It was the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger who coined the phrase "all art is but imitation of nature."   Nowhere is this truer than Nature in Art, the world's first art gallery & museum inspired by nature.   Housed in an attractive Georgian mansion two miles north of Gloucester, the collection spans 1500 years with work from over 50 countries & cultures by more than 600 artists.

To celebrate Museums & Galleries Month, Nature in Art has planned a special exhibition of fine, decorative & applied art from all over the world, & a new artist in residence will give demonstrations each week.   And when the weather's fine, you can stroll through the gallery's sculpture garden.

In order to ensure that you get the best service, Nature in Art won't accept more than one group at a time - so booking in advance is essential.   There are special rates for groups of 15 plus, & you can even arrange to have a demonstration for your group by an artist.   Give them a ring on 01452 731422 to find out more or visit www.nature-in-art.org.uk.  

Just three miles south of Birmingham's city centre you'll find the Midlands' answer to the National Gallery at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.   Founded by Dame Martha Constance Hattie Barber in 1932, the Barber owns major works by some of Europe's most influential artists, including Rubens, Gainsborough, Turner, Rossetti, Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Rodin & Magritte.  

Besides its impressive collection, the Barber has plenty of things to interest art enthusiasts.   There are practical art classes for adults, guided tours, a series of illustrated lectures to accompany major exhibitions, & Art Alive! - a chance to meet some of the artists whose paintings hang on the Barber's walls.   The 19th-century Norwegian landscape artist JC Dahl was one of their recent 'guests', & he chatted frankly about his life, loves & fascination with painting moonlight.   It's not very often you get the chance to chat with a 19th-century master.

But don't just take our word about the Barber.   In 2004 it was recognised by The Good Britain Guide as the art gallery of the year; & more recently, Britain's Best Museums & Galleries Guide named it "one of the best small picture galleries in the country".   You can learn more by logging onto www.barber.org.uk.

Up in Salford Quays, The Lowry is another award-winning destination.   At the heart of the gallery is the LS Lowry Collection, which is complemented by a busy exhibition programme of modern & contemporary visual art.   In May 2004 The Lowry won the Museums & Heritage award for best temporary exhibition for the The Impossible View? - an exploration of Lowry's preoccupation with the panoramic view.  

These days the gallery is gearing up for A City's Pride, the world's largest Lowry exhibition to date.   From 8 July to 10 September you can browse the entire LS Lowry Collection, which includes over 350 paintings & drawings, & other archive material.   As well as the familiar mill scenes, A City's Pride shows Lowry's lesser-known work, like his portraits, seascapes & sparse modernist drawings.

So whether you're a fan of Lowry's work or need to be convinced, A City's Pride is a thorough retrospective that'll give you a good sense of the man behind the matchsticks.   The gallery is open daily & admission is free.   Groups can benefit from different day passes, which include a tour, talk, & snacks or lunch, so it's worth giving them a ring on 0870 787 5793 to book in advance.

Galleries aren't the only attractions winning awards.   In February Stockport's Hat Works Museum won best small visitor attraction for the second time at the Manchester Tourism Awards.   What makes Hat Works exceptional is the variety of events & exhibitions it offers, as well as its commitment to the community; the museum recently removed admission charges to make it accessible to everyone.

Hat Works is the UK's only museum dedicated to the hatting industry, hats & headwear.   Housed in an old hat factory in one of Manchester's leading hatting towns, Hat Works focuses on the development of the industry from its humble beginnings to the mass production of the early-19th century.

When you go you can expect to see live demonstrations of working machinery, as well as an extensive collection of - you guessed it - hats.   There are more than 400 hats from around the world, including one of the world's tallest top hats.   Group tours can be customised to suit the size of your party, & group catering is also available.   Just call the booking desk on 0845 8330991.

Stockport is a very busy place these days, & with so much on the go you'll find it's well worth a visit.   The newly-opened Staircase House completes the restoration of the historic town centre, & along with Hat Works, is among six visitor attractions in the area.

One of England's oldest & best-restored merchant's houses, Staircase House is the real deal.   Don't expect to see velvet ropes, glass displays & restricted entry signs; instead you can pull up a chair at the 200-year-old dining table & climb into the 17th-century four-poster bed.

