Point of interest
The Whitworth
in Manchester, United Kingdom
A celebrated art gallery in Whitworth Park with strong collections of textiles, wallpapers and British watercolours, plus a café that opens onto the greenery.
Where it is
The gallery sits on Oxford Road south of the city centre, set within Whitworth Park and close to the University of Manchester campus.
Address: Oxford Road, M15 6ER Manchester
What it is
The collection holds over 60,000 items, including modern art, textiles, wallpapers and watercolours. The light-filled building, integrated with the park, combines exhibitions with a café and garden. Admission is free.
History
The Whitworth was founded in 1889 as The Whitworth Institute and Park in memory of the industrialist Sir Joseph Whitworth, for 'the perpetual gratification of the people of Manchester'. The gallery is now part of the University of Manchester. In 2015 it reopened after a £15 million redevelopment that doubled its exhibition spaces and opened the building out to the surrounding park.