Lowry in Salford has announced a brand new free summer exhibition that takes families on a fun adventure through the world of children's books. The Wild Things exhibition opens in the Andrew Law Galleries on July 18, 2026, and will run until November 1, 2026. Visitors can explore scenes from beloved classics like Dear Zoo and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt alongside modern favourites.
Exhibition Highlights
The display features almost 100 original illustrations by famous artists including Axel Scheffler, Nick Sharratt, and Helen Oxenbury. Young children will be able to enjoy plenty of screen-free games and activities, such as an animal dress-up area called The Furry Wardrobe. Every young visitor will also receive a free specially designed notebook so they can write and draw their own animal stories.
Encouraging Family Reading
The exhibition is designed to encourage families to read together and enjoy being creative in a welcoming space. Michael Simpson at Lowry said: “In Wild Things we will bring together beloved stories, and beautiful illustrations, and the exhibition will be a space where families can read, play and create memories together. Full of ants, bears, cats, dogs, elephants, right through to zebras — the animals in these stories are sometimes cute, sometimes scary, sometimes naughty, but always fun.”
He added that the team is pulling out all the stops to follow the success of previous popular summer events at the gallery. Michael Simpson continues: “We’ve set a high bar at Lowry with our recent free summer exhibitions celebrating the works of legendary authors and illustrators including Quentin Blake and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – and we will be pulling out all the stops with Wild Things.”
Additional Activities
Beyond the gallery, the building will host free interactive activities during the school holidays for people of all ages. The classic story Dear Zoo will also be performed live on stage at the Quays Theatre from August 11 to August 16, 2026. Admission to the main exhibition is free and further details can be found on the official Lowry website.
Location: City of Salford, Greater Manchester.
