Urbis

Always have a variety of different exhibitions, most of which are free. A good place to pass an hour or 2 & also to bring friends to, as the exhibitions are often a bit different to what you’d fine elsewhere.

Great shop too!

Besides the beautiful building, Urbis can be good to spend a couple of hours. With exhibitions and activities taking place.
Easy to reach from Victoria Station, you can walk in and have a look around with no hassle.

Like any Gallery / Centre, it depends what is on show as to whether it suits, but if you’re in Manchester, it’s well worth a look to see what’s on.

The Water Feature outside is also great for the kids to play in in the Summer.

The Urbis is a great place to visit from time to time. It holds regular, changing exhibitions which the majority are free to get into - exhibitions ranging in art, anime, music, graphic design and more. The urban life exhibition part is interesting and has interactive parts which are great for kids and adds a nice element. The actual building itself is very impressive, a kind of all glass, sloping building and stands out completely. It’s got a gift shop and cafe too, great place to spend a couple of hours - definitely worth a visit.

Urbis is one of my favorite places to visit when i come over to manchester. It always has great exhibitions that are usually free. They try and put on a lot of shows that reflect manchester past and present. The one last year for the Factory Records anniversary was great, as was the Peter Saville one a few years ago. Its not all about manchester though.

As well as the exhibitions they have a great cafe that serves up lovely food and drinks. The shop is also very good for picking up some cool books or gifts. A great place to visit!

Built in 2002 to attract visitors who came for the commonwealth games. Originally they charged you to get in, now it’s free apart from special exhibitions which take up half the ‘museum’. It’s a great building which like most of modern Manchester is made of glass. The past few years its become an attraction for younger generations. Many of the exhibits are about Manchester in relation to the rest of the world and cultural and creative influences. It also holds a diagonal lift which is also made of glass. Theres also a shop and popular cafe and serves as a TV studio for local Sky Channel M. Worth a visit when sightseeing in manchester.

This distinctive and stunning building stands proud in Manchester city centre, housing all sorts of exhibitions, for all tastes.

I was there during the summer and fortunate enough to see the Matthew Williamson retrospective. A native Mancunian, Williamson has taken the fashion world by storm over the past 10 years and the retrospective did him proud. Some of his most famous and relevant dresses were on display, along with treasured possessions and sources of inspiration. It was free to attend but I’d have paid to get in, it was that good.

The shop at Urbis is great for people looking for some slightly more arty souvenirs, lots of Factory/Smiths stuff is up for grabs.

The Urbis is one of the city’s top tourist attractions, and is the huge glass building next to exchange square and Manchester Victoria train station.
The particular attraction for this museum/gallery is that it is completely free, so is a great cheap day out. There is an interesting and varied range of exhibitions on offer. A small portion of the museum is dedicated to visiting exhibitions, which require a small fee, but they are usually very well-received and popular. Surrounded by plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants, this is well worth visiting on a day out to the city centre.

Urbis is conveniently located right next to Victoria Station and the Arndale Centre. You can’t miss it- it’s a giant glass building! And really does look quite something from outside.
What is awesome about the place is that they really do have some amazing exibitions in here but admission doesn’t cost a penny! I recently visited the manga exhibition which was fantastic. Most of the stuff they put on has interactive elements both suitable for adults and children which is always great as you’re not just simply looking at stuff but you actually get to take part and see for yourself too and even contribute.
Channel M is also located inside and you can see them broadcasting as well.
There is a shop attached which sells your usual museum goodies but als offers some other quirky items and some specifically manchester culture themed products.
Definitely worth a visit.

I have visited Urbis a few times now. It’s always a good place to go if the weather is wet (well it is Manchester!). Nice central location next to the Arndale Centre. The glass building itself is stunning and you can’t miss it.

There are special exhibitions on all the time, entry to these isn’t free but you can miss these and go explore the rest of the museum for free.

Lots of info on Manchester life and life in cities around the world. A cafe serving snacks and drinks tops off a very pleasant place to visit.

Very slick and full of creativity! well just look at the building itself…. very futuristic yet blends into the surroundings like an icicle in the snow.

Urbis landed in Manchester a few years ago now. Despite whiners banging on about it’s lack of relevance and giving it a few months before the life support was turned off, it still stands strong today. Admittedly it’s taken a lot adjustments and re planning in order for it to survive, but survive it has. Now some of that might be down to the council monetarily propping this up but it’s also down to some seemingly fine management decisions. The exhibitions have got better and better (the current Manga exhibition has been received very well - I’m off to see over the next few weeks possibly with the kids). The building itself if a fine piece of architecture (by Ian Simpson architects) as is the surrounding garden…when it’s not lost under the ‘Emo’ clan. Almost overnight this area extended the city centre by a considerable amount. This used to be an old car park outside Vic Station, a barren no mans land. Well now it’s thriving with the Printworks, Arndale extension and the Triangle adding to the area’s vitality (whatever you think of those places).
It seems to me to have worn itself into the city scape very well - Manchester wouldn’t now seem the same without it. There is a cafe and large store (selling funky Manchester and cultural paraphernalia on the ground floor and a restaurant (recently redesigned) on the top tiers.
Channel M moved in a year or so back which helped it’s footfall and activity somewhat.
With exhibitions and events throughout the year Urbis is now as ‘Manchester’ as the Hacienda, Les Dawson and Kelloggs Cornflakes.

Urbis is a relatively new art gallery and it is dedicated to art exhibitions on one theme- city life. The actual building is made entirely of green tinted glass and is a sharp contrast to the surrounding architecture. It has held past exhibitions on punk and the Hacienda night-club and always has art from new/ local artists. It also has an area for children and a shop which sells art books and items with a Manchester theme. It compliments Manchester art gallery which has a big collection of classic paintings. Highly recommended.