The Ferens occupies a handsome neoclassical building on Queen Victoria Square donated by the politician and philanthropist Thomas Ferens in 1927. The permanent collection is far better than a city this size has any right to: a Frans Hals double portrait, an early Canaletto, work by Stanley Spencer, Patrick Heron, and David Hockney, plus a Lorenzetti panel that ranks among the gallery's most prized acquisitions.
The building was renovated and reopened in 2017 with new lighting and an expanded children's gallery. Entry is free, the cafe is decent, and the temporary exhibitions are usually worth checking — the Ferens often punches above its weight on borrowed shows. Allow an hour, more if there is a major exhibition on.