REVIEW: WILD THINGS EXHIBITION | LOWRY, SALFORD

Step Into the Wonderful World of the Wild Things Exhibition at Lowry

Children's books have a remarkable ability to transport us into magical worlds filled with unforgettable characters, exciting adventures and important life lessons. Whether it's a bedtime favourite that's been read countless times or a story discovered for the very first time, these books often become treasured family memories that are shared across generations.

Celebrating the stories, animals and illustrations that have inspired young readers for decades, Wild Things at The Lowry is a joyful new family exhibition that combines original artwork, interactive experiences and imaginative play to create an engaging day out for visitors of all ages.

Running throughout the summer holidays and continuing until 30 November 2026, the free exhibition explores the wonderful world of children's literature through an alphabet of animals, showcasing the work of some of Britain's most celebrated authors and illustrators while encouraging children to discover new stories, explore their creativity and develop a lifelong love of reading.

We spent just under an hour exploring the exhibition, and from the moment we stepped inside it was clear this wasn't simply an exhibition to look at – it was one designed to be explored.

A Celebration of Children's Books

Rather than following a traditional gallery format, Wild Things invites families to wander through a series of beautifully designed spaces where books, artwork and interactive experiences sit side by side.

The exhibition follows an A to Z of animals, with each section introducing visitors to different creatures through original illustrations, fascinating facts and imaginative activities inspired by children's books.

Throughout the galleries you'll discover everything from mischievous ants and busy bees to colourful elephants, playful meerkats, hedgehogs, narwhals, squirrels, vultures and many more, each helping to tell its own story while celebrating the incredible creativity behind children's publishing.

Books featured throughout the exhibition include favourites such as Dear Zoo, Elmer, Meerkat Mail, Poo in the Zoo, Queen Bee's Day Off, Time for Bed, Fred!, The Great Unicorn Rescue, Vera the Vegetarian Vulture, The Hedgehog and Her Hoglet, Stop That Squirrel!, Naughty Narwhal and Ant Party, alongside many other stories for visitors to discover as they explore.

One of the things we particularly appreciated was that the exhibition never assumes visitors already know every book. Instead, it feels equally welcoming whether you're revisiting stories that have become family favourites or discovering completely new titles that you'll want to borrow from the library or add to your own bookshelf.

It celebrates the joy of reading while encouraging curiosity and imagination, without ever feeling like a classroom lesson.

Learning Through Play

One of Wild Things' greatest strengths is the way it encourages children to become active participants rather than simply walking from display to display.

Every gallery includes opportunities to stop, interact and explore, ensuring younger visitors remain engaged throughout the exhibition.

One activity that immediately caught our attention invited children to match unusual collective nouns to different animals. Was it a mess, a prickle or a dazzle? Lifting the flaps to reveal the answers quickly became a game for both children and adults, and it was surprising just how many of the answers we hadn't known ourselves.

The creative drawing stations were another big hit. Children are invited to create their own animal artwork before displaying it alongside drawings from other young visitors, gradually creating colourful community displays throughout the exhibition. Leo spent quite a while here carefully drawing both a giraffe and an X-ray fish before proudly pinning them onto the display boards. It was lovely to see how excited he was to contribute his own artwork and become part of the exhibition.

What impressed me most was how naturally the exhibition encourages children to learn. Whether discovering fascinating animal facts, solving interactive challenges or expressing their creativity through drawing, every activity invites families to explore at their own pace, making learning feel like an adventure rather than a lesson.

Original Artwork Up Close

For adults, one of the biggest highlights of the Wild Things exhibition is undoubtedly the opportunity to see original illustrations from many of the featured books.

It's easy to forget just how much work goes into creating a picture book until you find yourself standing just inches away from the original artwork. Every pencil mark, brushstroke and splash of colour offers a fascinating insight into the creative process behind these much-loved stories.

Seeing David McKee's original Elmer illustrations up close was a particular highlight, giving us an even greater appreciation of the artistry behind one of children's literature's most recognisable characters. The displays are beautifully presented, allowing visitors to admire the artwork while also learning more about the books and the talented illustrators who brought them to life.

Whether you're introducing these stories to your own children for the first time or fondly remembering favourites from your own childhood, the original illustrations form the emotional heart of the exhibition.

Something for Every Young Explorer

As we continued exploring, it became increasingly clear just how much thought had gone into making Wild Things enjoyable for children of different ages.

One area that quickly became a favourite with Alice was the Furry Wardrobe, where children can dress up as a variety of animals. Alice immediately spotted the tiger costume and couldn't wait to try it on. Fully embracing her new role, she spent the next few minutes pretending to stalk and chase her grandad around the gallery, much to everyone's amusement. It was lovely to see the exhibition inspiring that kind of imaginative play.

One activity that proved particularly popular during our visit was Vera's Veggie Delights. Every time we walked past, there seemed to be a small crowd of children gathered around the colourful fruit and vegetable stall, eagerly filling baskets and exploring the different produce. Alice and Leo both spent quite a while playing here, but Leo was especially fascinated by the realistic oranges, repeatedly peeling them apart before carefully putting them back together again. It was wonderful to watch such a simple hands-on activity capture children's imaginations so completely.

Another highlight for our family was the E is for Elephant section celebrating Elmer. Alice and Leo have loved Elmer ever since seeing the stage production at The Lowry back in 2024, and we've gradually built up quite a collection of Elmer books and toys at home. They were both excited to spot the familiar patchwork elephant as soon as we reached the display, while I found myself admiring David McKee's beautiful original artwork. Alongside the illustrations, the exhibition also shares fascinating facts about elephants, and we were surprised to discover several things we hadn't known before our visit.

Rather than rushing families through the galleries, Wild Things encourages visitors to slow down, spend time together and enjoy discovering stories through play, creativity and curiosity.

