Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

Scenes of Sombre Grandeur

Sir Charles Holmes was one of the foremost landscape artists of the 20th Century, painting and travelling widely in Europe. However it was his friendship with the Blackburn cotton magnate TB Lewis that encouraged him to try and capture the 'sombre grandeur' of an industrial landscape.

Runs until Saturday, open Sat, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, 10am-4.45pm, admission free

Bury Art Gallery and Museum

Moss Street, Bury (tel: 0161 253 5878)

Frances Lennon

The popular artist shows Manchester life past and present.

Runs until Saturday, August 17, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, admission free

Patrick Caulfield

Colourful prints illustrating the poems of Jules Laforgue.

Runs until Saturday, September 7, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, admission free

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery

Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire (tel: 01298 24658)

Up Hill and Down Dale

As part of the United Nations Year of the Mountains, this exhibition reveals some of the treasures showing modern and historic views of the Peak District.

Runs until Saturday, August 17, open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am-5pm and Sunday 10.30am-5pm, adults £1 and concessions 50p

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, admission free

Conservation Centre

Whitechapel, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4999)

Peter's Pipes and Wendy's Wings

Meet Peter Pan before he flies back to Sefton Park or help to make Never Never land at the Conservation Centre. Hands-on fun activities for children.

Thursday, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, admission free

Studio Tours

Enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the Centre where artefacts from paintings to sculptures and paper to ceramics are preserved by specialists. Pre-booking is advisable.

Wednesday and Saturday, 2pm and 3pm

Cornerhouse

Oxford Street Manchester (tel: 0161200 1500

An exhibition which investigates the substance of art and its physical properties, surface and material quality.

Runs until Sunday, September 1, open Tuesday to Saturday 11am-6pm and Sun 2pm-6pm, admission free

Gallery of Costume

Platt Hall, Rusholme, Manchester (0161 234 1456)

A lively and interactive exhibition specially designed for children teaching younger visitors the history of the clothing industry.

Runs until Sunday, September 1, open daily, admission free

Grosvenor Museum

Grosvenor Street, Chester

Fifties Fashion

The flamboyant fashions of the 1950s are on display to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee looking back at the fashions from the coronation period.

Runs until Sunday, August 4, open daily, admission free

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Market Square, Preston (tel: 01772 258248)

The story of Horrockses Fashions Ltd curated by textiles expert Dr Christine Boydell showing off some of the best examples of Horrockses dresses from the 1950s onwards, many of them lent or donated by local people. The dresses were expensive for the time but nevertheless incredibly popular, often worn as honeymoon outfits.

Runs until Saturday, October 19, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, admission free

Hat Works - The Museum of Hatting

Wellington Mill, 4 Wellington Road South, Stockport (tel: 0161 355 7770)

Royal Millinery Exhibition

An exclusive opportunity to see a wide selection of hats created by 12 top milliners for HM The Queen, HM The Queen Mother, HRH Princess Margaret and HRH the Princess Royal.

Runs until Tuesday, September 17, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm, adults £3.95 and conc. £2.50

Liverpool Museum

William Brown Street, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4399)

Touchy, Feely, Squashy

An exhibition of five interactive green sculptures by artist Jan Niedojadlo created from oil-based recycled materials such as rubber, plastic and foam. Visitors are invited to crawl through these recycled sculptures which include the Hive, Chrysalis and Emorphic Garden to bring out their physical instinct for exploration and adventure.

Runs until Sunday, September 15, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12 noon-5pm, admission free

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.

Edward Hillel

Artist Hillel uses photography, video and found objects to give an evocactive flavour of the Dickensian labyrinthine nature of the old factory capturing a specific moment in the area's history.

Runs until Monday, September 1

New Indian Art

An exhibition of contemporary Indian art and craft marking the hosting of the Commonwealth Games bringing to life the overwhelming visual intensity of India and showing how art thrives in India's galleries, streets and daily life.

Runs until Monday, September 1

Builder's Choice

Some of the builders who have transformed the gallery over the past four years return to reveal their part in the process.

Runs until Sunday, September 15

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, admission 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, admission free

Mid Pennine Gallery

Yorke Street, Burnley (tel: 01282 421986)

The work of Japanese born Masakatsu Kondo is featured with massive paintings which are a product of a highly successful selective process of editing and amplification aimed at jolting the viewer out of habitual ways of viewing.

Runs from Saturday, July 27 to Saturday, September 7, open daily, admission free

Merseyside Maritime Museum and HM Customs & Excise National 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, admission free

Famine, Fame and Fortune

Listen to 19th century emigrants' tales of hope and fear as they embark on a journey to a new land and discover the reality of their experiences.

Saturday and Sunday, at intervals between 1.30pm-4.30pm, admission free

A Sailor's Tale

Imagine life at sea and find out about lifelines, fids and why a ship is called 'she'.

