Manchester: A Mix of Cultural Splendours

The city of Manchester is perhaps best known for its versatile music scene, comprised of everything from indie rock to dance and house music. It’s no surprise as to why: with so many successful music artists either having emerged or gaining significant influence from Manchester, the city certainly has a great deal of talent to boast.

While it’s easy to associate Manchester’s cultural scene with its musical offerings, music isn’t the city’s only impressive artistic feature. The northern English city is also brimming with galleries, art exhibitions, museums and more, inviting locals and visitors alike to enjoy a range of the cultural splendours.

Among the city’s most popular museums and galleries are the Lowry, the People’s History Museum, the Imperial War Museum North, and the Manchester Art Gallery. Moreover, it’s simple to find out what’s on at any of Manchester’s museums and galleries with a simple search on the web or by visiting a tourist information centre.

The Manchester Art Gallery, for instance, is currently hosting an event - called ‘Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci from the Royal Collection’ - which has been on since February 14, 2009 and runs until May 4, 2009. The exhibition, which is in celebration of the Prince of Wales’ 60th birthday, is said to be showcasing some of the Royal Collection’s finest pieces by the Renaissance master, Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519).

Visitors can view works ranging from a sketch of a human skull and profile drawings of various individuals, to a map and drawing of an arsenal. The Royal Collection contains the world’s most important drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, and the ten drawings are said to be among the collections greatest and rarest treasures. Most of the drawings have never been on permanent display due to their exceptionally delicate nature.

Those who are watching their wallets while travelling to Manchester needn’t worry. The exhibit at the Manchester Gallery is free, as are various other museums and galleries - so visitors can look forward to an enriching cultural experience minus all the money-spending. Moreover, visitors can find a range of relatively inexpensive hotels, enabling an all-over cost-conscious trip without a compromise on experience.

But regardless of the time of year you choose to take your flights to Manchester, you are sure to find an artistic offering that is of interest to you; whether it is at the Manchester Gallery or one of the many galleries available.