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The Lowry
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The Lowry

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The Lowry
4.5
3,142 reviews
#4 of 54 things to do in Salford
Art Galleries • Theaters
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11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Situated on the waterside at the heart of The Quays, The Lowry is a stunning, award-winning building housing two vibrant theatres, a studio space, relaxing art galleries, cafés, bars, a restaurant and souvenir gift shop. With a huge variety of performances, The Lowry's Lyric and Quays Theatres offer a wealth of fabulous entertainment, including West End musicals, the very best in drama, live bands, famous comedians, plus world-class dance and opera. Gallery entry is free and you can enjoy the work of one of the nation's favourite artists, LS Lowry, in changing exhibitions of his work. At the same time, experience work by artists of local, national and international renown to compliment our Lowry exhibitions. With family fun throughout the building, guided tours, the Meet Mr Lowry film, plus participatory activity for all ages, The Lowry is a great day out.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
How to get there
  • MediaCityUK • 3 min walk
  • Harbour City • 6 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,998 within 3 miles
Pier Eight Restaurant & Bar
390
163 ft$$ - $$$ • European • British • Contemporary
The Botanist
501
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • British • Vegetarian Friendly
The Alchemist Media City
680
345 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • International • British
Bella Italia
1,243
456 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Wagamama
379
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Lime Salford Quays
850
109 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Beefeater Quay House
1,011
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Prezzo
739
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
The Dockyard
595
0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Bar • British
Harvester Quayside MediaCityUK
1,290
172 ft$$ - $$$ • British • Grill • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
362 within 6 miles
Lowery
11
50 ftArt Galleries • Theaters
The Quays
297
101 ftTheaters
Quayside Media City
971
185 ftShopping Malls
Imperial War Museum North
2,852
0.2 miSpeciality Museums • History Museums
Van Gogh Alive, Mediacity
8
0.2 miExhibitions
Van Gogh Alive, The Experience
7
0.2 miExhibitions
MediaCityUK
719
0.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
BBC Manchester
119
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
UK Bungee Club - Manchester 160ft Bungee Jump
25
0.3 miSports Complexes
Old Trafford
6,521
0.6 miArenas & Stadiums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,142 reviews
Excellent
1,874
Very good
933
Average
191
Poor
62
Terrible
82
Paul
King's Lynn, UK2 contributions
It's free but worth donating a few pounds if you can.
Aug 2022
We visited as we were in the Quays area and thought it was worth a look. We didn't have children, but we could see the joy and excitement in the children's faces that were taking part in the Children's books exhibition, a very interactive experience for 'little people'. My partner works in early years education and took away some inspiration for her own work place.
On a more adult front, the actual Lowry painting exhibition was very good and We were surprised by the diversity of his work, not all matchstick men!
Because of the current exhibition being 'child based' we didn't spend that long there,
but if you have children of that age, you could pass an hour or two for very little cost!
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mossy T
5 contributions
The Camembert is a bit Runny, Sir (Michael Palin)
Oct 2022 • Friends
Came to the Lyric theatre to see Michael Palin's presentation about his travels in North Korea and Iraq (plus the Cheese Shop sketch and a bit of fish slapping!) An absolutely terrific show, the venue is impressive, smart and stylish, and access for disabled people is well catered for. The staff are helpful and cheery. We'll be back, definitely. Just found out about the pre-theatre dinners as well. Great experience.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Janet H
Ellesmere Port, UK863 contributions
Blood Brothers
Oct 2022
The Lowry is a modern theatre and I prefer it to other nearby theatres. They have introduced a new security system since our last visit which does generally quicken up the getting in to the building. A lovely volunteer selling programmes was very informative giving us details of running time and the lengths of each act. The auditorium has very comfy seats which are such that you get a brilliant view regardless of where you sit (we were in the stalls). The sound quality was very good. The production of Blood Brothers was outstanding. The acting and singing were both brilliant and kept you enthralled throughout. The 4 curtain calls and the standing ovation were well deserved. The only thing to look out for is to see whether Manchester United are playing at home as it took us 45 minutes to get out of the car park. This did not distract from the brilliant evening we experienced.
Written October 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Emma A
1 contribution
Poor shopping, ridiculous parking fee
Nov 2022 • Couples
On Friday 19th November 2022, we booked tickets for a play at the theatre (Othello, it was amazing) so we decided to go a few hours earlier and have a look at the shops, Christmas market and have a meal at Cafe Rouge (nice). The shopping centre is a real disappointment, there are so many shops empty and takes very little time to visit. It was then understandable why there was no one around! We tried to fill our time waiting for our meal the best we could and then enjoyed the meal and loved the play.

