The Lowry
Arts centre at Salford Quays with two theatres, galleries, and diverse programming.
The Lowry sits on the Salford Quays waterfront in a building with a distinctive silver-clad exterior. Inside there are two performance spaces - the larger Lyric and the smaller Quays - plus two galleries showing visual art. The programming spans theatre, dance, comedy and music. The venue has a reputation for taking risks on work that might not fit in more conservative programming, which means you're just as likely to catch an experimental dance piece as a touring musical.
The building is substantial. You can spend time in the galleries even if you're not there for a performance. The cafe has actual decent coffee and the restaurant does proper meals if you want to make an evening of it. It's set up for people to linger. The tram runs directly to the Quays, which makes getting there straightforward from the city centre.
Worth checking their dance season in particular - the space works well for movement-based work. If you're willing to travel out to Salford, the programming here is worth your time and the site itself is worth exploring.