Since its opening, Staircase House has attracted a good deal of attention - & not only for its hands-on approach to learning.   The house was featured in LivingTV's Haunted Manchester Live weekend, & the show's team uncovered five active spirits in the stables, cold room, kitchen & 17th-century parlour.   Spooky.   Staircase House is open daily, & groups can benefit from out-of-hours visits with personal tour guides.   Go to www.staircasehouse. org.uk to learn more, or ring 0161 480 1460.  

While you're chatting to the people at Staircase House, make sure to ask them about Stockport's latest attraction.   On 22 March the first phase of the Stockport Story Social History Museum opened its doors to the public.   For the first time objects unearthed at a local settlement in Mellor are on display - proof that the area was inhabited more than 10,000 years ago.   You can see early flint tools of the hunter-gatherers, a Neolithic flint chisel, a Bronze Age flint dagger, Iron Age pottery, & Roman brooches.   Your sprint through time then takes you to the Dark Ages & Medieval Stockport gallery.   Here you can find out how Stockport changed from a small settlement to a thriving market town & centre of textile production.

In October the second phase of the museum opens to the public, so you'll have to wait until then to finish Stockport's story.   Contact Staircase House for more information.

You can travel back in time in County Durham, as well.   This spring the 19th & 20th centuries are getting a face-lift at Beamish open-air museum.   New in April is a Masonic temple in the 1913 town, & Puffing Billy, a working replica of William Hedley's 1813 locomotive.

The Masonic temple was originally built in Sunderland in 1869, & it has been brought to Beamish & rebuilt exactly as it was in 1913.   Inside you'll learn about Freemasonry in the region nearly 100 years ago.   And when Puffing Billy steams into town in late May, you'll get to take a ride at Pockerley Waggonway hauled by Billy himself.   And you'll still find all the old favourites - tram-drivers, shop-keepers, enginemen & pitmen's wives strolling the streets & manning the old shops & pit cottages.

The good news for groups is the price: this summer you'll get 2005 entry prices.   For a free copy of the 2006 Group Visits information pack call 0191 370 4000 or email marketing@beamish.org.uk.

You can brush up on your military history at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, where you'll find Europe's largest collection of naval aircraft.   There are 90 aircraft on display, 14 of which you won't find anywhere else in the world.  

Inside the museum you can board the first UK-built Concorde & fly via a simulated helicopter ride to the replica of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.   On board the replica flight deck, there are 10 genuine aircraft & two projection screens showing a Phantom strike-fighter taking off & a Buccaneer fighter-bomber landing.   With powerful jet fighters taking off & landing around you, you'll be at the heart of the action - you'll even get to see a nuclear bomb, so remember to bring your nerve!

The Fleet Air Arm Museum is open from 1 April to 31 October.   There are one & two-hour coach-party packages to choose from, so take a look at www.fleetairarm.com to see what option suits your group.   Alternatively, you can ring the museum on 01935 840565.

From 2 to 3 September you can get up close & personal with several Spitfire fighters at the Spitfire Anniversary Air Show at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.   This year marks the 70th anniversary of the aircraft's first flight, & to commemorate the occasion several Spitfires & other classic aircraft & modern-day counterparts will be on display.   A mass flypast of Spitfires will close the ceremony & promises to be a visual treat.   Call 01223 499321 to find out about special rates for groups & the different packages for visitors.

In the heart of the New Forest there's plenty to interest group visitors at Beaulieu.   Diversity is one of the reasons Beaulieu is a popular attraction with groups: once you're there you can visit the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Abbey & Palace House.

From 1 April the Art of Citroen exhibition comes to the motor museum for a year-long stay.   There are some remarkable stories behind Citroen's nine-decade history - including the concept 2CV that was hidden from Nazi soldiers in Paris during WW2 & discovered 50 years later behind a factory brick wall.   That car, & many more, will be on display for visitors.

Some of the National Motor Museum's other highlights include the high-level monorail, a space-age pod ride - & for those of you mourning the loss of the Routemaster - a 1912 open-topped London bus.   You can find out more about Beaulieu at www.   beaulieu. co.uk.