With a collection of fine art spanning 2,000 pieces, the Mercer Art Gallery is one of the city’s finest cultural institutions. Learn about photography, sculpture and painting through the comprehensive touring and permanent displays. To find the gallery, just look for the building with four columns that hold a carved pediment in place above a wide turquoise door.
Peruse the works from Harrogate’s fine art collection that line the walls of the Main Gallery. These pieces were created by acclaimed artists such as as Dame Laura Knight, Alan Davie and William Powell among many others. Examine the range of prints and drawings beside the paintings that are mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Arrange a guided tour of the Main Gallery and North Gallery for your group and chat with docents to learn the backstories behind the works. Explore temporary displays on a diverse range of topics. Past exhibits have included Great Yorkshire Art and Posy Simmonds: Original Artwork and Unseen Sketches.
Attend one of the events that are regularly organized in this gallery. These consist of art-related lectures, conversations and hands-on activities. Browse souvenirs and art supplies in the museum’s gift shop. In summer, set up a picnic on the lawn on the northern side of the museum. Sip a few drinks at one of the adjacent bars.
The gallery first opened in 1991 and takes its name from local water colorist Sidney Agnew Mercer, whose sons made a significant donation to the museum.
Note that it is free to visit the gallery, which is open Tuesday through Saturday from morning until late afternoon and Sunday for a few hours after lunch.
The Mercer Art Gallery is located on the western fringes of the city center. Walk west from Harrogate railway station for 10 minutes to get to it. Make your way around the area to see other attractions, including the Royal Pump Room Museum, Valley Gardens Harrogate and the Royal Hall.
