Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. The Yorkshire Sculpture Park  occupies the extensive grounds of the 18th Century Bretton Hall, with sculptures spread over a wide area. The sculptures on display include long standing items and more frequently changing exhibitions, with the latter concentrated near to the main entrance. The sculptures on show are modern but diverse, with such a variety of styles that visitors should take to some of them.  The Family of Man from Barbara Hepworth (also viewable at The Hepworth Gallery ). What's Here? Most visitors will arrive at the main entrance, which is supported by a modern reception building that hosts a cafe/restaurant and the shop. It is also adjacent to the more formal gardens and gallery areas that host changing exhibitions.  From these, there are paths down the hill past a variety of sculptures towards the lake.   The park includes work from well known sculptors, including Antony Gormley, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, alongside the work of other...

In Brief. The Hepworth Wakefield , named after the sculptor Barbara Hepworth who was born in Wakefield, is a bold modern gallery on the banks of the River Calder.  The building itself, which was opened in 2011, contains ten light and spacious galleries, five of which are focused on the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, with the remaining five housing temporary exhibitions. There is also a garden alongside the gallery with densely planted borders and some additional sculpture.  The Hepworth from the garden. What's Here? The Hepworth seems like a successful take on what a modern gallery can be. Anchored on the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth, whose work is represented by examples from throughout her career including early figures through assorted experiments with different materials and forms, to a scale model for the 6m tall Winged Figure. There is also a room that includes various tools from her workshop, and a discussion of how certain sculptures were made. These a...