Metrolink system Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of public transport operating a comprehensive network of bus, train and Metrolink services cover over 1600 route miles.

Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Peel Park Crescent, Salford (tel: 0161 736 2649)

Life Times

A variety of Life Times projects have been going on around the city over the last 2 years and many memories, photographs and stories about the history of the city have come to light.

Runs until Tuesday, May 6 2003, open Monday to Friday, 10am-4.45pm and Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm, adm free

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 702 7400)

Liverpool Biennial International 2002

Runs until Sunday, November 24, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5.50pm

Artists from around the world are brought together in a celebration of the fresh and most innovative elements of visual culture using the city as a specific cultural context for their work.

Runs until Sunday, November 24, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5.50pm

The Beatles Story

Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 709 1963)

Experience the most sensational story the pop world has ever known in the City where it all began and relive the Fab Four's rise to fame walking through Abbey Road, imagining the White Room and seeing real costumes on display.

Open daily, 10am-6pm, adults £7.95, children £4.95, conc. £5.45 and £19 for a family ticket with upto 3 children

The National Football Museum

Deepdale Stadium, Preston (tel: 01772 908 442)

Take a trip to football heaven and begin the journey through football history learning the story of football using the latest technology with an interactive exhibition and viewing the finest display of football memorabilia in the world. In the second half you can play the game and test your skills on the interactive exhibits, then join Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen on Match of the Day and enjoy your 15 minutes of fame.

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm, adults £6.95 and children, 5 to 15 years old, £4.95 and children free

The World of Glass

Chalon Way East, St Helens, (tel: 08707 444 777)

Experience the miracle of sand and fire and witness the skills involved in a turning a ball of glass into a beautiful object and the art of glassblowing.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adults £5, children £3.60 conc. £3.60, Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children £15 or 1 adult and 2 children £10

Wigan Pier

Wigan (tel: 01942 323666)

The King of Rock and Roll

An exciting exhibition celebrating the life of Elvis and his music.

Runs until Thursday, November 21, open Monday to Thursday, 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm, adults £7.50 and conc. £5.95