Saturday and Sunday, 1.30pm-4.30pm, admission free

Model Boat Weekend

A detailed and colourful display by the Runcorn & District Scale Model Boats society.

Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm, admission free

Quaysides Go Crazy

Ship to Shore tours of the Edmund Gardner and Quaysides.

Sunday, 1pm & 3pm

Ships in Bottles

Learn how to put a ship in a bottle with resident ship-bottling demonstrator Des Newton.

Saturday to Wednesday, at intervals between 10am-4.30pm

Vatman & Robbin

Bootleggin and fraud is investigated by Customs & Excise highlighting the problem of the increasing loss of revenue caused by cigarette and alcohol smuggling.

Sunday, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm

HM Customs & Excise Museum Tours

Join one of the guided tour and explore the role of Customs & Excise officers past and present.

Saturday and Sunday, 11am- 12 noon and 1pm, admission free

Rummage

A suspect ship has pulled into porter at the Customs & Excise Museum and your help is needed to search it.

Thursday and Sunday, at intervals between 12 noon-3.30pm, admission free

Crazy Curiosity Coat

Wear the Crazy Curiosity Coat which has different pockets with surprises in to lead you around the trial where there are special games to complete using the objects from your coat.

Saturday, 1pm-4pm, admission free

Family Fun Box

Delve into the treasure chest of puzzles, activities and trails to find out about the world of smuggling and the customs officer.

Open daily, 10am-5pm, admission 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 Liverpool LIfe

Pier Head, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4080)

Liverpool Memories: The photographs of Stuart Bale

Pictures of Liverpool from the 1920s to the 1950s of the places where people shopped, worked and went to enjoy themselves such as Coopers department store, local cinemas and pubs.

Runs until Sunday, October 27, open daily 10am-5pm, admission free.

At Home with the Piermaster and Family

The Piermaster's wife welcomes you into their house and reveals the dock's best kept secret.

Saturday and Sunday, open daily 10am-5pm, admission free

The Belles of New Brighton

Take a day trip back in time and listen to tales of this popular seaside resort with the New Brighton Belle.

Sunday, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, admission free

Printing

Join Dave Veevers, the museum's resident printer for a demonstration explaining the difference between printing in 1938 and the present day.

Saturday to Wednesday, at intervals betwen 10.30am-4.30pm, admission free

Museum of Science and Industry

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

Star Trek Exhibition

Beam aboard the USS Enterprise and explore the true science behind Star Trek including a visit to the Engineering, Sickbay and the Transporter Room.

Runs until Sunday, October 27, open daily 10am-5pm, adults £4.50 and concessions £3

Fibres, Fabrics and Fashion

Watch as the demonstractors operate the thunderous cotton machinery which led to Manchester's industrial success.

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.

Electricity Room Sets

Visit the historic room sets from the 30s and the 50s and cast an eye over seven decades of electrical appliances.

Victorian Sewer

Take a walk along the Victorian sewer complete with sound and smells and get a feel for what living conditions were really like during the era.

All Steamed Up!

The largest collection steam mill engines in the world including enormous steam locomotives.

Air and Space Hall

From aviation history to space science marvel at the flying machines and learn about the mysteries of outer space.

Stimulate the Senses

Poke, prod, push, pull and try out mind bending puzzles in the hands-on science gallery.

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

People's History Museum

The Pump House, Bridge Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 839 6061)

Moving Lives

From the late 1940s, thousands of people have migrated to Britain from the Caribbean. Many of them started their lives in Manchester. This exhibition looks at after the migration, how these people managed to establish themselves in work and forge identity in a new home? The exhibition uses photographs, people's possessions, recordings and films.

Runs until Sunday, October 27, open Tue to Sun 11am-4.30pm, admission free

Richard Goodall Gallery

59 Thomas Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 832 3435)

A display of vintage and contemporary rock and roll poster art.

Runs until Saturday, October 5, open Tue to Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-5pm, admission free

Royal Armouries Museum

Armouries Drive, Leeds (tel: 0113 220 1999)

The Romans In Britain

Find out what the Romans did for Britain and experience the thrill and splendour of an authentic re-enactment of a gladiatorial contest in the amphitheatre or take part in one of the spectacular horse shows.

Runs until August 31, open daily 10am-5pm, admission free

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

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

A day of actvities and happenings in Lark Hill Place and in the Life Times Gallery. Dress as a Victorian, try hands on activities or let Marble the Museum Mouse take you on his trail around the Victorian Gallery.

Sunday, 1pm-4pm, admission free

Petra McCarthy - An Exhibition of New Work

Manchester-based McCarthy works directly with acrylic paint on perspex, hoping to make an impact with a riot of colour.

Runs until Monday, August 26, open Mon to Fri 10am-4.45pm and Sat and Sun 1pm-5pm, admission free

The Hairdresser's Shop

The Hairdresser's Shop is an integral part of community life in South Africa and celebrated local artist Harold Riley asked 50 South African schoolchildren to depict this along with 50 Salford schoolchildren who have also done the same to make up this fascinating and colourful exhibition which is part of the Spirit of Friendship Festival.