More Family Fun Around The Lowry

Although separate from the exhibition itself, The Lowry has created an excellent programme of free family activities that perfectly complement a visit to Wild Things, making it easy to spend several enjoyable hours exploring everything on offer.

One of the first things we did after leaving the exhibition was take part in the Animal Safari. Using the free activity leaflet, children are challenged to search the building for five pairs of hidden animals before collecting a special reward sticker from the Lowry Shop once they've found them all. It was a simple idea, but one that kept both Alice and Leo thoroughly engaged as they excitedly searched every corner of the building for the next hidden pair. Leo especially loved the challenge and was incredibly proud to collect his sticker after successfully completing the safari.

Alice also joined Queen Bee's Hive Drama, inspired by Queen Bee's Day Off. Children were encouraged to buzz around like bees, complete different challenges and take part in imaginative role play. Alice threw herself into every activity with huge enthusiasm and had a wonderful time.

Later, we headed to one of the storytelling sessions, where the day's book was We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Rather than simply reading the story aloud, the storyteller encouraged everyone to pack an imaginary backpack before leading children through the adventure with actions, movement and plenty of audience participation. It was lovely to see children of all ages confidently joining in and becoming part of the story.

As we continued exploring The Lowry, we spotted Elmer making his way through the building. Alice and Leo were delighted to meet the colourful patchwork elephant, stopping for photographs before waving him off as he continued greeting families around The Lowry. Moments like this added an extra touch of magic to the day and perfectly complemented everything we had already enjoyed inside the exhibition.

Although we didn't have time to fit everything into this particular visit, there are plenty of other family experiences available across The Lowry throughout the summer.

Families can browse books together in The Book Nook, a welcoming reading space complete with a miniature dolls' house version of The Lowry, get creative with drop-in craft activities in The Lookout, or enjoy imaginative role play in the Little Lowry Kitchen. Having enjoyed these areas on previous visits, we know they're always a popular addition and offer even more reasons to make a day of your visit.

If you're planning to stay for lunch, the summer family offer is another welcome bonus. Throughout the school holidays, children can eat free in The Lowry Bar & Kitchen with every adult main meal purchased, making it even easier to enjoy a full day at The Lowry without needing to leave the building. Families can also pick up one of the Wild Things lunchboxes from the Coffee Shop, which include a sandwich, drink and snack for £5.50, providing another convenient option for visitors enjoying the exhibition

Final Thoughts

Wild Things is a wonderfully thoughtful exhibition that celebrates everything we love about children's books.

By combining beautiful original illustrations with imaginative activities and opportunities for hands-on learning, it creates an experience that is every bit as enjoyable for adults as it is for children. Parents and grandparents will find themselves reminiscing over books they grew up with, while younger visitors are encouraged to discover new stories, unleash their creativity and develop a lifelong love of reading.

The exhibition succeeds because it never loses sight of its purpose. Every illustration, activity and interactive display encourages families to spend time together, talk about stories and celebrate the joy that books can bring.

With free admission, beautifully curated galleries and an excellent programme of accompanying family activities around The Lowry, Wild Things is one of the standout family attractions of the summer holidays and thoroughly deserves a place on every family's list of things to do.

In a world where so much children's entertainment happens on a screen, the Wild Things exhibition is a wonderful reminder of the magic that can still be found within the pages of a book. By combining beautiful original illustrations, imaginative play and opportunities to learn through discovery, The Lowry has created an experience that celebrates not only children's literature but also the joy of sharing stories together as a family. Whether you're revisiting favourite characters or discovering new ones for the very first time, Wild Things is a charming and thoughtfully curated exhibition that's well worth a visit this summer.

A joyful family exhibition that brings the magic of children's books to life.

At a Glance

📍 Venue: The Lowry, Salford Quays

📅 Exhibition Dates: 1 January – 30 November 2026

🕙 Opening Times: 10:15am – 4:30pm (please check The Lowry website for the latest opening information before your visit).

🎟 Admission: Free, but advance booking is recommended. Entry to Wild Things is included with a free timed ticket to the Andrew Law Galleries. A limited number of walk-up tickets may be available, but booking ahead is advised, particularly during busy periods.

🎫 Book your free tickets

📖 Download the official Wild Things family handout

⏰ Time Needed: We spent just under 1 hour exploring the exhibition itself. If you also plan to enjoy the free storytelling sessions and family activities taking place around The Lowry, you could easily spend several hours there.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suitable For: Families with children of all ages, book lovers and anyone who enjoys interactive exhibitions.

☕ Food & Drink: The Lowry Bar & Kitchen and Coffee Shop are both located on site. During the summer holidays, children can eat free in the Bar & Kitchen with every adult main meal purchased. The Coffee Shop also offers Wild Things lunchboxes, including a sandwich, drink and snack for £5.50.

🚋 Getting There: The Lowry is easily accessible by tram, bus and car. Please note: there is no Metrolink service between Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK from 13 July to 3 August 2026 due to engineering works. Replacement bus services are operating during this period, so allow extra travel time if travelling by public transport.

🚗 Parking: Paid parking is available at Quayside MediaCityUK, with additional parking options nearby around Salford Quays.

♿ Accessibility

As an autistic family, we always appreciate attractions that make accessibility a priority, so it was wonderful to see The Lowry offering Relaxed and Quiet Sessions for visitors who would benefit from a calmer, less busy gallery experience.

Upcoming Relaxed & Quiet Sessions:

• Thursday 13 August 2026 (10:00am–3:00pm) – Lowry Relaxed Day for Families

• Sunday 6 September 2026

• Sunday 25 October 2026

• Sunday 22 November 2026

These sessions have a reduced capacity, so advance booking is recommended.