However we were disgusted to find when we went back to our car to pay for parking we had been just over 6 hours which was £16! We just found that ridiculous, but then found it understandable why the whole place was empty of shoppers! If we use the theatre again we will definitely NOT be using any of the other facilities!
Written November 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kay
21 contributions
Terrible seats
Nov 2022 • Couples
We visited the Quays theatre 18/11/22 to watch Othello which was amazing as we had luckily seen it before . BUT we are totally disgusted with the seating at the Lowry . We paid £19 plus booking fee for seats we could see a thing ! If we sat on the so called high seats we could see less than half the stage . If we sat on the high seat we could not see a thing !!
These should not be sold as viable seats to see a theatre production. We were Tier 2 Row B seats 48/49 . We have been to the Empire recently , got restricted viewing as these were the only seats left . Paid £10 and could see most of the stage .
Do not book the Tier 2 at the Lowry Quays theatre. I have complained to them and awaiting a response . At no point did it say when I booked the seats that I’d have to stand to see any BIT of the stage . These seats should not be sold at all !! As far as I’m concerned it’s a total money maker for something not for for purpose.
Written November 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kule Dude
Bromsgrove, UK966 contributions
Emperors new clothes?
Oct 2022
My second visit to the art gallery and I feel there were perhaps more of LSL's works on view this time.

With a record price recently paid for a piece of his work, I seem to be going against the general consensus by questioning his greatness. It is one thing saying the work is "primitive" art, but the artwork really doesn't stand up against other great artists.

One of the pieces on show was not much more than a vertical pencil line....

Not really my cup of tea.
Written November 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JMB19
Lancashire16 contributions
This day out was very expensive.
Dec 2021 • Couples
Car parking at The Lowry shopping outlet was £16! A few shops were shut down. The Lowry Art Gallery and War Memorial Museum are free to get in. The Lowry theatre is accessible from this car park. We saw The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was ok, not brilliant, for £75 for two people! The lion was a puppet, rather like War Horse. He looked more like a like a dragon, than a lion, and needs a bigger mane. The guy playing Aslan needs to be more at one, with the lion. The musicians were excellent. The cat was odd. The four children playing Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy were a bit stilted, and Edmund looked like a man, and not a child. Father Christmas was good, and the dancers were excellent. Overall the show was average. The bad tempered guy checking people into the theatre needs to learn some manners. Please and thank you would be nice, when he's asking you to line up to have your covid passes checked!! Instead of being demanding!! Although a very nice buy checked us in earlier on to look around the art gallery, and he was very pleasant.
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
camolin
Heysham24 contributions
Priced out of seats and experience of theatre
Apr 2022 • Family
The ticket prices are a disgrace the prices prevent many families from experiencing the theatre , totally shortsighted because those are your customers of the future. Who simply won’t go because they haven’t experienced it. The cost to take my four Grandchildren to the show, is same cost as one monthly mortgage payment, for one nights entertainment . It really is a disgrace .
Written April 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Pamela H
10 contributions
Disappointed
Mar 2023
Lovely hotel, big rooms, good breakfast. I would have given it a 5* but unfortunately when we arrived back at the hotel after the theatre there was a charity function on the floor above us. It was really loud and no way we could get to sleep. We rang the reception and was informed it did not finish until 1pm! It was a charity event they kept repeating. In the end all that was offered to us was ear plugs delivered to our room but only 3 sets that was all they had (there was 4 of us). Complained again at checkout and the only respond was it was a charity event -AGAIN. For the cost of the rooms it is unprofessional to not think of their guests. Not once had anybody told us this was on, if so we would have asked to be moved to the quietest part of the hotel, saying that I’m sure you could hear all over. We wont be returning.
Written March 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
photochromatman
Congleton, UK148 contributions
Once was enough!
Apr 2022
Our party of four were really looking forward to a special, long awaited treat having booked VIP tickets - Row A, dress circle with pre show dining for Les Mis. All the staff we met during our visit were exceptional - efficient and polite and our meal was good. Parking would have been a nightmare had I not had the foresight to pre-book. So far, so good........You would think that having spent well over £500 for the four tickets we would have been comfortable in prime seats. Unfortunately, there is so little leg room on Row A that we felt almost as bad as those poor sods (had they been real) manning the barricades. So, it was Les Misserables by name and, for us, by nature as we spent two and a half hours of torture, barely able to move. Our appreciation of the show was spoilt by pain and suffering and I doubt we will ever return. So this review turns out to be the song of an angry man, so definitely in keeping with the theme of the production but for all the wrong reasons.
Written April 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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The Lowry (Salford) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about The Lowry
The Lowry is open:
  • Sun - Fri 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Sat - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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