Runs until Sunday, September 15, open Monday to Friday 10am-4.45pm and Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm, admission free

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, admission free

Simple Cafe Bar

Tib Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 835 2526)

Objects of Desire 2

Artists and photographer Ruby Porter displaying works which question the relationships which people have with glossy advertising.

Runs until Wednesday, July 31, open daily 11am-11pm, admission free

Tate Liverpool

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

Telling Tales

The structure of the Telling Tales display conveys a subtle narrative of its own which begins by setting the scene. Many artists including Sophie Calle, Michael Raedecker and Luc Tuymans have found narrative potential in abandoned spaces. Their images of deserted rooms or houses operate as empty stage sets.

Runs until Sunday, August 11, open daily, admission free

Philip Guston

One of the most influential and important American painters of the 20th Century, Philip Guston first came to prominence as an Abstract Expressionist later moving towards figurative painting. This display, drawn from the Tate Collection, examines this transition period and features many of Guston's celebrated later paintings and figurative prints.

Runs until Sunday, August 18, open daily, admission free

Remix: Contemporary Art and Pop

A stimulating show creating unexpected- multi-layered connections between visual art, music, film and music videos examining the different ways musical histories and their visual associations, the desire to idolise pop stars, DJs and groups and the glamour of celebrities as well as the excitement of pop concerts and club culture.

Runs until Monday, August 26, open daily

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 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

Turnpike Gallery

Civic Square, Leigh (tel: 01942 404469)

Jigar: films by Alia Syed

Three evocative and poetic films bringing together a significant body of work made over the last 15 years by one of today's foremost British Asian artists.

Runs until Saturday, August 3, open Mon, Thu, Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Wed 9.30am-5pm and Sat 10am-3pm

University of Liverpool Art Gallery

Abercromby Square, Liverpool, Merseyside (tel: 0151 794 2348)

Crafty Thoughts

This is one of 4 exhibitions being staged as part of the UK's Art South Asia Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme. This is the first group exhibtion in the UK of work by 8 leading contemporary Sri Lankan artists focussing on artists who incorporate notions of crafts into their practice.

Runs until Friday, September 13, open Mon to Fri, 12 noon-4pm

Walker Art Gallery

William Brown Street, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4199)

The Art of Paul McCartney

The first comprehensive exhibition of Sir Paul McCartney's paintings, sculpture and photographs in Britain bringing together around 70 paintings from McCartney's career using photographic and sculptural techniques.

Runs until Sunday, August 4, open Mon to Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 12 noon-5pm, adults £3 and conc £2 (double ticket with Turner exhibition)

Journeys of the Imagination: Works by Works by Turner

This exhibition comprises of around 50 works spanning JMW Turner's whole career including paintings, watercolours and prints from the Liber Studiorum series. The exhibition approaches Turner's works from a novel angle by setting them in the context of contemporary cultural tourism.

Runs until Sunday, August 4, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12 noon-5pm, adults £3 and conc £2 (double ticket with McCartney exhibition)

The Earl and the Pussycat: Lord Derby's Life and Legacy

A celebration of the 13th Earl of Derby, whose groundbreaking zoological collections formed the foundation of the now Liverpool Museum. Objects, specimens and works of art will illustrate the Earl's legacy and influence, drawing on his association with the leading contemporaries of his age.

Runs until Sunday, September 8, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12 noon-5pm, admission free

John Moores 22 exhibition of contemporary painting

This popular and prestigious compeittion and exhibition has returned to The Walker to coincide with the Liverpool Biennial giving contemporary painters working in Britain the chance to win £25,000.

Runs until Sunday, December 8, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, admission free

Whitworth Art Gallery

Oxford Road, Manchester (tel: 0161 275 7450)

The Views of Britain today by seven artists including the following talks: Nick Crowe (July 23, 2.30pm); Kwong Lee (July 30, 2.30pm); David Cushway (Sept 10, 2.30pm); Ingrid Pollard (Sept 17, 2.30pm); a slide lecture by Roshini Kempadoo (Sept 4, 6.30pm); a guided tour of the exhibition with Mary Griffiths, Curator of Modern Art (Sept 14, 12 noon).

Runs until Sunday, September 22, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm, admission free (£5 for slide lecture)

Wigan Pier

Trencherfield, Wigan (tel: 01942 323666)

Queen Elizabeth at Golden Jubilee Exhibition

The Wigan Pier experience is celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee with an exhibition at the museum of memories. The exhibition will highlight major events both locally and nationally, including the Jubilee. The Kidszone in the area includes competitions, quizzes and much more.

Runs until Saturday, August 31, open Monday to Thursday 10am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm, adults from £7.50, children from £5.95 and concessions £5.95