The John Luke Gallery

What it’s like

Free art exhibitions and workshops in a gallery you can drop into on a weekday morning without booking.

There's no entry fee here, which makes it an easy one to slot into a weekday morning. The gallery runs 24 or more exhibitions a year, so what's on the walls changes often, and there are free or low-cost workshops led by professional artists throughout the year. Turn up between 9:30am and 3pm on a weekday and you can just walk round.

It's not a big-production, hands-on space built for kids to charge about in. It's a proper gallery, so it suits older children who'll actually look at the work and maybe join a workshop, rather than toddlers who need something to climb on. If you've got a child who draws or paints at home, the workshops are the bit worth building the visit around.

Parking's sorted and it's free: Cityside Retail Park gives you under five hours, which is plenty for a gallery visit. If you're coming without a car, the number 2 bus from Queen Street drops you at York Street, close by. The gallery's wheelchair accessible too, which is one less thing to think about.

Because it only opens on weekdays and shuts at 3pm, this isn't a weekend or after-school option. You'll want to go earlier in the day rather than squeezing it in after nursery pickup.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

Free parking at Cityside Retail Park for under 5 hours

Getting there by bus or train

Number 2 bus from Queen Street, get off at York Street stop

• It's open weekdays only, 9:30am to 3pm, so weekends are out.
• Workshops are led by professional artists and run all year.
• The gallery is wheelchair accessible.
• Cityside Retail Park parking is free for up to five hours.

Plan your visit

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