Free tickets are being snapped up for the Lowry's new Wild Things exhibition in Salford, which celebrates classic children's books about animals including Dear Zoo, Elmer, Owl Babies, and We're Going on a Bear Hunt. The exhibition opened on July 18, 2026, and runs until November 1, 2026, in the Andrew Law Galleries.
Exhibition Highlights
The event features nearly 100 original illustrations by renowned artists such as Axel Scheffler, Nick Sharratt, Helen Oxenbury, and Rod Campbell, alongside stories by Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, and others. It includes screen-free interactive areas like the Bee Calm Spa, Vera's Veggie Delights Stall, and The Furry Wardrobe with animal dress-up costumes.
Free Tickets and Activities
Tickets are free but must be booked online to manage capacity. Every young visitor receives a free notebook to create their own animal stories. Additional free activities are available across the venue during the school holidays.
Michael Simpson, director of visual art at the Lowry, said: “We are all thrilled with the response to Wild Things following the opening weekend of the exhibition. It was a joy to see so many families exploring the gallery and discovering old and new illustration favourites.”
Summer and Autumn Schedule
The exhibition is open Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm, and weekends from 10am to 5pm, closed on Mondays except bank holidays. The Dear Zoo theatre show runs from August 11 to 16. Following the success of previous exhibitions like Julia and Axel: Thirty Years of Favourite Stories, Wild Things is expected to attract large crowds.
